Introducing the new cars of '58
By Erik Pekar
Last year in “Granville Then and Now” we wrote of the introductions of the 1957 model year automobiles during the autumn of 1956. A year has passed since then, and now we step forward to the autumn of 1957 and chronicle the local introductions of the new automobiles of the 1958 model year.
Dodge was among the first makes to be introduced locally for 1958. Its first ad appeared in the Oct. 31, 1957 issue of the Sentinel, and may have been the date of unveiling here in Granville. The ad noted: “Introducing new Swept-Wing 58: So advanced it leaves the rest behind. On display for the first time today is a car that stands apart in any company. It is very low, very daring, beautifully proportioned, its unusual sureness of handling and control reflects the latest engineering advances. To own it is a new adventure.”
The Mettowee Garage was the local Dodge dealer in Granville. Its building was located at 3 North Street, at the site of the former bank building, which will become the Land Craft Wellness dispensary. The dealership sold both Dodge and Plymouth in the 1957 model year and extensively advertised in late 1956 of Dodge, as well as Plymouth, the car that made it feel like “suddenly, it’s 1960.”
In 1957 the Mettowee Garage took no ads for the 1958 Plymouth, which was touted that year as “the star of the Forward Look.” It is evident that the Mettowee Garage became exclusively a Dodge dealership for 1958; it is unknown whether the decision was made by dealer owner Howard Munton, or by the Chrysler Corporation.
The new Chevrolet also was introduced around that time. In the same issue, two ads appeared. The first said, “Today, see it, drive it, buy it! ‘58 Chevrolet, so long, so low, so supremely smart!” The ads touted its redesign into the “lowest, longest, widest, biggest Chevrolet ever built,” including new colors, “Sculpturamic styling,” new interiors, power, chassis, and body. The other ad noted its power: “Meet the ‘58 Chevrolet, panther-quick, silk smooth, with a V8 unlike any other,” and mentioned the “Turbo-Thrust” engine and the “Turboglide” transmission. It noted its new features, including “4-headlight system, new 6 and V8 power, foot operated parking brake”, as well as the new models, the Bel Air Impala sport coupe and convertible.
Beecher and Guthrie was the Chevrolet dealer for Granville. The building was located on Church Street. It was later the location of Washington County Department of Social Services and was most recently occupied by Whitney’s Hunting Supply; the store space is presently vacant.
The 1958 Pontiac was unveiled by its dealers on Nov. 9, with the promotion appearing in the Nov. 7 issue of the Sentinel. The redesign of the Pontiac was implied to be such a change that “a new kind of car is born” and hailed the changes as the “boldest advance in 50 years.” It was referred to as the “Golden Jubilee Pontiac,” the 50-year anniversary being that of the General Motors Corporation. The new Pontiac was said to be “a car unlike any you have ever known” with “engineering advances so daringly different yet so basically sound that they will trigger the next big change in automobile design.”
The advertised improvements included: stability, from “Aero-Frame,” “roadability” or smoothness of the ride, by “Quadra-Poise;” the “Ever-Level Air Ride;” safety, through new body construction giving “circles of steel;” performance, from the new engines, including the Tempest 395.
Ross Pontiac was Granville’s Pontiac dealer. In 1957 it was at 19 Church Street, across and down the street from Beecher and Guthrie. Its site roughly occupied what is now the southernmost portion of the Main Street free parking lot, the relocated Burtis Alley, the garage for the 21 Church Street residence, and back partially to the present site of Winn Manufacturing. The dealership later relocated to 3 East Main Street; that building is now Gemini Fitness.
The new 1958 Ford was also advertised in the Nov. 7 issue. The car’s apparent tested appeal was touted: “Proved and approved around the world and now it’s here for you…” (Other ads in other publications went further, claiming it and other Ford company makes had “more new ideas, more you ideas”.) The “newest car in the world” had several changes and improvements, including “deep-sculptured styling;” “Interceptor V-8 power” which also came with the option of “precision fuel induction;” “Cruise-O-Matic drive,” a three-speed automatic transmission with a new “D1” position; “Ford-Aire Suspension” that made driving feel like “(riding) on a cloud instead of a spring” and “Magic-Circle Steering,” which made it possible to “steer with a feather touch” (likely an early power steering system). The ad concluded with the appeal, “Come in today, action test America’s only world-proved car!”
Trumble Ford was the Ford dealer for the Granville area. Their building was located at 14 East Main Street. This was their final new model year introduction, as the property was sold in early 1958 to the Grand Union company, which opened a supermarket on the site in 1959. The building had some vacant years after Grand Union left, and it was later occupied by Ross Pontiac, Manchester Newspapers, and is now the municipal offices of the Town of Granville.
Granville in 1957 had four car dealerships, all in the village. The local dealerships were well frequented in their time. “Auto groups” were nonexistent in 1957, as were the “corporate look” buildings, both so prevalent today. City dealerships presented some competition, but most were satisfied with the local sellers. If they weren’t, at that time one could just go to another village’s dealerships instead of traveling to Glens Falls, Rutland, Saratoga Springs or further. Today, there are no car dealerships within the village of Granville, the last having closed more than 30 years ago.
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In the past several weeks, the Granville village DPW replaced a few sections of dilapidated sidewalks with all new concrete sidewalks. The village board approved the sidewalk replacement work at the monthly board meeting of Sept. 12. The work started the week of Sept. 23. For the first time in the village of Granville, the newly installed sidewalks are now continuous at driveways, with the sidewalk lowering to be level with the driveways; prior sidewalk work had gaps at driveways.
Several sections on Quaker Street were replaced; these were from Morrison Avenue to Potter Avenue, from West View Drive up to the south parking lot entrance for the Village Plaza strip mall (formerly anchored by Grand Union), and along the street front of the strip mall parking lot itself. As part of the project, the sidewalk on Irvine Place was also replaced, from Williams Street to the bus driveway at the Granville Elementary School. Of note is that there had not been a sidewalk on Quaker Street along the strip mall property since before the mall was built.
The sidewalk replacement work is a step in the right direction for the village; it has been needed for a very long time. Other communities kept up with sidewalk replacement; until this year, Granville had done little, as far back as 20 years. While there is some commendation deserved for the village board’s approval of the initiation of sidewalk work this year, there is still a long road ahead. It is hoped by many in Granville that sidewalk improvements in the village will continue in the years ahead.
The Granville village DPW has done a wonderful job with the newly installed sidewalks, which have a clean look, and include modern features like the bumped surface on ramps. The DPW workers deserve commendation for their work with the new sidewalks; it is greatly appreciated by all.
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The twice annual change occurs this weekend. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. Remember to “fall back” and set your clocks back an hour, and perhaps enjoy the extra hour of sleep.
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