Shipping Report recieved

[Richard B.]

I received my shipping report and have been trying to research the dealership that took delivery of my 69 Coupe.

The Dealer, Russ Watkins Chevrolet, Victorville, CA is no longer in business. Does anyone know if the dealership changed hands? The only owner I have been able to locate owned the car from 1973 to 1975 and he purchased it from a [FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Pontiac Dealer in San Bernardino.[/FONT]

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Anyone know what happened to Russ Watkins?[/FONT]

[Tom H.]

Re: Shipping Report recieved

Hey Dick !!!

I was able to locate a tiny bit of info for you. It looks like they filed for business in 1963. 10-15-63 to be exact. Looks they were located at 1345 N Oxnard Blvd in Oxnard, CA 93030.

Don't see much else in my records.

[Richard B.]

Re: Shipping Report recieved

Thanks,

I find this very interesting as the Receiving report I just received shows that the car was delivered to Russ Watkins Chevrolet in Victorville, CA which is about 140 miles east of Oxnard, CA.

It was delivered to Zone 34 Dealer code 550. There is a new Chevrolet Dealer in Victorville, [FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Rancho Motor Company that opened in 1970.[/FONT]

Again thanks for your help.

[Tom H.]

Re: Shipping Report recieved

Richard:

There is a Chevrolet Dealership at the address in Oxnard. Possibly the location of the original Watkins Chevrolet.

Here is what exists there, today.

Todey Chevrolet,

Todey Motor Co , Inc
1345 N Oxnard Boulevard
Oxnard, CA 93030-3522 map
Ventura, CA Metro Area

[Richard B.]

Re: Shipping Report recieved

I will contact the Dealer, but what is puzzling me is the letter I got from the NCRS Shipping Data Report shows

Russ Watkins Chevrolet
Victorville, CA.

Victorville is about 140 miles East of Oxnard. Maybe Watkins Chevrolet had to showrooms, one in Oxnard and one in Victorville.

I guess more research is in the cards.

Thanks

[Don H.]

Re: Shipping Report - Watkins Chevrolet

Rich
I found this old article from the LA Times re. long time So. Ca. chevy dealer Hal Watkins of Oxnard passing away in 1991, and his Oxnard dealership being sold then.
Down in the middle of the article it says this:

Watkins began his automobile sales career in Los Angeles after serving as a Marine Corps combat photographer in World War II. He bought his first dealership in 1960 in Pasadena, followed by a Chevrolet dealership in Victorville. He bought the Chevrolet dealership in Oxnard in October, 1965.

I do not know where the name Russ comes from, but this confirms that there was a Watkins Chevy store in Victorville back in the early 60s.
Perhaps Russ was Hal's brother, and they went into the business together. Victorville is a rather small hi desert town, and I bet the library there has pretty good records going back 50 years. Of course, the trail of info on that old dealership, and any Watkins dealership has been stone cold for decades now I'm sure.
good luck

[Richard B.]

Re: Shipping Report recieved

Thanks Don. At least I now have a place to start looking. I appreciate you help.

[Dana B.]

Re: Shipping Report recieved

Hello,

In the 1959 Dealer Directory...

Talbert Chevrolet
15278 - 7th Avenue
Victorville , Ca

Dana