Central Motors, Tacoma, Washington

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#003366" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="008005a0dkcfqa.png"> <div> <A HREF="http://willysdealershipproject.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://willysdealershipproject.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Willys Dealership Project</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>             Back to: </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Washington"><U><B>Washington</B></U></A><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Use your browser's Back button for best results</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Central Motors</div> <div> 714-716 Broadway</div> <div> Tacoma, Washington</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The Tacoma Public Library Photography Archive has several references to Central Motors, dating from 1946 to 1950.  Direct links cannot be made to search results.  Click <A HREF="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images/default.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images/defau"><U>here</U></A> and enter "Central Motors" for more details.  Several addresses are listed for Central Motors.  Only one <A HREF="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/81/t4/13842.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/81/t"><U>1946 reference</U></A>  (From Central Motor's exhibit at the Western Washington State Fair) specifically mentions the Jeep line.  714-716 Broadway was the showroom during that time period, with a picture <A HREF="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/96/t4/13263.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/96/t"><U>here</U></A>.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The building currently houses the Rampart Flea Market, as seen in March 2004.  The first floor has been remodeled extensively, but the upper stories still match the 1946 picture:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="918680e0.jpg" border=0 width="360" height="270" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> While the garage door on the right has been enlarged, there is still a ramp behind it leading to the upper levels.  Judging by a two-part sign pointing to the upper levels, the company name may be an inside joke (and horrible pun) based on "Ramp Art".  The handsome man is my son:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="91e0e680.jpg" border=0 width="270" height="360" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Here's another view of the general area, with the former Central Motors showroom just beyond the tall red building.  While the area is now full of trendy antique stores and cafes, it was Tacoma's auto sales center in earlier times.  The owner of the Rampart Flea Market said that as a child in the 1950's, she was not allowed to frequent this area due to the rough and seedy nature at the time:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="91f680e0.jpg" border=0 width="360" height="270" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> A search of Tacoma phone books for authorized Willys dealers during the Post-WW2 era showed references to <A HREF="id1222.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kraus Motor Co., Tacoma, Washington"><U>Kraus Motor Co.</U></A> and <A HREF="id1436.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tveten Motor Company, Tacoma, Washington"><U>Tveten Motor Co.</U></A>, but not Central Motors.  The listings for Central Motors were mainly in the used car section, although they were shown as an authorized Hudson dealer for several years.  Most likely Central Motors only carried the Willys line briefly.  (Note: The 1945 phone book, the most likely period, was not available.)  The following ad from the Used Automobiles section of 1946 Tacoma phone book has a picture of the same building front: </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="92968800.jpg" border=0 width="360" height="384" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Two more pictures of the building, before and after ownership by Central Motors, are also available at Tacoma Public Library Photography Archive.  Click <A HREF="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images/default.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images/defau"><U>here</U></A> and enter "714 Broadway" for views from <A HREF="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/87/t4/11571.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/87/t"><U>1943</U></A> and <A HREF="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/98/t4/26036.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/98/t"><U>1958</U></A>.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The above ad and the Tacoma Public Library Photography Archive also mentions a separate facility at 1007 South J Street, with an apparent typographical error for the street causing some confusion.  A 1946 exterior shot is listed as J Street, which can be seen in the address painted on the building front <A HREF="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/95/t4/13262.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/95/t"><U>here</U></A>.  An interior shot of the same building <A HREF="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/93/t4/13557.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/93/t"><U>here</U></A> is erroneously listed as G street.</div> <bR> <div> Although this building has been extensively remodeled as seen in March 2004, the roofline still matches the <A HREF="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/95/t4/13262.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images2/95/t"><U>1946 view</U></A>:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="920680e0.jpg" border=0 width="360" height="270" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The building currently houses <A HREF="http://www.belltownboxing.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.belltownboxing.com"><U>Belltown Boxing</U></A>, a manufacturer of specialty packaging.  The (Tacoma) News-Tribune provided more background on the company in its <A HREF="http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/econdev/News/020300%20TNT.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/econdev/News/"><U>Feb. 3, 2000 issue</U></A>.  According to the article, the building originally dates from 1919.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>