Dealer Badges

[Falcon Ranchero]

Dealer badges are usually very unique; they also carry the history of where the vehicle was sold. I found what may be the only remaining dealer badge from a local and now historic Chevrolet and Cadillac dealer called "Boston's". It was on the trunk of a 1953 Chevy (the cars parts were scattered around a hiking trail) and one reason it wasn't stolen prior to my aquiring of it, was the fact that the car's quarter panel was resting on top of the trunk, and out of curiosity I lifted it up and behold was the trunk with not only the Chevy ornament, but the dealer badge. FEEL FREE TO ADD PHOTOS OF ANY DEALER BADGES YOU'VE FOUND OR HAVE ON THE TRUNK OF YOUR OLD CAR! 

[Falcon Ranchero]

Another one spied on a 1963 Chevy Bel Air

[Falcon Ranchero]

Another local dealership, Highland Ford, came in the late '60s or early '70s, and this 1973 Mustang wears the monogram of its home base 

[Bainford]

I remember my father ordering a new Dodge pick-up in 1977, and specifically telling the dealer that they ARE NOT to apply the dealer sticker when they do their dealer preps. A few weeks later we go to the dealership to get the new truck, and the first thing Dad does is look for the dealer sticker. And of course, there it was, on the tailgate. Dad told the guy that it wasn't our truck because our truck doesn't have a dealer sticker on it, and we got in the car and left. The next day the dealer called again to say the truck was 'now' ready.

It is a sentiment that I have inherited myself. Where possible, I have peeled them from every vehicle I've owned. Some of them are old enough now to have a cool historical significance, but too many times I have seen them on crooked, or placed in an unsympathetic location. The red Mustang above is a perfect example. If I had bought that new, I'd be trying to get my hands around the neck of the guy who ruined the rearend aesthetics of my new Mustang.

[Falcon Ranchero]

21 minutes ago, Bainford said:

I remember my father ordering a new Dodge pick-up in 1977, and specifically telling the dealer that they ARE NOT to apply the dealer sticker when they do their dealer preps. A few weeks later we go to the dealership to get the new truck, and the first thing Dad does is look for the dealer sticker. And of course, there it was, on the tailgate. Dad told the guy that it wasn't our truck because our truck doesn't have a dealer sticker on it, and we got in the car and left. The next day the dealer called again to say the truck was 'now' ready.

It is a sentiment that I have inherited myself. Where possible, I have peeled them from every vehicle I've owned. Some of them are old enough now to have a cool historical significance, but too many times I have seen them on crooked, or placed in an unsympathetic location. The red Mustang above is a perfect example. If I had bought that new, I'd be trying to get my hands around the neck of the guy who ruined the rearend aesthetics of my new Mustang.

You're right, stckers/badges applied by the dealer can be in stupid places, and the Mustang is a perfect example; I don't mind the big "Highland Ford" sticker on the side, but if you look closely on the car above the Mach 1 script, there's another small one right above there, and when I saw it I was like, "that's a dumb place for one" and it didn't make sense because there's already the other one. But they're cool to take or peel of and keep around.

[Mark]

I'd have been even madder in the Fifties or Sixties to find some monkey drilling holes in the trunk lid to attach one of those diecast insignia.  Those things were made from the cheapest junk pot metal, and started pitting pretty much from day one.  The last three vehicles I bought only had license plate frames put on them.  I was thinking about taking them off of my last car when someone rammed into it and totaled it.  The new car will probably keep them, as the frames are on a lot of cars sold around here which makes them kind of anonymous.

[Brian Austin]

Abandoned Olds in Brighton, MA in 1992.

Under the WBCN radio sticker is the BEREJIK badge.  While some of you might remember Berejik's racing connection, they were once one of the many dealerships in my hometown (Needham, MA).  Berejik closed around 2000.  Aside from a premium classic car dealership, I think all car dealerships are now gone from my town.

 

Edited August 15, 2024 by Brian Austin

[Brian Austin]

My first job was at a retirement home.  One day this unassuming '55 Chevy appeared in the lot.  IIRC these dealer badges were mastered using hand-carved wood patterns.

[peteski]

3 hours ago, Brian Austin said:

Under the WBCN radio sticker is the BEREJIK badge.  While some of you might remember Berejik's racing connection, they were once one of the many dealerships in my hometown (Needham, MA)

Back in those days, WBCN was a great radio station. I had their bumper sticker on my '76 Camaro.  I remember stopping around Boston's South Station in the early morning (on my way to work) by the WBCN van where "Tank" was giving out WBCN "lick me" T-shirts.  I still have it, but I don't fit in it anymore.

[Tom99]

[mk11]

12 hours ago, Tom99 said:

 

Wouldn't that be nice to have plastered on a vintage Camaro     Definitely a distant finisher in the ugly sticker award department compared to the old Lou Isfeld Lincoln (Abbottsford BC) viking head sticker; the head alone was almost 2x3 inches.

[mk11]

A drive through Wyoming a few years back netted (from the dealer, not someone's truck) this companion to my Maclin Ford plate...

Bought an entire truck to get one of these labels

and resold the truck a few months later, well recompensed for my time.

Edited August 26, 2024 by mk11