TheSamba.com :: View topic - Location of a dealership in North Dakota?

Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:19 am

Does anyone remember/know of where in Bismarck North Dakota, the dealership of Century Motors was located? My '68 Autostick was sold there so I am curious.

I seem to remember asking this before and receiving an answer, but I can't find it anywhere in my notes and papers (probably stuck to the back of something).

So if anyone can provide the address, that would be great.

Thanks

Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:46 am

Technical Section under Information for USA Dealers

Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:56 am

Ummm, all it says is that it is located in Bismarck North Dakota. I already know that. I was wondering if anyone knows the street address. Sorry, maybe I didn't make my request clear enough.

Carl

Thu Jul 15, 2010 5:14 pm

You might try calling the Bismarck Historical Society and ask them.

http://history.nd.gov/

Thu Jul 15, 2010 8:30 pm

From my November, 1967 book:
Century Motors, Inc.
Memorial Hwy 10, West
(701) 663-9837

From my 11-69 dealer book:
Century Motors, Inc.
P.O. Box 1794
Memorial Hwy West
(701) 663-9837

Same address from my 70/71/80 book too.

Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:20 pm

There was also a cortesy motors in Bismarck. I have a '61 bug with the original dealer emblem still on it. Its actually the one shown in the dealer listings.

Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:32 am

Thank you everyone for your assistance.

One of the contact attemptss I tried to make was with the ND Historical Society. They responded with actual copies of the 1968 City Directory. And at no charge for the search!

What was interesting was that although the dealership's address is listed as 4713 Memorial Hwy, Bismarck ND 58501, I have learned that the actual location was in Mandan. Very interesting.

I already knew of the Courtesy Motors is Bismarck, but my owner's manual and information from the PO show that the car was purchased from Century Motors. So that was why I was interested.

Thanks again everyone!

Fri Aug 17, 2012 10:11 pm

Dragging up an old thread, but I was curious and doing some searching.

I have been at the last location of Century Motors a few times. It closed and the buildings razed only a few years back. Maybe '07? It was located in Bismarck, not Mandan.

My question to anyone around Bismarck is this. Does anyone know what happened to the near perfect early bay single cab that was on display in the old showroom at the dealership? It had been purchased new there, and used as a car buy an older couple, who then resold it back to the dealer a few years later. It was the most perfect example of a bay window truck I have ever sen. I think it had one repaint, but it was the correct white color. Also in the showroom was a perfectly restored Turbo Subaru Brat, and a few other nice cars. This was when the dealership was selling cars from the lot next door and had a separate building on the other side of the lot.

Anyone know where the truck went, or who to contact? I don't want to buy it, I just would like to see it again.

Thu Sep 06, 2012 2:34 pm

Courtesy Motors was for a fact in Mandan, which is directly across the river from Bismarck. Memorial Highway goes through both cities,The Memorial Bridge between them.

The Dealership was owned at one point by a guy named Vance Preszler. He died several years ago and his cars were all auctioned off. There was, at one point, a great junk yard in the back with a doublecab with courtesy motors logos, a 15 window, several type 4's an oval bug, and early on, when the junk yard was known as the Broken car store, there was a 23 window with a car stacked on top of it if I remember correctly.

After the place was sold, it was to be developed. The story I heard was that as far down as the excavator could dig, there was nothing but oil-soaked ground, so they never could develop the site. It is an unpaved parking lot to this day.

As far as the bay window double cab, I was told it is near Williston, ND. There was a 79 convertible that had never been titled (brand new), also.

Thu Sep 06, 2012 2:38 pm

I just thought about this and I might be wrong. Century Motors was in Mandan, but Courtesy Motors was actually before my time. I believe Courtesy Motors became Century Motors, but there may have been a move of the actually location, which would explain why both cities are referenced.

Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:17 pm

You're right, it was in Mandan. I was just perusing Google Earth after I saw your post, and I think I found the location. I t was on Memorial Highway, just East of Main. Looks like it's just a dirt lot now. I might try to stop there on my way through in a couple of weeks.

Do you recall the perfect bay single cab and the restored Subaru Brat Turbo in the old showroom? It was there in the late 90's and early 00's. I wonder if they went in the big auction you mentioned? Do you know any of the old time VW folks in the area that would remember this stuff?

Mon Oct 06, 2014 3:45 am

I have been stripping the repaint off of my October 1961 single cab when I uncovered a sticker on the back gate that reads; Century Motors Bismarck Mandan.

It's spent most of its life in and near Jerome, CA- that's hill country.

Mon Oct 06, 2014 1:30 pm

I am always surprised at how far and wide these old things seemed to travel.