|
|
Posted by lobo
on Sunday, January 24th 2021:
In Reply to: Cadillac dealer posted by Misterl on Monday, January 4th 2021:
The LEGENDARY Dick Gidron. That building was originally a Packard dealer. It was also used as a WW-2 war effort factory. When GM wanted to set up a Caddy dealer, they chose that location, as well as who got the franchise. It was down to 3 people, and Dick Gidron got it over 2 big name celebrities who applied also.
Mr. Gidron won because he was already in the business, setting record sales as a manager at a Chevrolet dealer. GM felt he was best suited for the job being a hands-on record setting experienced manager.
Back in the early 70's, I would walk up and down 187th. St., and admire all the new double parked Caddy's, Lincoln's & an occasional Chrysler Imperial or two!
Every Caddy in the neighborhood seemed to have Gidron's badge on the trunk!
When I was 13 yrs old, I begged my mother to drop me off at Gidron's showroom in Sept. of 1970 so I could see the new 1971 Caddy's. I went in, & noticed Mr. Gidron leaning on a car talking to an employee. I proceeded to sit in a DeVille, then noticed an Eldorado in the corner. I got into the Eldo, and just as I shut the door, a salesman sitting nearby came up, opened the door, and asked if he could help. I asked for a brochure, he asked where my father was. I told him I was alone, he politely escorted me out the door requesting I come back with my father & he would be happy to oblige.
All this time, Mr. Gidron is looking on, not saying a word. I left embarrassed, started walking towards 187th., and the salesman who escorted me out called me back. Once inside, he asked me to take a seat at his desk. All the while, Mr. Gidron was still standing aside the same Caddy near his office. The salesman pulled out a full-line brochure, went over the pages, handed it to me with his card then invited me to sit in any Caddy on the floor as long as I liked.
Now, at the time I did not know it was Mr. Gidron standing near the car all along, nor did I understand any of what may have precipitated the the salesman to call me back.
I would reach conclusions to that many years later.
As a side note to this story, I still have that brochure today!
Reference ID: BX89351
Responses:
|
|
