Kelly Motors

J Spencer
J Spencer Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Any one recall Kelly Motors, McKeesport, Pa? I met a new Hudson owner tonight that just purchased a 1951 Commadore 4dr sedan Serial # 6a14009 in the Newark, NY area that came from that dealership. He has the original bill of sale. Car was sold to a J.J. Hickman, 124 N 1st St, Duquesne, Pa in Dec, 1950.

I beleive the price of the car new was $2465.00 and he was allowed $500.00 for his 1937 Terraplane trade in. The car is now in need of a lot of work, paint, upholstery, some minor rust in floor boards, rear frame looks to be in good condition. Car has working overdrive & 262 engine. He has it on the road driving it and loving it. The car has been off the road for about twenty years.

Has already gone thru the brakes. He teaches auto shop at local High school and had the students perform the work on the car. He said they loved every minute working on the car (and the car too).

I advised him of the National club and this forum and any help I can offer. I will probably see him more at the Cruise nights around here.



Jim Spencer

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I, and my family are very familiar with Kelly Motors. It started as the White Front Garage, selling Hudsons, in Duquesne, Pa - across the river from McKeesport. In 1947 he moved to Mckeesport and renamed it Kelly Motors. Being a larger town it was a better opportunity there. The dealership remained open thru the AMC years. The building still exists.



    My dad grew up in Duquesne and is very familiar with it all. My two uncles purchased new 1950 Hudsons from Kelly, and we still have pictures of those cars here.



    Dad, and I, got a real smile out of seeing the Kelly name posted here. Actually, dad thinks he may know who the original owner of that car was...lol!



    BTW - my dad is Ken Schulte, one of the "S's" in SS&S Hudson Restorations, with Dave Sollon & Paul Schuster.



    If you see the new owner, tell him if he is interested, we can get a digital photo of the building where Kelly Motors was.



    Laurie Schulte



    2laschulte@verizon.net

    [remove the 2]
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    Laurie | I'd like to see a photo of the Kelly Motor building, as I think most of the forum would. I've been collecting pictures of the old Hudson dealerships for some time.



    Jerry
  • 37 CTS
    37 CTS Senior Contributor
    Hi Laurie,



    Could you please advise what year the White Front Garage began and the address. Also the name of the dealer. I will include it in my dealer listings.



    thanks
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    37 CTS wrote:
    Hi Laurie,



    Could you please advise what year the White Front Garage began and the address. Also the name of the dealer. I will include it in my dealer listings.



    thanks







    We will work on that this weekend. Will try to get the right dates for White Front Garage and Bires Auto Sales - the 2 Hudson Dealerships that were in Duquesne.



    Tomorrow, we bury our good Hudson friend Wayne Wehrle. Tough day for those in PGH and the WR Chapter....and certainly for his family.





    Laurie
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    53jetman wrote:
    Laurie | I'd like to see a photo of the Kelly Motor building, as I think most of the forum would. I've been collecting pictures of the old Hudson dealerships for some time.



    Jerry



    Jerry,



    I will endeavor to drive over this weekend and get some pictures of it. I will also take one more set of pictures of the Bires Auto Sales - the 2nd Hudson Dealership in Duquense, PA. The 3 feet of snow we got in March collapsed the roof of that building and I expect it to be demolished before too long.





    Laurie
  • J Spencer
    J Spencer Expert Adviser
    Ues I wpild like a photo of the old Kelly building, I am sure the new Hudson owner would be very interested in it. I will probably see him at one of the Cruise Nights now and then. Hopefully he will attend our chapter meet June 16th



    I Know your Dad as I have met/seen him at Front Royal, and National meets.



    Thanks, Jim Spencer
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    J Spencer wrote:
    Ues I wpild like a photo of the old Kelly building, I am sure the new Hudson owner would be very interested in it. I will probably see him at one of the Cruise Nights now and then. Hopefully he will attend our chapter meet June 16th



    I Know your Dad as I have met/seen him at Front Royal, and National meets.



    Thanks, Jim Spencer



    Weather permitting, I will get out this weekend to get pictures of the Kelley Motors site, Bires Auto Sales and a few other local ones. Already took pictures of the Benke Motor Sales out in Culmerville, PA. The White Front Garage site no longer exists and i've yet to find any historic pictures of it, but I keep checking for any at the local historic center.



    Been planning to run a series of pictures in our chapter newsletter about the current status of the regional dealership buildings. Neat when you can still find them in decent shape.



    Laurie
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    37 CTS wrote:
    Hi Laurie,



    Could you please advise what year the White Front Garage began and the address. Also the name of the dealer. I will include it in my dealer listings.



    thanks



    Duquesne Motor Sales/White Front Garage



    10 South Duquesne Avenue - Duquesne, PA 15110



    Dates from 1920's -1947





    Originally owned by the Bryan Family of Homestead, PA. Operated under name of Duquesne Motor Sales.



    George Kelly took it over in 1930 and named it White Front Garage.





    Kelly Motors - when moved to Mckeesport, PA in 1947



    216 8th Avenue - McKeesport, PA 15132





    Bires Auto Sales



    808 West Grant Avenue - Duquesne, PA 15110



    Owner: John W. "Butch" Bires



    Dates: 1947-1970



    [my father and grandfather worked for Mr. Bires]





    Hope this helps some.



    Laurie
  • 37 CTS
    37 CTS Senior Contributor
    Thank You Laurie for the information re the dealershiips and I will include

    this in my dealer listings which total over 6200.



    Will miss Wayne, he was a fine man and i talked Hudsons with him several times. Once we met at Breezewood Pa by chance at a gas station. We were both driving our Hudsons.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    37 CTS wrote:
    Thank You Laurie for the information re the dealershiips and I will include

    this in my dealer listings which total over 6200.



    Will miss Wayne, he was a fine man and i talked Hudsons with him several times. Once we met at Breezewood Pa by chance at a gas station. We were both driving our Hudsons.



    You are most welcome. Always glad to help update/preserve any relevant Hudson history.





    Yes, Wayne was a very fine man and I was lucky to have him for an "uncle" for more years than I care to say. Many great stories were told today and they made us all smile - and I think that is how Wayne would have wanted it.



    I like to think that he, my mom and Jack & Dee Heisler are all happily reunited in Heaven and will be watching over us all...
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    edited February 2011
    FYI

    An old Roy Heath Co Hudson Dealer Picture a friend sent me...
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    That's a great photo Ol' Racer...
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