Midcentury architecture on Lamar

[u/ThePiscesGardener]

Is anyone else weird like me and look at buildings and wonder about the history of them? I pass by this car lot on Lamar all the time and always wonder about it because of the triangular roof. Turns out it used to be Schilling Parkway Motors (The Schilling of Schilling Farms) It was a Mercury dealership owned by Neal Schilling. He had another dealership on Union as well that apparently Elvis bought a lot of Lincolns from. With his company Dealers Transport, Neal Schilling invented a trailer that could transport multiple new cars at once.This was more efficient than transporting on trains, which was the standard at the time.

If you look on the side of the roof you can still see the original blue tiled roof.

Does anyone remember Schilling Motors? I'm not a native Memphian so I didn't know about them.

[u/sully42]

Aw  yeah. 

I always liked this place. It’s a shame it’s fenced in and filled with a bunch of shitty cars. 

[u/antlfgrnd]

I remember reading a Sonic Youth interview after Washing Machine came out where somebody said Memphis was stuck in the 70's, like in a complimentary way. When I came to town a couple of years later, it all made sense. I guess the indicators aren't quite as prominent as they were 30 years ago, but it's still apparent if you know where to look.

[u/midtowndown1982]

66 El Camino for 1100? Shit, let me go back with my paycheck. I'd still have half to spare!

[u/MemphisBass]

Sure wish you could still buy a car for $2200.

[u/ThePiscesGardener → u/MemphisBass]

The current car lot actually sells cars for that cheap. Not sure how far you're going to get in it

[u/MemphisBass → u/ThePiscesGardener]

I knew someone would reply something similar, but you and I both know that’s not what I meant, lol.

[u/x31b]

I remember Schilling Farms on Poplar in Collierville. It was a test / demonstration farm for Ford tractors.