Drennen Motor Company: Difference between revisions
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<!--[[Image:Don Drennen logo.png|right]]--> | <!--[[Image:Don Drennen logo.png|right]]--> | ||
[[File:Don Drennen Cadillac rendering.jpg|right|thumb|375px|The Drennen Motor Company opened a downtown Cadillac showroom in November 1954]] | [[File:Don Drennen Cadillac rendering.jpg|right|thumb|375px|The Drennen Motor Company opened a downtown Cadillac showroom in November 1954]] | ||
The '''Drennen Motor Company''' was an automobile dealership founded in [[1908]] by [[Hubert Drennen]], as an outgrowth of the [[Drennen & Co.]] department store, which had begun as a general store in [[1869]] and was selling automobiles alongside its wagons and buggies in Birmingham as early as [[1903]]. The separate company's first location was at [[3rd Avenue South|Avenue C | The '''Drennen Motor Company''' was an automobile dealership founded in [[1908]] by [[Hubert Drennen]], as an outgrowth of the [[Drennen & Co.]] department store, which had begun as a general store in [[1869]] and was selling automobiles alongside its wagons and buggies in Birmingham as early as [[1903]]. The separate company's first location was on [[Block 136]] at 221–231 [[20th Street South]], on the corner of [[3rd Avenue South|Avenue C]]. | ||
In [[1914]] Hubert's brother, [[Don Drennen Sr]] purchased the [[Loveman, Joseph & Loeb]] automobile department, and opened another dealership a block away at Avenue C and [[21st Street South]]. Soon later, Don volunteered with the U.S. Naval Reserve Flying Corps serving in [[World War I]]. Hubert operated both businesses, and they were formally merged after Don's return. | In [[1914]] Hubert's brother, [[Don Drennen Sr]] purchased the [[Loveman, Joseph & Loeb]] automobile department, and opened another dealership a block away at Avenue C and [[21st Street South]]. Soon later, Don volunteered with the U.S. Naval Reserve Flying Corps serving in [[World War I]]. Hubert operated both businesses, and they were formally merged after Don's return. | ||
The brothers opened several more locations in the 1920s, including | The Drennen Motor Company primarily represented General Motors makes, including Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet automobiles. They also sold Federal Motor Trucks and General tires. The brothers opened several more locations in the 1920s, including a remodeled showroom at 520 [[19th Street North Bessemer|19th Street North]] in [[Bessemer]] and a new location at 2220 [[Avenue E Ensley|Avenue E]] in [[Ensley]]. Federal took over its retail truck sales directly in [[1925]]. The [[Adam Cadillac Co.]] took over the area's Cadillac and LaSalle sales in [[1930]]. During the [[Great Depression]], Drennen Motor Company actually lent money to General Motors. | ||
[[Charles Nabb Drennen|Charles Drennen]], Hubert's son, took over the downtown dealership in [[1951]]. In July of that year Don, Charles's uncle, split the company by taking over the Buick dealership in [[Ensley]]. That business grew into the [[Don Drennen Motor Co.]], which moved to [[Hoover]] in [[1972]]. | |||
Meanwhile opening a new Cadillac showroom at 321–323 20th Street South in [[1954]]. When Charles retired in [[1972]] he sold his Chevrolet franchise to [[Ivan Leonard Chevrolet]], his Buick sales to [[Tom Williams Buick]], and the Cadillac business to his son-in-law, [[Ralph Quinn]], who named it [[Drennen Cadillac]]. | |||
<!--In July [[1951]] Don Drennen bought out Hubert's Ensley dealership and reincorporated it as the "[[Don Drennen Motor Co.]]". His son, [[Don Drennen Jr]] joined that company after he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in [[1956]]. Drennen Jr became president in [[1968]]. That business relocated at 1626 [[Montgomery Highway (Hoover)|Montgomery Highway]] in [[Hoover]] in [[1972]]. He added AMC/Jeep to the lineup. After Chrysler bought AMC, Drennen took on the Chrysler franchise in [[1992]], becoming ''Don Drennen Buick Chrysler Jeep''. Since that time the company's parts department has become one of the largest in the nation, delivering Mopar and other parts to a 15-state region. In [[1993]], [[Ward Drennen|Don Drennen III]] (called Ward) joined the company. He took over day-to-day management in [[2005]]. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary in [[2008]], becoming only the 2nd auto dealer in the nation to do so. | <!--In July [[1951]] Don Drennen bought out Hubert's Ensley dealership and reincorporated it as the "[[Don Drennen Motor Co.]]". His son, [[Don Drennen Jr]] joined that company after he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in [[1956]]. Drennen Jr became president in [[1968]]. That business relocated at 1626 [[Montgomery Highway (Hoover)|Montgomery Highway]] in [[Hoover]] in [[1972]]. He added AMC/Jeep to the lineup. After Chrysler bought AMC, Drennen took on the Chrysler franchise in [[1992]], becoming ''Don Drennen Buick Chrysler Jeep''. Since that time the company's parts department has become one of the largest in the nation, delivering Mopar and other parts to a 15-state region. In [[1993]], [[Ward Drennen|Don Drennen III]] (called Ward) joined the company. He took over day-to-day management in [[2005]]. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary in [[2008]], becoming only the 2nd auto dealer in the nation to do so. | ||
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[[Category:3rd Avenue South]] | [[Category:3rd Avenue South]] | ||
[[Category:20th Street South]] | [[Category:20th Street South]] | ||
[[Category:Block 147]] | |||
[[Category:19th Street North Bessemer]] | |||
[[Category:Avenue E Ensley]] | |||
[[Category:2011 disestablishments]] | [[Category:2011 disestablishments]] | ||
[[Category:1951 buildings]] | [[Category:1951 buildings]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:27, 18 May 2023
The Drennen Motor Company was an automobile dealership founded in 1908 by Hubert Drennen, as an outgrowth of the Drennen & Co. department store, which had begun as a general store in 1869 and was selling automobiles alongside its wagons and buggies in Birmingham as early as 1903. The separate company's first location was on Block 136 at 221–231 20th Street South, on the corner of Avenue C.
In 1914 Hubert's brother, Don Drennen Sr purchased the Loveman, Joseph & Loeb automobile department, and opened another dealership a block away at Avenue C and 21st Street South. Soon later, Don volunteered with the U.S. Naval Reserve Flying Corps serving in World War I. Hubert operated both businesses, and they were formally merged after Don's return.
The Drennen Motor Company primarily represented General Motors makes, including Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet automobiles. They also sold Federal Motor Trucks and General tires. The brothers opened several more locations in the 1920s, including a remodeled showroom at 520 19th Street North in Bessemer and a new location at 2220 Avenue E in Ensley. Federal took over its retail truck sales directly in 1925. The Adam Cadillac Co. took over the area's Cadillac and LaSalle sales in 1930. During the Great Depression, Drennen Motor Company actually lent money to General Motors.
Charles Drennen, Hubert's son, took over the downtown dealership in 1951. In July of that year Don, Charles's uncle, split the company by taking over the Buick dealership in Ensley. That business grew into the Don Drennen Motor Co., which moved to Hoover in 1972.
Meanwhile opening a new Cadillac showroom at 321–323 20th Street South in 1954. When Charles retired in 1972 he sold his Chevrolet franchise to Ivan Leonard Chevrolet, his Buick sales to Tom Williams Buick, and the Cadillac business to his son-in-law, Ralph Quinn, who named it Drennen Cadillac.
References
- Ellaby, Liz (April 19, 2008) "'A long, interesting ride.' Don Drennen Motor Co. celebrates 100 years." The Birmingham News