Steven Motor Company, Plymouth and Valiant dealers, general view of their new location. New Plymouths can be seen in the showroom window and on the lot. Owner Everett Steven had over 50 years in the automotive business, beginning in 1916 as a partner to Harold Gilliam of Gilliam & Steven.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Evening view in May of 1968 of Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers. Neon and backlit plastic signs on building and posts, new Plymouths in showroom window and on outdoor lot, used car department beyond. Steven Motor Co. had been at 2705 South Tacoma Way since late 1959. They had previously been in the downtown Broadway area for decades. Color photo ordered by Action Color Advertising, Portland, Oregon.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices);

Mrs. Edith Hild demonstrates checking under the hood of her 1954 Plymouth Savoy which she is trading in at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers. She may have purchased the car from Steven Motors back in 1963 as the license plate indicates. Mrs. Hild, the widow of Ray Hild, resided at 815 No. Ainsworth Ave. Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit.

Hild, Edith; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

September, 1971, view of the 2700 block of South Tacoma Way. At the corner is the Oxygen Sales & Service Co., distributor of Union Carbide welding products and Linde gases. Propane was also for sale. Next door to Oxygen Sales & Service was the Steven Motor Co., a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership. According to their full page ad in the 1971 City Directory, Steven Motor Co. had 50 continuous years in the automobile business in Tacoma. They had been at the South Tacoma Way location since 1959; prior to that, they had been based in downtown Tacoma on Broadway for many years. Everett T. Steven was president of the firm with Pete Lisicich as manager and Norm Gordon as used car fleet and lease manager. Photograph ordered by Steven Motor Co.

Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980; Oxygen Sales & Service Co. (Tacoma);

Mrs. Edith Hild sits at the wheel of her 1954 Plymouth Savoy parked at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers on August 17, 1972. Steven's manager Pete Lisicich notes the very low mileage (14226) for the 18-year-old car. The Hild family drove the car less than 15.5 miles per week. Despite the fact the car only traveled about 1000 miles a year, the family brought it in to Steven Motor every fall for complete inspection and maintenance service. The low miles and pristine condition made Mrs. Hild's Savoy the top choice in a national search for the best 1954 Plymouth to be presented to singer Johnny Cash. He had once owned this same model when he first began singing. Mrs. Hild received the keys to a new 1973 Plymouth in exchange for her car. Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit. (TNT 8-30-72, A-1 article)

Hild, Edith; Lisicich, Pete; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Mrs. Edith Hild shares a smile with Steven Motor Co. manager Pete Lisicich on August 17, 1972. Mrs. Hild, leaning against her 1954 Plymouth Savoy, was planning to trade in her classic low-mileage automobile. According to Wikipedia, the Savoy was introduced in 1954 as a 1955 model and came only in a four-door sedan and a two-door coupe model. Mrs. Hild's vehicle was the four-door sedan and appeared to be in excellent condition. Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit.

Hild, Edith; Lisicich, Pete; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Mrs. Edith Hild of 815 No. Ainsworth Ave. is pictured in August of 1972 at the wheel of her 1954 Plymouth Savoy which is parked at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers. The Savoy, which is no longer produced, had its gearshift on the steering wheel column. Mrs. Hild would be swapping her '54 Plymouth for keys to a 1973 Plymouth at the Indiana State Fair. Her car was selected during a nationwide search for the best 1954 Plymouth and presented to singer Johnny Cash. He had once owned a duplicate model which he considered to be the "best car I ever owned." Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit. (TNT 8-30-72, A-1 article)

Hild, Edith; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Mrs. Edith Hild at the wheel of her 1954 Plymouth Savoy which she has parked at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers located at 2705 South Tacoma Way. The driver's door is open while Mrs. Hild keeps a firm one-handed grip on the steering wheel. By 1972, the car would have been about 18 years old but had less than 15,000 miles on its odometer. Mrs. Hild, the widow of Ray Hild, resided at 815 No. Ainsworth Ave. Her car would be the top choice in a nationwide search for the best 1954 Plymouth and presented to singer Johnny Cash later in August. He had once owned a 1954 Plymouth when first starting his career and maintained that it was the "best car I ever owned." Mrs. Hild would not be left carless; in exchange, she would receive the keys to a 1973 Plymouth at the Indiana State Fair. Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit. (TNT 8-30-72, A-1 article)

Hild, Edith; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

A laughing Mrs. Edith Hild practices the time-honored tradition of testing tires as she kicks the front tire of her 1954 Plymouth Savoy parked at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers, located on South Tacoma Way. The low-mileage sedan was originally purchased from Steven Motor and faithfully maintained there. Mrs. Hild, a retired schoolteacher, was the national winner for the owner of the best 1954 Plymouth. Her Savoy would be given to singer Johnny Cash in exchange for the keys to a 1973 Plymouth. Cash had always admired the '54 Savoy model, a car that he and his brother had owned at the start of Cash's singing career. Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit. (TNT 8-30-72, A-1 article)

Hild, Edith; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Coons & Wasser, picture of truss. This elevated view shows a building under construction providing a view of the trusses used for the roof. The system allows a large interior free of supports. A Texaco gasoline tank sits just beyond the new building. The building in front, currently "Auto Parts", was formerly Ben's Truck Parts.

Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Roof trusses; Auto Parts--Tacoma;

Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers, general view of agency. Neon signs on building and posts, new Plymouths in showroom window and on outdoor lot, used car department beyond. Steven Motor Co. was located at 2705 South Tacoma Way. It would once again add Chrysler to the company's Plymouth-Valiant sales and service facilities in 1962. Armand Moceri was the manager and Everett Steven, president. (TNT ad 1-1-62, B-12,13)

Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Steven Motor Co. in their new location at 2705 South Tacoma Way. Steven Motors was the Plymouth and Valiant dealer and had formerly been located in downtown Tacoma on Broadway. Everett T. Steven was the president of the sales and service company. Steven had 50 years experience in the automotive business. He started out with Harold Gilliam as Gilliam & Steven at 733 St. Helens in 1916. Prior to that partnership, Steven had worked at Pacific Car Company as a youngster, polishing the brass on new cars. New Plymouth automobiles can be seen in the showroom window and on the lot. The dealership was 2 1/2 acres with a 350 foot frontage on South Tacoma Way and 600 feet deep. The showroom had 3,000 square feet of floor space with 16 foot high glass windows on 2 1/3 sides. Above the showroom was a conference room and coffee bar, behind the showroom sales offices were the parts department and shop area. (TNT 11/4/1959, section A)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers, general view of the showroom at their new South Tacoma location. New Plymouth Fury hardtop at left in photo, station wagon at right. To the left of the photo are cubicles, probably holding the desks of the sales agents. To the right of the photo is a stand up cardboard cut out of Steve Allen advertising "The Steve Allen Plymouth Show." Behind and to the left of the cut out is the parts department; the shop area can be seen through the open space at the back of the office. Located above the offices, that were behind the doors in the back wall, were a conference room and a coffee bar. The approximately 3000 square foot showroom had 16 foot high glass windows on 2 1/3 sides. It was one of the finest Chrysler Corporation dealerships on the West Coast. The dealership was also one of two local dealers of the Valiant, the 101 horsepower, 6 cylinder family sized economy car. (TNT 11/4/1959, section A)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Pete Lisicich and Mrs. Edith Hild examine the trunk of her 1954 Plymouth Savoy at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers. The spacious trunk apparently held only a spare tire. Mr. Lisicich was the manager of Steven Motor Co., a longtime automobile dealership. Mrs. Hild's Plymouth was the eventual national winner of the best '54 Plymouth--to be presented to singer Johnny Cash as a reminder of the car he considered the "best car I ever owned." Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit. (TNT 8-30-72, A-1 article)

Hild, Edith; Lisicich, Pete; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Mrs. Edith Hild, of 815 No. Ainsworth Ave., opens the front passenger door of her 1954 Plymouth Savoy at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers. Mrs. Hild was apparently going to trade her in vehicle for a newer model. The Savoy was Plymouth's mid-level car in 1954 when it was available only in a four-door sedan and two-door coupe. According to Wikipedia, Plymouth would discontinue the use of the Savoy nameplate at the end of the 1964 model year, except in Canada. Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit.

Hild, Edith; Plymouth automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma);

On August 17, 1972, Mrs. Edith Hild was shown cleaning the windshield of her 1954 Plymouth Savoy at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers. The car was originally purchased from Steven Motor. The 77-year-old retired schoolteacher's vehicle was presented to singer Johnny Cash in late August after a national search for this model, a duplicate of the car that Cash stated was "the best car I ever owned." Mrs. Hild would have her picture taken with Cash at the Indiana State Fair and receive the keys to a new 1973 Plymouth. Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit. (TNT 8-30-72, A-1 article & photo with Mrs.Hild and Cash)

Hild, Edith; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1954 Plymouth Savoy at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers. This vehicle belonged to Mrs. Edith Hild of Tacoma. It may have been originally purchased from Steven Motor Co. back in 1963. Mrs. Hild was apparently trading the classic automobile in for a newer model. Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit.

Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Mrs. Edith Hild happily handed over the keys to her 1954 Plymouth Savoy to Pete Lisicich, sales manager at Steven Motor Company on August 17, 1972. Mrs. Hild was the lucky winner in the nationwide search for the best 1954 Plymouth to be presented to singer Johnny Cash. Mr. Cash had a fondness for this model, a duplicate of which he had owned at the start of his singing career. The Hild family had originally purchased their 1954 Plymouth from Steven Motor. Mrs. Hild's well maintained, low mileage Savoy was presented to Johnny Cash in late August at the Indiana State Fair with Mrs. Hild in attendance. Mrs. Hild received the keys to a brand new 1973 Plymouth. (Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit.) (TNT 8-30-72, A-1 article)

Hild, Edith; Lisicich, Pete; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1954 Plymouth Savoy parked beside Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers's large sign on August 17, 1972. The four-door sedan belonged to Mrs. Edith Hild who originally purchased the car at Steven Motor. The well-kept vehicle was chosen as the best 1954 Plymouth in a national search and was presented to singer Johnny Cash in late August. Mrs. Hild would receive the keys to a 1973 Plymouth in exchange. Photograph ordered by Young & Rubicam, Detroit. (TNT 8-30-72, A-1 article)

Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1970-1980; Signs (Notices);

Pacific Telephone was advertising "Your telephone is one of today's best bargains". View of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph telephone booth located on South Tacoma Way, a public telephone sign is posted on pole; view of Zimmerman Machine Works and Galbraith Motor Company across the street from the telephone booth. Photo ordered by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company.

Telephone booths--Tacoma--1940-1950; Telephone companies--Tacoma; Telephone industry--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; City & town life--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);