Who ever said car dealerships had to be bland and dreary? These ten have the right idea.
10.) Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwymdrobwllllantysiliogo-gogoch Volvo
This seems like a normal car dealer, until people start asking where you bought your new car: "Yeah I got my new XC90 at, uhhhh, Llama-pringles-gwingles-gorejwoirjewmfgd-gogoch Volvo..."
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwymdrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – also known as Llanfairpwllgwyngyll – is a small town in North Wales where this Volvo dealer – also called Tyn Lon Garage – is housed.
Suggested By: shortyoh, Photo Credit: Google Maps
9.) Miller Motors (The World's Last Hudson Dealer)
Miller Motors has recently turned into the Ypsilanti Auto Heritage museum, but this Hudson dealer remained a Hudson dealer long after the company had folded. They sold used cars, parts, and restored Hudsons.
If you're into forgotten American cars, this place looks like it's well worth the trip.
Suggested By: shortyoh, Photo Credit: Dwight Burdette
8.) Canepa Collection
At what other car dealership can you buy an actual Gulf-liveried Porsche 917K? None. None other car dealerships have 917s for sale.
Suggested By: ethanheisler, Photo Credit: Gripevo1
7.) North Freeway Hyndai/Exotic Cars Of Houston
These two dealers either share space, or are owned by the same company, but whatever the arrangement may be, it leads to some pretty damn interesting inventory.
As of right now, it seems like it's the only place in the world where you can have your choice of a new Hyundai Accent, a used 2001 Civic, a Lamborghini Diablo VT, or one of seven Chevy SSRs.
Suggested By: Kevin McCauley, Photo Credit: Google Maps
6.) The Original McLaren F1 Showroom
How did McLaren sell the fastest car in the world back in the '90s? Apparently this way, as reader t_s found out:
"I walked in there back in the late nineties as a teenager, fully expecting to be shown the door. The nice lady in there instead took pity on me, sat me down, gave me a cup of tea and some remarkably tasty biscuits.
We proceeded to discuss the relative merits and demerits of a central seating position as well as the performance figures compared to the contemporary supercars of the time. I enquired as to the possibility of obtaining some promotional literature, however she told me that they didn't have any to hand (a very polite way of saying piss off you spotty little chancer, we only give that sort of stuff to people with massive bank accounts). But to this day I remember the experience as amazing. I remember people walking past, looking in and probably wondering what the fuck this kid was doing in there.
Surreal.
Plus the dealership itself was incredibly dingy. Tiny, very dark, one desk, one (admittedly biblical) car. Not nearly what I was expecting from the makers of the most incredible automobile of the nineties. Now I can appreciate that real estate on Park Lane is probably quite costly, but seriously?"
Suggested By: t_s, Photo Credit: McLaren
5.) Illegal Tesla "Dealers"
Tesla showrooms are fairly weird as it is, but in states where they're illegal, things start to get pretty strange. DennyCraneDennyCraneDennyCrane does a good job of detailing the weirdness:
"Oh, look at this wonderful Model S, here! Isn't it wonderful?
How much does it cost? I can't tell you that. Go look it up online. Would you like to buy a T-Shirt?
Oh, you're sold, you want to buy? Congratulations! Now go home and buy it online. Would you like to buy a hoodie or hat before you go?"
Suggested By: DennyCraneDennyCraneDennyCrane, Photo Credit: Getty Images
4.) Bristol Cars Showroom
A dealership for a company that barely makes any cars in a pricey part of London? Sure. Why not? Reader nottoosurewhattouse said that the last time they went there, they only had four used cars.
I'm just glad it exists.
Suggested By: Fordson, Photo Credit: Joe Simpson
3.) Fuck Fiat
Sadly, these dealerships have since been renamed, but there were a number of Fuck Fiat's in southern Brazil up until a few years ago.
Supposedly the dealers were owned by a German family whose last name was Fuck. I'm sad that they don't exist anymore, but happy that there's a bunch of Fiats running around Brazil with FuckFiat bumper stickers.
Suggested By: flpcrdm, Photo Credit: Fuck Fiat
2.) Collier AMC
American Motors hasn't existed as a company since 1988, but that hasn't stopped Collier AMC from selling cars from the defunct brand.
You need an appointment, but you can actually go to Collier and buy a brand new AMC in need of a full restoration. Hot Rod has a great writeup on this very weird dealership.
Suggested By: crowmolly, Photo Credit: CZmarlin
1.) Ling's Cars
I don't need to tell you how strange Ling's Cars is. All you need to do is check out her amazing/terrifying/CPU-sucking/gif-heavy/brilliant website to figure it out.
Ling has brilliantly turned weirdness into a hugely successful business, and she should be an inspiration to everyone. This world needs more people like Ling.
Suggested By: Superjaat, Photo Credit: Ling's Cars
Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!
Top Photo Credit: Ling's Cars
Contact the author at chris@jalopnik.com.