My '64 Fremont GTO was originally retailed at Herman Theroff Pontiac in Fresno. Don't think this dealer used decklid nameplates, just license plate frames.
Found a pic from '66. Address is identified as 819 M St., looks like the Fresno Convention Center is built there now. My Nov. '63 dated manifest shows the address a block over at 850 L St. A huge parking garage is at that address now.
April '65 news story explains the two addresses, "A $300,000 expansion program is under way for Herman Theroff Pontiac, Inc., with the first phase at 819 M Street due for completion within 90 days. The general offices, closing department and sales management as well as the new car department will be moved from 850 L Street to the M Street site. Additional property was purchased from Mrs. Estella Mitchell of Kerman, and formerly was occupied by the Geography Book Store. This building is undergoing extensive remodeling. To the side of the new showroom will be display area for 100 cars. Service parking will be in the rear. New street lights will match the nearby Del Webb's Fresno Center, along with similar landscaping. A new building to house the new car service shop will be erected behind the existing building on M Street. The old building on L Street will be remodeled for offices and a customer waiting lounge. Alastair Simpson is the architect and Stanley Fugman is the contractor. Theroff said that after checking many suburban locations for expansion, he decided to remain downtown. He has operated the agency for 10 years. There are 60 employees. Paul W. Johnson is the general manager of the business. Mrs. Jane Hough is the secretary and business manager."
Del Webb's Fresno Center is a skyscraper that began construction in '63 to be a hotel/office building, still stands but now occupied by County offices.
While looking for anything about Herman Theroff, saw a clipping from Jan. '70 that announced he was finance chair for a political campaign and described him as a former car dealer, so he may have been out of the car business by 1970.
Wish I knew what became of his dealership.
Saw his name in connection with a 1972 murder in Fresno, suggesting he may have been a suspected financier of a well connected Fresno drug smuggling operation. Interesting story.
Later in the '70s he may have gotten involved with the development of a residential subdivision in Santa Cruz County.
His brother Bud Theroff may have incorporated a Pontiac dealership in 1959 but I couldn't find any confirmation of that.
A younger sister passed away at 92 just last year.
It looks like Herman died at 79 in 1994.
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