History of The Mile

1965

As the Sixties Muscle Cars arrived, National Avenue echoed to the throaty sounds of the hot new Pontiac GTO's and big block Chrysler Hemi's. National Avenue was repaved and new modern streetlights were added. The Ford "Cobra,” scourge of the muscle cars was sold on the "Mile." Car buyers snapped up the high performance vehicles that were to bring top dollars from today's collector car market. Twenty car agencies offered over fourteen new car makes on National Avenue. In November of 1964, E.M. Stanley built a plush new agency at the south end of National Avenue. He moved his dealership from its previous location, across from city hall, to land that had once been Navy housing. He was followed by Acme Chevrolet. Soon George Webster moved in next to them, near 26th Street. In 1965, five dealers, Stanley, Webster, Ball, McCune and Bob Dailey formed the new "Mile of Cars". Dailey was a Datsun dealer who had moved from Chula Vista. His dealership would become Mossy Nissan. Ryan Oldsmobile occupied Webster's former site. The dealers formed the "National City Car Dealers Association", with Bill Ryan of Ryan Olds, George Webster, E.M. Stanley and George Hamilton of Acme Chevrolet heavily involved in promoting what was labeled the "Miracle Mile of Cars" in their advertising. Kile Morgan was elected to the position of Mayor in 1967. He realized the importance of the 'Mile" to the city and campaigned to lure new dealers away from other areas. In 1967 Theo Lamb moved his family to California from Prescott Arizona and purchased Acme Chevrolet from George Hamilton. Acme became Lamb, then later Ron Baker Chevrolet.

1904 • 1906 • 1920 • 1941 • 1955 • 1965 • 1970 • 1990s • Development