My grandpa's old Conoco station. Pics.

[cnyeco1]

I haven't posted these on here since I joined. I don't know why because they are cool pics and related to the board focus. These are pictures of my grandfather and my dads old Conoco station in Topeka Kansas 1970. The nova is a 1969 and my dad bought it new in late 1968. I now own the car and have been playing with it for about ten years.

Check out the price of gas back then. This was during the height of the gas wars some of you older guys may remember. Also look at the octane content on the gas pump. Don't think they sell some of that stuff at the pump any more. I did a full right up on the car and station on Steve's Nova site if you want more info. Here's the link.
http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137938

 

[d33pt]

those are some cool pics. thanks for sharing.

 

[walrus]

Very cool, like the Firebird convertible pulling out of the station in the last pic. Sunoco used to have 105 octane pump gas

 

[PCO6]

That doesn't look a bit like my Dad's old station but I sure wish I had pictures of it! Thanks for posting yours.

 

[tdkkart]

I remember the days when nearly every service station had a gearhead's car sitting out front. I knew of one with a Mach1, one with a Camaro, one with an Impala, and one with an AMX.
Those were the days......

 

[jay50]

Nice pics and write up.
What is at the old Conco now? Walmart or fleamarket?

 

[mikester]

I wish time froze in the late 60s, early 70s.

 

[57210]

This brings back a lot of good memories for me. I was a 20yr old in the Air Force stationed at Forbes AFB (just south of Topeka). I was there from 65-69. Many good time at Allen's Drive-in.
Thanks again

 

[jay50]

I wish time froze in the late 60s, early 70s.

No way, I'd still be stuck in 'Nam.

 

[ZRX61]

What's it look like today?

 

[Amitygravel]

Great photos ! I miss those days. Back then the family cars were a '59 Impala 4dr hardtop , 283 poower pac 3 on the column. Dad bought that car brand new , had to put 'ethyl' in it for gas. The other family car, '67 Chevelle SS 396. 325hp ,Marina blue , buckets , console , auto and factory 8- track tape player!

 

[Rickster]

Thanks for posting that! I worked at a Mobil station for awhile in the early 70's and drove a 69 Nova, my first car.

 

[Rickster55]

Things haven't changed that much. Gas is till 24.9....oops...It's $3.24.9!!!

 

[Bender78]

Loos like a 56 Chevy gasser in the last picture.

 

[cnyeco1]

This brings back a lot of good memories for me. I was a 20yr old in the Air Force stationed at Forbes AFB (just south of Topeka). I was there from 65-69. Many good time at Allen's Drive-in.
Thanks again

How cool. I was born in Topeka in 1969. My dad used to take me to Forbes for the air shows. i met Pappy Boyington there one year. Burnett's mound on Saturday night, cruising Topeka blvd. And Allen's was the drive-in theater in South Topeka, correct? Saw Jaws and lots of others out there there when I was a kid.

Here's a pic of what is there now, (Arby's). It's been there since 1980. Sad that those cool old stations aren't around anymore. The MacDonald's is still there though. In the picture they were just building it. My dad says when they opened cheese burgers were 10 cents.

I love the old lights that arc over the station parking lot. Don't see those anymore.

 

[Mustangmike]

99 octane...wow.....there used to be a gas station on the way to a local track that sold the purple stuff. they would pump it directly into the race car's tank...

 

[Buford T. Justice]

That is so cool and brings back memories. I used to hang out as a kid when my dad's best friend owned and operated the Skelly service station. Then as a 15 year old I restored my first car with my dad a night in the back room - a 1962 Pontiac Tempest convertible. I don't think I have any pics of the station but this got me thinking of hunting for some. Today it is an empty gutted corner building. Kinda sad, really.

 

[tcianci]

Reminds me of my fathers Shell station he had in the late 50's. I don't have any pictures of it except in my memories and the only thing that I do have is the sign from over the door with his name and the title of proprietor Dad has been gone for 22 years now and I couldn't even find the building when I was in that area a couple months ago.

 

[southernfriedcj]

These are pictures of my grandfather and my dads old Conoco station in Topeka Kansas 1970.

Is the building still there?
If so what is it used for now?

Four of my all time favorite restaurants are housed in old gas stations.

 

[bazzateer]

Is the building still there?
If so what is it used for now?.

See post 15

 

[57210]

How cool. I was born in Topeka in 1969. My dad used to take me to Forbes for the air shows. i met Pappy Boyington there one year. Burnett's mound on Saturday night, cruising Topeka blvd. And Allen's was the drive-in theater in South Topeka, correct? Saw Jaws and lots of others out there there when I was a kid.

Here's a pic of what is there now, (Arby's). It's been there since 1980. Sad that those cool old stations aren't around anymore. The MacDonald's is still there though. In the picture they were just building it. My dad says when they opened cheese burgers were 10 cents.

I love the old lights that arc over the station parking lot. Don't see those anymore.

Allen's drive-in was a hamburger joint across from a shopping center on topeka Blvd. My favorite was the "Allen's Royal"

 

[twostrike]

I worked at Gas Station on the North Side of Topeka from the fall of 71, to spring of 73. I was driving a 68 Camaro, 63 Chev. Impala 2 door hard top with 327 and Qjet, 3 on tree, after I wrecked that I got a 62 F100, short wheel base, 6 w/3 on tree. What I would give to have any one of those three back.

 

[cnyeco1]

Allen's drive-in was a hamburger joint across from a shopping center on topeka Blvd. My favorite was the "Allen's Royal"

That place I don't remember. But if it was on Topeka Blvd. I'm sure we went there. When I was a kid and dad wanted to put me to sleep, he would put me in the nova and drive up and down Topeka Blvd. and within 3-10 minutes I'd be asleep. We lived right behind the Mac Donald's on the blvd. Right beside Brooster place high rise.

 

[cnyeco1]

I worked at Gas Station on the North Side of Topeka from the fall of 71, to spring of 73. I was driving a 68 Camaro, 63 Chev. Impala 2 door hard top with 327 and Qjet, 3 on tree, after I wrecked that I got a 62 F100, short wheel base, 6 w/3 on tree. What I would give to have any one of those three back.

Small world. We also lived on the north side of Topeka for a while. Way out on Silver Lake road there is a huge Goodyear plant dad worked at for a while. We lived in the small town just east of there. I guess it is considered N. Topeka.
My Grandparents owned a house right across the street from the governors mansion too. They had a concrete plant out there on silver lake road as well. Dad used to race at Manhattan raceway park, so if you were ever there you might of raced him.

 

[Aberdale]

Great photos. Pretty interesting that from 1970 to 2010 gas has gone up about 10x in price, a new car has gone up roughly 10x in price. Has anyone's income gone up 10x since 1970? I'm just wondering if we're ahead, behind, or even?

Dale

 

[fflintstone]

nice pictures.
the octane ratings back then were MON, and not the current RON (research octane number) MON ratings would be 6-8 points higher than current gas ratings.

durring the "gas wars" here in michigan my dad and I saw 19.9c for gas. we did a U-turn and filled up.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

 

[Thumper]

Whats the story on the gray 55 in the last pic? Future race car?

 

[mmhouse]

I remember buying gas at those prices and I'm not all that 'old' BTW. ;-)

 

[cnyeco1]

Whats the story on the gray 55 in the last pic? Future race car?

The gray 55 Chevy was one of my dads gasser's projects. He had several cars at any one time and I don't know if he ever completely finished one. He used to drive my grandfather crazy dragging home all the cars. Gramps just wasn't a "car guy", more of a business man. Dad is still like that today but he has finished couple since then. Here is one of them. GODZILLA!!

 

[billspit]

I'm surprised they didn't build a CVS pharmacy on the property. They love to locate on old gas station sites.

 

[aqr81]

I too remember buying gas at those prices, and the gas wars, the drive-in theaters and food joints. Those were the days...