The Cito Auto Garage Mystery

We see four different pre-war cars on display in front of the Cito Auto Garage. The photograph is taken in 1937 or 1938. At the time the garage was located at the Joost van Geelstraat 58-60-62 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. All four cars belonged to the garage and were very likely for sale.

The company is still in business, moved a few times and is currently located in Capelle a/d IJssel. Where an enlarged version of this photograph is hanging in the showroom of the nowadays Subaru dealer. The garage is still in the hands of the same family and is now being let by the son of the owner (during the time the photo was taken).

He is very curious to know more about what we see in the photograph. Can anyone give us more information about the pre-war cars we see here? Please comment below.

Have a good Monday everyone!

Words by the editor. Photograph sent in by Jan van der Gaag.

Publié:

lundi août 6th, 2018

Mark Dawber

07 Août 2018, 01:01

Regarding the two Packards, I think the car on the right looks to have a shorter hood so has to be a six, a Model 526, the shortest wheelbase sedan model. This was probably Packard's biggest selling model that year as they sold more than 5 times as many sixes as eights in the 1928 series. The other one is, I think, a 1929 Standard Eight Model 626, the shortest wheelbase sedan and again, probably their biggest seller.

It is remarkable how similar in general appearance the big 128" wheelbase 1928 Buick Model 50 Master Six is to the Packards.

Detlef Kayser

06 Août 2018, 23:02

I think that the second from the right is not a Packard but an Opel (watch the plain wheels) which used the same shape of radiator as the Packard.

Michael Schlenger

07 Août 2018, 14:47

As for the second car from the right, I initially also considered Opel, but: Packards were available with disc wheels, as well, and the medium- to large-sized Opels (7/34, 8/40, 12/50 and 15/60 h.p.) featured different frontlights and larger hubcaps.

Jeremy Wise

06 Août 2018, 08:19

I have studied the photo and with regard to the vehicle on the far right which only the front is displayed, I believe this to be Buick. My reasoning is that; the radiator shell is the profile used by Buick, along with a small vertical detailing at the centre top of shell above the radiator core, an insignia appears to the front of the radiator core (I can not tell if this a attached to the radiator core [1929] or forms a casting attached to the headlights [1930]), the bumper bar is also a profile used by Buick and the hubcap appears to look like the Buick type.

I believe either this is a 1929 or 1930 model. Buick switched to a two bar bumper in this period. The bonnet (hood) appear short in the photo and therefore I'd suggest a Series 116 [1929] or Series 40 [1930] or maybe even a Marquette. The Marquette was a 4 cylinder model introduced by Buick for a very short period endeavouring to bolster sales during the Great Depression.

Without seeing the vehicle in more detail or the rear of the vehicle I can not judge further.

I own a 1930 Buick, Series 50X, Model 57 (X = Export).

Unfortunately I cannot provide any information on the other vehicles.

Mark Dawber

07 Août 2018, 00:52

The car on the right is definitely a 1929 Buick. They had distinctive one year only styling. The hubcap visible at lower right can be nothing other than 1929 Buick.

By the way the Marquette was a six. The engine was a side valve, about the only side valve engine ever seen in a Buick. I think there were a couple of very early cars in Buick history which were side valve.

Herman van Oldeneel

06 Août 2018, 07:23

Early in 1928 Mr. Schoonewagen stepped back and Mr. Kagchelland took over business.

Car on the right: Buick 1929 (triple bar bumper)
Two cars in the middle : Packard, around '29
Car on the left also Packard?

Steve Diggins

06 Août 2018, 00:57

They all look like Buicks to me. About 1930.

Donald E Risen

06 Août 2018, 19:03

from left to right:
1928 Buick Roadmaster
1929 Packard Sedan
1928 Packard Sedan
1929 Buick Sedan

The Cito Auto Garage Mystery

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