McDonald AMC/Jeep - McDonald, PA

[AMX]

The 1983 movie Flashdance contains a local news report about a fire which damaged a lumberyard, United Dairy Farmers store and an American Motors dealership in "McDonald, Washington County".

I have always wondered if it was a real sound bite or something made for the movie. So, checking farna's list for PA there was a dealership in McDonald, called McDonald AMC/Jeep at 161 S. McDonald St.

According to Google, that address is now a Family Dollar Store. Right next door, at 159 S. McDonald St. is a True Value lumber and hardware store, so that fits too.

[IowaEagle]

Interesting.  A real news story in a movie.  I wonder if the dealership survived the fire?

[scott]

I'm going to search for the McDonald dealership come spring. Its about 5 "crow flies" miles from another former AMC dealer in Hickory Pa. I've been past the dealer in Hickory within the past couple of months, but didn't have my camera with me. They are a Chrysler Jeep dealer currently. Then another 5 miles from Hickory is Canonsburg, location of another dealer. It seems odd that the dealers would be this close to each other, but I guess that's how they did things.     Scott

[AMX]

I will be eagerly awaiting an update from the "Flashdance" dealership! As far as dealers located near each other, it could be that they were open at different times, my hometown had no less than 5 Rambler/AMC stores at different times. Now that our library has reopened I will be able to check for even more.

[scott]

Flashdance was on TV over the weekend. I was able to watch about the first 10 minutes, then gave up. How far in is the AMC dealer mentioned??

[AMX]

Flashdance was on TV over the weekend. I was able to watch about the first 10 minutes, then gave up. How far in is the AMC dealer mentioned??

I think it's fairly close to the beginning. My wife has it on VHS, I'll have to check it out as I haven't seen it in a while.

[tsamx68]

McDonald did have a AMC dealership, and it was small, no it never burned down, it was eventuallyclosed down around late 60's early 1970 if I recall correctly, and lot sat empty for a couple of years. The AMC dealership in Hickory was originally  a Willy Jeep dealership then Jeep only, no cars,then it seemed they carried some Eagle in 80's,now I think it carries Jeeps and Chyrslers, it was named Corwin Jeeps the oldest  Jeep dealership in US, still open. There was Cannonsburg dealership but can not remember name. My father bought his 66 Rambler classic from McDonald then it closed and  bought His 71 Matador from Cannonsburg.

[Route 66 Rambler]

Thanks for the summary in that area, ts.  Welcome to The AMC Heritage Forum, and have a good time while here.   I always like to hear about particular cars bought at particular dealerships, it's the end of the chain that started at the factory and ended with the family...   
mike