Who Remembers Western Auto Stores?

[HobieMarty]

https://youtu.be/6MTWC_Y9MTk?si=gS4ESqssYFNb59x7

My grandparents shopped at the local Western Auto store all the time. I have a Wizard lawn mower that my grandmother bought from Western Auto, and I have a large chrome Wizard flashlight that Pawpaw bought at Western Auto. My favorite item that I have from Western Auto is my wooden stake sided Western Flyer wagon that I got for Christmas one year. How do I manage to hold onto these things, I have no idea.

Here are some pics of my wagon.

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[Racerbvd]

I remember WA, there carried bicycles too

[HobieMarty]

Yes they had a lot of different items, kinda reminds me of a general store.

https://youtu.be/bgy0_18FIXI?si=nQ3Znwb9hpU7NcnX

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[LWJ]

I distinctly remember the WA bikes. There was one model that seemed perfect to my young eyes.

[rfuerst911sc]

If I remember correctly weren't they a sponsor for Darrel Waltrip in Nascar ?

[Skytrooper]

I got my first “Stingray type” bike at Western Auto when I was 8. All previous bikes were hand me downs. I still had it when I went to Basic Training, but when I got out, it was gone. It was a great bike .

[shadowjack1]

I purchased my first gun from WA. I was 13 years old. 20Ga Revelation crack bbl. Still have it
today. I put it Lay A Way and would stop by every weekend for months to look at it and make payments. After a long summer I had enough to pay it off. Made my last payment, took it out of the box and walked home with it over my shoulder.
Thanks for the memory.

[Mike Andrew]

WA seemed to have a bit of everything. Had a bike from them for several years for paper route duties and general getting around. I always enjoyed my trips there as there were many things that I wanted, couldn't afford on a paperboy's salary but drooled over nonetheless.

[GH85Carrera]

We had a Western Auto a mile south of our house, and a OTACSO (Oklahoma Tire and Supply) a mile east. Both carried bikes, and bike tires, and ammo for my brother's 22. We would go to each one, and price shop to the penny. When mowing yards for 25 cents to 50 cents, and picking up soda bottles was our income, every penny counted.

[JackDidley]

I got my bike parts at Western Auto. May have gotten my Raleigh Racer there but not sure.

[Sooner or later]

Western Auto was at 11th and B. Can't remember buying anything from them. Also had an OTASCO.

I mowed 5 yards a week for between 3 or 4 bucks each. Mowed, caught, and edged with a gas edger. Mid 1960's.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I vividly remember going to Western Auto, normally my dad was getting parts so I would wander around. I remember their bike selection was awesome but I couldn’t afford any of them.

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

If I remember correctly weren't they a sponsor for Darrel Waltrip in Nascar ?

Yes, they did. I had forgotten about that until I watched that first video.

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[matthewb0051]

I still have a small box of .32 acp ammo with their sticker on it

[wdfifteen]

I remember one on Main St. in Fairborn, Ohio in the '70s but I never went inside it.

[Les Paul]

They sold used guns at ours. Bought my Crosman .22 pellet gun for $10. In 1966. I sent it into a restoration sho that hot rodded it. Shoots 650ps with 8 pumps. Not bad for a gun that was made in 1954.

[Jeff Higgins]

[herr_oberst]

I'm racking my brain trying to remember the name of the FLAPS in the mall where I worked as a grocery clerk when I was a kid.

Might of been W/A.

What I do remember is it stocked lots of Cal Custom parts and accessories that anyone with a lick of sense would avoid like the plague. Better to have stock valve covers than Cal Custom finned valve covers.

Well, guess what? Vintage Cal Custom accessories in their original packaging are (naturally) worth lots of money now.

[A930Rocket]

My uncle owned a Western Auto in south Georgia. I was always amazed of all the cool stuff in there, when I was a kid.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I'm racking my brain trying to remember the name of the FLAPS in the mall where I worked as a grocery clerk when I was a kid.

Might of been W/A.

What I do remember is it stocked lots of Cal Custom parts and accessories that anyone with a lick of sense would avoid like the plague. Better to have stock valve covers than Cal Custom finned valve covers.

Well, guess what? Vintage Cal Custom accessories in their original packaging are (naturally) worth lots of money now.

JC Penney's used to have a full automotive section. There was one near me that I bought some parts at. The best deal I ever got was their "Guaranteed for life" battery. They promoted it as the last battery you will ever buy. I had one put in my 74 194 2.0 and for 20+ years I had zero battery costs. Of course the battery died after a few years and JC Penny's shut down the auto section. They sold the warranty claim to Firestone stores. About every two years I had to replace the battery as they put the bottom of the line battery in it, at zero cost to me. Finally I sold my 914 and, and they rejoiced.