That's the hint and not the product?

A flat car with 1948/49 panel trucks on it?

What goes around,  comes around.....

Hey Mark we are all super excited about the 1966 Chrysler Newport convertibles you have on the way!

Gas station / Ford dealer

I was just thinking I need more panel trucks! Hope they come with free trees!LOL

Full size model of the WILLOW RUN plant!

1950s Ford panel truck!  What did I win?

I'm guessing the unusual symbol (company logo??) on the side of the truck is the clue, but I don't recognize that symbol to be able to guess the actual product.

Chuck

It looks like a variation of a classic Ford emblem that referenced the V8 engine.

If you do a google search you can find many examples. 

John

My guess is a bi-level auto carrier with six Ford panel trucks.  Hopefully doesn't sell out in 24 hours like the last one did.

Hmmmm… , my guess, an assortment of mechanic tools and a tow truck.  

From Cabinet Bob's clue, a Ford dealership with a rotating display platform and rotating roof sign. Or a Ford Panel van wit an experimental Wankel engine.

A reissue from 1996?

Ford Truck manufacturing plant? yeah sure!

So, there’s a Ford in our future?

Steve

Raptor ....

@coach joe posted:

From Cabinet Bob's clue, a Ford dealership with a rotating display platform and rotating roof sign. Or a Ford Panel van wit an experimental Wankel engine.

That’s the same thing I thought when I saw bobs comment. Please have lots of mustangs or other Ford muscle!

Maybe another type of building flat.

What I really like is the vehicle in the picture is REALLY 1:48 scale, and not the too big for a scale layout 1:43 scale car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You would think that companies like die cast direst would take a hint and make their models 1:48 scale instead of 1:43 scale.

Personally, I think 1:43 works better. I've always thought 1:48 (and even worse 1:50) vehicles look way too diminutive when parked near a locomotive, Especially  a steam locomotive with 70"+ drivers.

Rick

How about an Arby’s with a free truck offer.

Whatever the product is, the Ford truck is a must have.

Thanks Menards!

@donhradio posted:

What I really like is the vehicle in the picture is REALLY 1:48 scale, and not the too big for a scale layout 1:43 scale car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You would think that companies like die cast direst would take a hint and make their models 1:48 scale instead of 1:43 scale.

Diecast Direct doesn't make any models, they are just a dealer.  The 1:43 diecast vehicle market is very well established and probably larger that the 1:48 market.

Rusty

Valley, Ho!: The 279-6396 O Gauge Valley Motors! Shop Now!

Dimensions: 15" W x 13-1/4" D x 8" H



An auto dealership is a natural focal point for any town. Seeing the latest cars and trucks generates foot traffic and launches a million dreams of rolling down the road in a spanking new vehicle. Valley Motors will add a little pizzazz to your O gauge Menardsville with colorful vehicles and bright lights!

The basics: Valley Motors has a modest 15 by 13-1/4 inch footprint. The building features more than 40 LEDs for lighting, and has both a power plug-in on the rear, and a drop down connector for power for an under the table connection.

A rotating rooftop turntable is mounted on the roof. It features a Ford panel van with V-8 graphics.

Five colorful 1:48 scale die-cast vehicles are included. These are officially licensed 1948 and 1951 Ford models, and are exclusively made for Menards. Addition details include seven 1:48 scale figures, showroom details, rooftop HVAC equipment, and Jack the German shepherd.

Valley Motors is designed for use with the Menards Plug & Play 4.5 volt power supply, sold separately. Check Menards SKUs 279-4061, 279-4062, or 279-4050. You may wish to consider the 8- or 9-piece Plug & Play accessory kits (SKU# 279-4035, 4681) and to serve multiple structures and vehicles. All are available separately.

Why you need this: Valley Motors features a pleasing Art Deco design with a curved showroom, a vertical, illuminated dealership sign rising 8 inches above the base. The building is divided into sales and service sections.

The showroom has five large windows to ensure folks driving by will see Detroit’s finest offerings. The roofline has enough LED lighting to make the scene as bright as noon on a sunny day. Inside you’ll find a shiny red 1951 Ford pickup truck is perfect for reflecting light and snagging the attention car buyers.

Showroom extras include a colorful potted plant near a salesman and customer trying to close the deal. Up front a big deal is in the works as a customer and employee sit down and discuss the fine details!

Framing the showroom door is a narrow strip of grass, proving a comfy mat for Jack the German Shepherd to rest on. Jack’s owner is walking inside, probably making a service appointment.
The sales lot displays two Fords - a red 1948 panel van and a glacier blue 1951 pickup truck. A salesman and customer stand nearby trying to decide which is truck right one for the customer’s budget.

The shop has two stalls for service work. The service stall is open, while the other bay is closed. A third truck, a green 1948 Ford panel van is poised to move forward, while two figures are engaged in an energetic discussion.

But if bright lights, a towering business sign, and stylish vintage trucks were not enough eye candy to bring in car buyers, Valley Motors tears a page out the Marketing 101 textbook: A rooftop platform featuring a slowly revolving base with a white 1948 Ford panel van with the classic Ford V8 logo emblazoned on the side.

Valley Motors is easy to customize. The vertical sign comes with 11 automotive signs that allow you to easily swap out your dealership if you wish. The showroom and sales lot vehicles are easy to swap as well. Remove the screws from beneath the base and replace them with autos of your choice. The showroom may also be customized. There is a removable rear access hatch that allows you to change vehicles and to add office details of your choice!

A car dealership is a sign that your Menardsville is a prosperous town. Valley Motors will help keep your O scale community on the road.

Nice. Too bad that it was not in the the Chillicothe, OH store a week ago! I was in it last Wednesday on a trip; note that it is the closest to me at about 450 miles.

Too early for my liking. Really awesome, but it needs 60s-70s muscle.

Very nice. Good to see signage can be changed.

Really nice.  Maybe it's the size, but there is something about this building that would make it fit well alongside Department 56 and other Christmas village buildings as well.  I haven't had that same feeling about any other Menard's buildings.  Add a couple wreaths on the windows, throw down some snow, soften the white led to something softer, and it would fit right in.

Home run I think.

This fits into my late 40s theme quite nicely.

Something I want to Buy?😀

It reminds me of Waterloo Mercury in Edmonton, Alberta growing up. Their store had big curving windows looking out onto Edmonton's main street, Jasper Ave around 1947-48.

Well done.

you got me at rotating TRUCK display.

That was a must buy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very nice. One of your best imo. Good for the corner of a layout.

best yet!

Gonna hafta to take a look at this...l have dealerships for independents Graham and Nash, but will see if this can be back dated for a modern, then, big three dealer, Buick, Olds, and Cadillac/LaSalle.

I have 2 car dealerships already but will be getting this one as well!! Love everything about it!! Keep them coming Menards!!

@Csxcellent posted:

Too early for my liking. Really awesome, but it needs 60s-70s muscle.

so get it and get your own cars.  tons of 1:43 Mustangs, etc.. out there from the various dealers like Diecast Direct

@EscapeRocks posted:

so get it and get your own cars.  tons of 1:43 Mustangs, etc.. out there from the various dealers like Diecast Direct

Exactly. Very easy to change out for the cars/trucks you want. Put the trucks up for sale on the forum.

Very nice, Mark from Menards from Wisconsin!   Thanks for keeping it going!  I've got an auto dealership and a Harley showroom on my layout.  Now I need to see if I can squeeze a spot for this!  I like that it is fully customizable.  I'm here in Wisconsin so I'm hoping to see my local store, Burlington, have this and the new Arby's on display soon.  I'm thinking "Valley Motors" has everything to do with Eau Claire, Wisconsin being in a valley, right?   I hope to see a small cheese curd store in the future like the family run Widmer's in Theresa, WI, featuring brick cheese.

Mike

In reality many of the showrooms from the 50's didn't look much different on the outside in the 60's.

I bought my first new Ford in 81' and that deanship's exterior hasn't changed much.  The only real difference I see is the newer styled rotating Ford sign.

So this dealership should work for any era actually,  Just dress it up a bit and install the vehicles of choice on the inside and on top!

A very nice dealership - though I have one - this one is a winner for me.   

Thanks Mark of Menards for this new accessory.

Well done! I pass many of these buildings with the curved Art Deco glass in small towns all the time. They are very compact and all repurposed to something else now. All the dealers moved out to the periphery of town long ago. But there was something charming about a dealer right in town. How times have changed!

Great addition to any layout = will be easy to fit into various different scenes.  BTW, that Widmer's brick cheese is the best & you reminded me I have a chunk in the refer that needs attention.  Can’t find it here in CA, but have a cousin in Lomira, WI who ships me chunk each Xmas.

Really like the flexibility of the dealership. I think I'll be buying one.

Just got my VM building; the video is a bit deceiving; I thought from this video that the rotating truck was elevated above the roof on a higher post of some kind.

Kind of looks that way.

NOPE it spins flat on the roof.

Will need to 3D print a slightly higher rotating post!

Alan. Keep us apprised of your fix.

ALSO  this is UUGE.

14 by 15 is bigger than the Police Plaza or the Hotel.

AND the open door should have a little bit of the bottom of the opened door showing.

easy fix just laser cut better garage doors.  The open bay has room for interior repair stuff, hoist, shelves etc. Nice,

@AlanRail posted:

Just got my VM building; the video is a bit deceiving; I thought from this video that the rotating truck was elevated above the roof on a higher post of some kind.

Kind of looks that way.

NOPE it spins flat on the roof.

Will need to 3D print a slightly higher rotating post!

Alan,

If you pay attention to Menard's video, it is clear that the truck rotates at rooftop level.

@Will posted:

Well done! I pass many of these buildings with the curved Art Deco glass in small towns all the time. They are very compact and all repurposed to something else now. All the dealers moved out to the periphery of town long ago. But there was something charming about a dealer right in town. How times have changed!

The Wiggins Hardware store (Estill, SC) is located in an ex-Ford dealership. The dealership only lasted a few years and Wiggins has been there since the late 1930s:

The real reason the I stopped there was this sign that I was told that it had been restored a few years ago:

The store owner lit it up for me:

@AlanRail posted:

Just got my VM building; the video is a bit deceiving; I thought from this video that the rotating truck was elevated above the roof on a higher post of some kind.

Kind of looks that way.

NOPE it spins flat on the roof.

Will need to 3D print a slightly higher rotating post!

Are the vehicle removable.  I like the building but the cars are a little out of my era.  would like to replace them with different vehicles.

@Bossman284 posted:

Are the vehicle removable.  I like the building but the cars are a little out of my era.  would like to replace them with different vehicles.

I was just wondering the same thing but they supply signs for other makers so they probably are.

@Bossman284 posted:

Are the vehicle removable.  I like the building but the cars are a little out of my era.  would like to replace them with different vehicles.

On the Menards website for the O Scale Valley Motors Car Dealership if you scroll down to the bottom of the page under the Description it says:

"Valley Motors is easy to customize. The vertical sign comes with 11 automotive signs that allow you to easily swap out your dealership if you wish. The showroom and sales lot vehicles are easy to swap as well. Remove the screws from beneath the base and replace them with autos of your choice. The showroom may also be customized. There is a removable rear access hatch that allows you to change vehicles and to add office details of your choice!"

There's no mention of how one might swap out the white 1948 Panel Truck mounted to the rotating platform on top of the building.

Fortunately for me, the vehicles represented in this era are perfect for my layout, so I ordered this plus a few extra trucks to go around town.  I'm looking forward to their arrival.

@SteveH posted:

There's no mention of how one might swap out the white 1948 Panel Truck mounted to the rotating platform on top of the building.

Fortunately for me, the vehicles represented in this era are perfect for my layout, so I ordered this plus a few extra trucks to go around town.  I'm looking forward to their arrival.

The truck is screwed on and i'm sure the display lifts off, so it's should be easy to replace the truck. You may need to drill a hole on the bottom of the car you choose. I'm going to order one but since I already have the K-Line Ford Dealer I may do a Chevy dealer for the 57 models.

Looking forward to getting mine. I have a couple of Franklin mint Fords I’ll add to the building.

A  support extension about an inch or so higher is one thought. i think that is too easy

i have an idea for a support based on the depiction of the phantom zone on the very first Superman movie.

or I may just make a simple 1" post!

@AlanRail posted:

or I may just make a simple 1" post!

Alan, that is so super cool that you have the talent and tools do do such a thing.  Have you considered an entrepreneurial role in the hobby offering aftermarket product improvements?

Mine came today! Love it 👍

Just think, if Menards made nice buildings like this all year long. I think it would be great.

Wow, I just can't stop looking at this building.   I was thinking that an adventurous guy could repurpose it as a diner, too.  Fill the showroom with a tiled floor, tables, waitresses with poodle skirts.  Put in clear plastic over the garage doors and fill those, too.  Or cut the garage part of the building off.  Leave the spinning car or replace it with a Porky Pig or some other mascot of the restaurant.  So many things could be done.

unpainted. Will paint it white or silver

Looks great Alan.

Mine should arrive tomorrow and luckily i'll be here to receive it since Menards don't allow there Fed Ex parcels delivered to Fed Ex Access Points like Fed Ex Office or Walgreens. This is the message I got: "Due to shipper restrictions, additional delivery options are not available for this shipment. For more information please contact the shipper". Hopefully Menards will sort this problem since porch pirates do follow delivery vans.

Alan, I noticed the roof Ford is attached to a threaded rod. Did you grip this with a tool and then

twist the van? I don't want to damage the motor and wondered how you removed yours.

Thanks UnclePeteRR

the round base lifts off the motor. the screw is merely screwed into the underside of the car to secure it to the platform.

however the head of the screw is larger than the underside rectangular opening; so unscrewing the screw from the car will cause circular base to split.

since i was 3D printing the round base as part of the rotating platform i didn't care.

also i didn't care about the screw because i designed the base platform with wheel chucks to secure the car.

tomorrow or rather later today, i'll post a photo that shows the platform without the car.

additionally, i thought the platform was way too big; so i made it just large enough for the 4 wheel chucks,

@AlanRail posted:

the round base lifts off the motor. the screw is merely screwed into the underside of the car to secure it to the platform.

however the head of the screw is larger than the underside rectangular opening; so unscrewing the screw from the car will cause circular base to split.

since i was 3D printing the round base as part of the rotating platform i didn't care.

also i didn't care about the screw because i designed the base platform with wheel chucks to secure the car.

tomorrow or rather later today, i'll post a photo that shows the platform without the car.

additionally, i thought the platform was way too big; so i made it just large enough for the 4 wheel chucks,

Could you possibly twist the car off the screw while you hold the screw in place?

Nice job Alan! Looks very good!

Impressive work as always Alan.

John

Alan I can't wait to see a video of your new platform rotating once you've got it painted and installed.

Could you possibly twist the car off the screw while you hold the screw in place?

If you do you may damage the wheels.

CAUTION: before you twist the car make sure your hand are very clean or gloved.

The blue paint design on the car smears!!

new idea; rotating truck with lights.

working on new design where the truck rotates but using a lighted Menard's truck.

Good afternoon Menards,

Any clues as to what comping next?

Alan. How about running the wire down a tube center shaft. Of course, the fitting at the end of the vehicle needs to be cut off.

I am sure you will find a nice solution.

running a wire won't work because as it spins the wire twists see a

i need a 2-wire "rotating wire connection" like the rotor in an E-unit. see b

that's like what I plan to 3D print.

I converted the MTH radar tower. I used a small screw driver motor to rotate the shaft. Even though motor is from tiny screw driver, it is the same motor in a MTH Pantagraph  setup.

Mine is on the way! ..Im pretty sure its going to be a John Deere dealer ..all the trucks going around the layout

Although I already have a slightly damaged Dept 56 Ford Dealership, I am very intrigued by the Menards Valley Motors Dealership.  In 1963 my father purchased the Ford Dealership in Bremerton, WA.  At the time it was known as Dunn Ford, but for many years before that it was Kerr Motors.  The Ford dealership itself was located right in the middle of downtown Bremerton until 1971 when Dad convinced four other dealers to create the Big 5 Auto Center on the outskirts of town, one of the first multi-dealer auto complexes in Washington.

Although the original Kerr Motors Showroom area was not a rounded “Art Deco” window like Menards, this picture of the downtown store taken before a two story addition was added about 5 years before we bought it, definitely has the showroom featuring the early ‘50s pick-up and panel trucks Menards has chosen to highlight its model:

Our old store downtown has recently been remodeled into a combination of living and retail space, and our “new store in the renamed Bremerton Auto Center is now the Nissan dealership.  The current Ford store is now part of the multi-dealership West Hills Autoplex adjacent to the Bremerton Auto Center.

Time marches on, but it can be remembered and even stand still on our layouts.

Cheers!

Alan

I used a small screw driver motor to rotate the shaft.

DON-  that is another way of doing an electrified rotation, Self-contain the motor and power source.

I did that setup on my rotating 2-sided SINCLAIR sign. But for the Valley Motors I would need some major internal surgery on the building.

wou

The transformation to a John Deere dealer is under way ..lots more coming

Very nice, @Snkbittin 

@EscapeRocks posted:

Very nice, @Snkbittin 

Thank you! more signage coming along with more tractors and shop trucks

Does the Ford version come with a AAA membership?

Any idea why the dealership is no longer listed on Menards site? Did it sell out already?

@base11 posted:

Any idea why the dealership is no longer listed on Menards site? Did it sell out already?

It sure looks that way. Glad I jumped on mine when I did. Anyone notice their prices went up a little?

I picked up one at the local Menards this weekend but the rotating motor sticks in one spot and needs a nudge to restart.  Does anyone know if this might be an easy fix?  Thanks!

Daryl

@DGuill posted:

I picked up one at the local Menards this weekend but the rotating motor sticks in one spot and needs a nudge to restart.  Does anyone know if this might be an easy fix?  Thanks!

Daryl

When you lift the truck off does the shaft turn ok? It sits on a nylon type thin washer and maybe just needs a lil lube ., if the shaft doesn’t turn freely then that’s another issue

Thanks sir - the shaft stops in the same spot with the white truck lifted off…just needs a slight nudge to restart with truck on or off.  Same spot

I was going to wait but my wife said to order it on her card for my Christmas present, I'm glad i did but i'm sure more are on the way.

@DGuill .. maybe a drop of WD40 down the shaft ?

Yeah tried that but no joy

Are your lights flickering?  It could be a power issue as in not enough power maybe.

Chris - thanks but no, the lights are fine.  I’m using the recommended power supply (2A I think).  It’s definitely clicking on something internally and getting hung up.  The motor appears to be glued inside a box so might be better to just return it.  Thanks for the suggestion though!