REGINA’S WHEATON CHEVROLET DATES BACK TO HAUSER CHEV-OLDS DAYS
Dealership has sold Chevys at same spot for 50 years, writes Dale Edward Johnson.
There is only one car dealership in Regina selling the same products from the same location as 50 years ago.
Across from the Northgate Mall on Albert Street, you can still buy a new Chevrolet — just like half a century ago when this Chevy store was the newest dealership in Regina.
Hauser Chevrolet-Oldsmobile opened 50 years ago this month at 260 Albert St. North. It’s been known as Wheaton Chevrolet since the mid-1980s, and there have been plenty of renovations to the facilities during the past half-century.
This dealership demonstrates more stability than any other in Regina. All of the other car dealerships that were in Regina in 1967 have moved, folded or been sold, including Automobile Centre (Mercedes-Benz), Canadian Motors (Ford), Carland (Datsun, Volvo), Civic Centre Esso (Honda), Courtesy Motors (Renault), DePape Volkswagen, Deluxe Motors (Triumph, MG), Lakeside Chrysler-Plymouth, Mid-West Motors (Pontiac-Buick), Neil Motors (Chrysler-Dodge), Percival Mercury, Reg Carter Motors (Sunbeam, Rover), Regina Motor Products (Chevrolet-Oldsmobile), Regina Rambler and Transport Auto Sales (Studebaker).
Also making news in October 1967:
In a provincial election, the Liberals under Ross Thatcher were re-elected with a wider majority, winning 35 seats. The NDP dropped to 24 seats.
The World’s Fair, Expo 67 in Montreal, closed after a sixmonth run. More than 50 million visitors took in Expo 67 during Canada’s Centennial year, making it the most successful world’s fair held to that time.
The NHL kicked off its 51st season by doubling in size and adding teams in Los Angeles, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Oakland and St. Louis.
Hauser Chevrolet-Oldsmobile held its grand opening on Thursday, Oct. 5, 1967, and the Leader-Post said: “Hauser Motors at 260 Albert St. N. is Regina’s largest, newest and latest dealership centre ... People like Chevrolet and Oldsmobile products so much in Saskatchewan that General Motors has decided Regina should have two dealerships where they can buy them.”
That was significant, because Chevrolet became the first auto brand to have two dealerships in Regina. Chevy’s main competition — Pontiac, Ford, Mercury, Plymouth and Dodge — each only had one dealership.
Regina was already home to Regina Motor Products, which was then located at Albert and 11th, before moving to its location on the southern edge of Regina on Highway 6. Regina Motor Products and its predecessors had been in business since the 1920s.
In 1967, General Motors dominated the auto industry in Canada, with 273,448 vehicles sold. Ford was second with sales of 157,317. Chrysler was third, selling 140,034 vehicles. When it came to imports, Volkswagen was on top with 32,401 vehicles sold.
Products offered at Hauser Chev-Olds when it opened in the fall of 1967 included Chevrolet, Chevelle, Chevy II, Camaro, Corvair, Corvette, Envoy, Epic and Oldsmobile. That lineup has been trimmed back over the years, although the Chevrolet, Camaro and Corvette names remain.
An ad in the Leader-Post said: “This new business undertaking reflects perfectly the modern mood and youthful spirit of the city of Regina. While the dealership and premises are brand spanking new, President Arthur F. Hauser is certainly no stranger to the automobile business. In fact, he virtually grew up in it, spending ten years in a Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealership in Neudorf, SK. He then took over as dealer principal and successfully operated it for another four years before broadening his goals and moving to Regina.”
Hauser’s father started the dealership in Neudorf, 140 km northeast of Regina, in 1919. Art Hauser moved to Regina in 1965 and worked as an adjuster with SGI. In 1966 he bought the Rambler dealership, and in the fall of 1967 he opened Hauser Chev-Olds.
At the grand opening, on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m., Mayor Henry Baker was there for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and CKCK radio announcer Johnny Sandison — the “Morning Mayor” — was also on hand. There was free coffee, doughnuts and root beer for visitors, and tours of the new dealership were held. There were more than 50 door prizes handed out; the grand prize was a new dishwasher.
Among the staff were Harry Kuntz, new car manager; Jack MacNaughton, truck sales manager; and Barry Schindel, used car manager.
Hauser sold his dealership to the Wheaton chain in the mid-1980s. Hauser then bought Heritage Motors and renamed it Passport Motors, which sold BMW, Saab, Subaru and Volvo products. Then he switched to Saturn products, produced by an arm of General Motors.
Art Hauser died in June 2000. While plenty has changed about selling cars in Regina during the past 50 years, one thing that hasn’t changed is where new Chevrolets are sold — right across from the Northgate Mall.