Visiting a Chevrolet service department in 1950

(July 25, 2019) A 1950 Chevrolet video depicting a visit to a Chevrolet dealership for oil changes, tune-ups and other diagnostic tests shows that things 70 years ago are not so much different than today. What is not realistic in our modern automotive world — and probably a bit of hype even in 1950 — is an impromptu visit to the service department in the morning and getting an oil change, a tune-up and a paint touchup in the bodyshop all accomplished before 5 p.m.

A "motor analyzer" which, according to the video, checks compression and cylinder balance, distributer and ignition timing, generator output and the carburetor and fuel lines, is described to the customer by a service department employee who seems to have a lot of time on his hands.

But the most improbable portion of the eight-minute video is when the customer is presented with the bill at 5 p.m. and the cashier asks if he wants to put it on his account. No, he says, it's not that much, I think I will pay cash!