Durr-Meng Motor Co. Then and Now

209-211 S Second Ave

I know I say this all the time, but I have a weird obsession with this building. Going to school every day, I would stare and wonder why it looked the way it did. Like a lot of buildings on South Second, its awning was rotting and some of its windows had been covered over. Never in a million years would I have guessed this place had been a Lincoln dealership!

The lots at 209-211 South Second were residential until the 1940s. After the homes were either moved or demolished, an agency called RTS Commission Sales Co. sold used cars on the lots.

Edward J Farlow of Kinsley opened a new Lincoln-Mercury dealership and garage at 312 South Second on December 20, 1948. This would be where GMC of Dodge City is today.

Farlow Motor Company sold their used cars one block north on the opposite side of the street at 211 South Second.

A few months later, construction began on a new brick dealership at the used car lot measuring 70 by 115 feet with a curved front.

Hundreds of visitors attended Farlow’s open house the weekend of August 5-6, 1949.

A large concrete block addition to be constructed at the rear of the building for a body shop, paint room, and upholstery area was approved in November of 1949.

Lester Durr and Marcus Meng bought the dealership in March of 1952 and it became known as Durr-Meng Motor Co.

Durr-Meng Motor Co. is shown here with curbside parking on South Second.

However, the partnership was short lived, and the dealership held a quitting business auction on June 5, 1956.

The building sat idle for about a year. In May of 1957, the Southwest Kansas Art Association held a “Rockhound Roundup” for rock collectors at the former Durr-Meng garage. Goff Auto Auction began advertising at that location the following month.

In 1958, Harold and Maxine Houff moved their implement company into the former dealership.

Due to the various additions, there was plenty of space so D. V. Lippoldt reopened his appliance business in the showroom area.

Floyd Smith’s body shop was located in an addition out back. Hawley Brothers also had their showroom in the building at that time.

The B.F. Goodrich store moved to the old dealership in November of 1959. They didn’t just sell automotive parts and accessories in those days. You could also pick up Kelvinator and Sunbeam appliances as well as Motorola televisions and Schwinn bicycles.

By 1961, C & W Motor Service had one of the back shops and another was occupied by Dave’s Kustoms. While Dave Parks was a legend in the automotive world, he was also a gifted guitarist and just a fascinating man.

The showroom interior is shown here as flood water receded in June of 1965.

Clingan Tires, Inc. of Liberal bought the Goodrich store in March of 1973.

Clingan moved around 1976 and it sort of became a revolving door. There was a woodworking business and a Volkswagen repair shop. Mr. B’s Bargain Barn Auction and Sales Co. operated there and it was also a warehouse for Rent-Buy Furniture in the late 1970s.

Carpet Barn occupied the building in the early 1980s and it also housed a home improvement company in 1985.

The old dealership appears to have been used for storage until around 2004, when Brad Maxwell Racing Products had the showroom and main shop. Pineda’s Auto Repair and Security Communications also had space at the facility. New Hope on the Plains used the building briefly around 2008.

BJ’s Auto Service and Repair moved in around 2010. By 2018, the brick had been painted and windows restored. Discount Auto Sales Truck and Equipment Division has used the building for the past several years.

This is how Durr-Meng Motor Co. looks today:

You already know I hate painted brick. However, it still looks amazing compared to the 1980s and ’90s. I love that curved wall and the whole mid-century automotive aesthetic. It’s a great building and I’m so happy to see it being used.

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