By Robert EmslieWelcome to Thursday Trivia where we offer up a historical automotive trivia question and you try and solve it before seeing the answer after the jump. I know, I’m excited too!
This week’s question is: Who opened the Nation’s first drive-thru gas station, and where in the U.S. was it located?
If you know the answer, make the jump to see if you are correct. See, you don’t even need to have any Google-fu for this one.
Per explorehistory.com:
In 1913, Gulf Refining Company opened the nation’s first drive-in service station at the corner of Baum Boulevard and St. Clair Street in Pittsburgh PA. The pagoda-style brick facility offered free air, water, crankcase service, and tire and tube installation. On its first day, the station sold 30 gallons of gasoline at 27 cents per gallon. On its first Saturday, Gulf’s new service station pumped 350 gallons of gasoline.
Image source: explorehistory
Eric Trytko 
Kamil Kaluski
That's $6.35 per gallon in 2013 dollars.
But that 1913 quarter has $3.35 in silver and the two pennies would have $0.04 worth of copper in them for $3.39(2013 dollars)/gal. about the going rate around where I live.
In 1913, Gulf Refining Company opened the nation’s first drive-in service station at the corner of Baum Boulevard and St. Clair Street in Pittsburgh PA ????
This isn't Jeopardy!, you don't need to respond in the form of a question.
A vast improvement over the earlier non-drive through gas stations.
An even greater improvement over the earlier drive-through no-gas stations.
They still have those, if you don't count the gas caused by the microwave burritos.
<img src="http://www.stillscenes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/hp_soul_food_crash_2-620×447.jpg">
Mmmmm… burritos.
A Raptor would have made it through.
Same, if you'd been to Taco Bell.
I instantly recognized that slogan: "Good Gulf Gasoline." From THE greatest blues guitarist of all time:
[youtube TOXXh24HnmY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOXXh24HnmY youtube]
Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes she got'em for sale
Me and my babe bought a V-8 Ford
Well we wind that thing all on the runnin board, yes
Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes she got'em for sale, I mean
Yes she got'em for sale, yeah Hot tamales and they're red hot,
yes she got'em for sale
They're too hot boy!
Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes, now she got em for sale
You know the monkey, now the baboon playin in the grass
Well the monkey stuck his finger in that old 'Good Gulf Gas', now
Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes she got'em for sale, I mean
Yes she got'em for sale, yeah Hot tamales and they're red hot,
I can remember my dad pulling in the neighborhood Gulf station, and telling the attendant, "Fill 'er up with Good Gulf".
The station (white and blue porcelain-enameled steel) is still there, but with a now-defunct bank built onto the back of it.
http://goo.gl/maps/XB09N
Several cool old buildings right there. Love the architecture and signage at Belmont Garage. Plus, 59 Impala and a brown 77 El Camino!
I suspect the '59 Impala belongs to Ray Lewis (the owner). My mom used to take her '78 Malibu there for service, but they got annoyed with her after awhile, because she always wanted someone to give her courtesy rides to and from her house. They didn't do that. Ray was a real nice, easygoing guy, but everyone has their limits.
I'd want to ride in a 59 Impala, too.
I'd convert it to a steakhouse and call it "Belmont Steaks".
You might be able to use that name without hassle, since this one's closed.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/belmont-steaks-glendale
One blog that I have enjoyed reading lately is The Old Motor.
http://theoldmotor.com/
Plenty of ol' timey stuff. Really quite cool.
On a side note, I saw a mint condition unmolested NSX riding on stock wheels today. I wanted to chase him down and thank him on behalf of all of us.
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