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Cal Worthington (1920-2013)

He had a short-lived dealership here in Phoenix as I remember. Well, he and his dog Spot.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (but not the same one), Tex ("and That Ain't No Bull") Earnhardt keeps chugging along.
 
Let us not forget his other Stores as well!

"The company at its peak had 29 dealerships. Among the markets served by Worthington included Anchorage, Alaska; Phoenix, Arizona; Carlsbad, Claremont, Folsom, Long Beach, Sacramento and South Gate in California; Reno, Nevada; Houston and Sugar Land in Texas; and Federal Way, Washington.[2] The company has since sold most of these dealerships; it still operates the Anchorage, Carlsbad, and Long Beach outlets.

The company entered the Anchorage market at a frenzied time in 1976, during the height of the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. In fact, the appearance in Alaska of a well-heeled California businessman coincidental with oil-related prosperity often entered the consciousness of Alaskans during those years, though Worthington was not the only businessman who fell under this category. Worthington purchased an existing dealership, Friendly Ford, from the Stepp family, who continued to operate the city's Lincoln–Mercury dealership for many years afterward.

He was one of the first to abandon the traditional stand-alone dealership in favor of "auto malls."

As of 2002, he also owned three shopping centers and one office tower, grossing $600 million a year.
 
Before Cal was a car dealer, he was a country music DJ on 1110/ KXLA in the 1950s, along with Tennessee Ernie Ford. In the 60s, he hosted a live country music program on KCOP (IIRC) called "Cal's Corrall." Needless to say, his TV commercials are legendary, and reach back to the days when his main TV competition was Ralph Williams, Chick Lambert, and Nick Shamus at Felix Chevrolet.
 
RIP "Go See Cal!" He owned Cal Worthington Ford just down in Federal Way, about 40 miles from where I live. Even have one of his commercials on tape (1987). Maybe I'll "eat a bug" tonight...

-crainbebo
 
Worthington started doing commercials with "Spot" in 1971. His commercials were parodies of the ads of competitors Ralph Williams and Fletcher Jones, who often posed with puppies that were available for adoption. At first, Worthington used dogs, then started using snakes, frogs, tigers, elephants and other animals, always referring to each animal as "My dog Spot." He composed the jingle that ended with "Go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal." He became so well-known, he even made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Worthington had a goose in his lap and when the goose defecated, Carson said, "Be thankful it wasn't the elephant." :).
 
Hi, new here, but I wasn't really aware that our beloved Cal Worthington had died...:( I always loved those, back when people really had a choice
on cars (automatic, manual, gag, four doors,inc.) I'll take discusscion of cars then and now elsewhere. Good ol; CAL WORTHINGTON!

S.Carras
Southern Cal(Worthington) :D
 
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