Fixed in time: A GMC store in 1973 was a popular destination for driveway wrench turners

Before it was possible to order parts online, dealership parts departments like at this unidentified GMC store in 1973 were popular destinations for driveway wrench turners, shade tree mechanics and local repair facilities in need of original equipment parts. And even though online sales of parts and accessories reached an estimated $20 billion in 2020, according to a Hedges & Co. report, dealerships continue to be a major supplier of automotive parts. U.S. dealerships tallied $71.72 billion in total parts sales in 2019, including $3.23 billion in counter sales, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.