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Caption: TTC 4769, one of the A14-class ex-Kansas City (Missouri) PCC's acquired secondhand, heads eastbound on St. Clair Avenue approaching Winona Drive in April of 1973, passing some storefronts including Coles (books) and La Perla (898 St. Clair Ave. W), Carmen Textiles, Darrigo's Food Market (behind the PCC), and a yellow Shell van (home heating fuels?). La Perla survived into the 2000's as a drapery store, before other uses took over the space. The store and that corner block at St. Clair & Alberta were demolished for redevelopment into condos a few years back (the 900 Saint Clair West development).
The ex-Kansas City PCC's (TTC A14-class 4750-4779, built by St. Louis Car Co. in 1946/47, acq. 1957) were the last PCC cars acquired by the TTC, but had suffered from lackluster maintenance at their previous owner. They ended up being the first of the secondhand cars to be retired or sold off. Most were resold to SEPTA (Philadelphia) and MUNI (San Francisco) later in the decade for continued service. Car 4769 became MUNI 1185, but reportedly never ran in service. One car sold to MUNI, car 1190 (ex-TTC 4752), managed to find its way back to Kansas City, and was restored and put on display as KCPS 551.
John F. Bromley photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.
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Love this! The PCC’s were ‘timeless’ in those days! And the vehicles! A yellow Ford Econoline van ( Shell Oil Home Comfort ), and partially hidden behind the PCC: red Dodge Coronet, red Mustang , and beyond: red Mercury Cougar, and parked, perhaps a green Mercury? So the ex KC PCC’s, were these the ‘air’ cars – compressor equipped for brakes etc.?
sdfourty
Nice!!
)
I remember when Toronto just seemed to be endless little shops.
And that green car in the distance might be a Ford Custom 500 or close. Love the Cougar. When it came out in 1969 first time (I think) I just did not have the money……..and had to stick with my ’67 Fairlane.
That van is awesome.
sdfourty, this particular group were all-electric cars. The air-electrics were the earlier ones TTC bought new (4000-4299) and one group of secondhand cars (A10′s 4575-4601, ex-Cincinnati), all the other new and secondhand cars in the fleet were more modern all-electrics.