The figures of “Loaner Ranger” and his donkey overlook the empty car lot of South Pacific Auto Sales on Friday evening, Sept. 12, 2025.
All summer long people have wondered what was going on with South Pacific Auto Sales, the prominent Albany car business that has been a fixture on Highway 99E for about 35 years.
A bike ride finally took me there on Friday. What is going on, I learned, is simple enough. The car lot and associated businesses started shutting down in the spring. The last one of the businesses on the property will close soon, and the sprawling property is for sale.
The 8.6-acre property encompasses nine tax lots that cover the entire block on the west side of Pacific Boulevard (99E) between 49th and 53rd avenues.
The listing with Macadam Forbes Real Estate in Lake Oswego says the asking price is $9,650,000. The property includes seven buildings with about 46,000 square feet of usable space, including showrooms, repair shops, garages, storage areas, and offices.
The zoning is “community commercial,” which allows a variety of uses from retail to manufacturing.
Brenda and Russell Sell, of Brownsville, who then operated a string of convenience stores, started South Pacific Auto Sales in 1989 as a side business at 5040 Pacific Blvd. S.W.
In 2020 they passed the business on to three of their children, as reported in the Democrat-Herald. Some 50 people were employed at the site then. Business and employment declined over time, as I understand it, and the owners eventually decided to do something else.
On my bike ride Friday, I found the used-car lot empty. But the towering figures of an old-time prospector and his donkey were still there.
The Democrat-Herald reported on the statues in a 2014 feature story. Russ Sell told the paper the figures had been at a Lebanon car lot that closed, and he obtained them in about 1994 from Spray Foam. (That former Albany enterprise also made the big duck now in Waverly Lake.)
Someone had named the prospector and donkey “Loaner Ranger and Silverado,” according to that newspaper story.
What happens to the figures in the future, I assume, will depend on whatever is done with the property when it is sold. (hh)
The sign on South Pacific Boulevard signals the end of a this prominent Albany business.
What about our auto and tire warranty with them ?
I recall that the prospector statue was originally at Plaza Chrysler/Plymouth in Lebanon and he was originally called Plaza Pete.
The original local TV and radio commercials referred to the prospector (and South Pacific Auto Sales) as the “Loan Arranger”
Sorry to see this place close. We have lived out on the south side of town since 1983, one mile from this business. We saw that the tire shop was having a close-out sale so we stopped in to talk with an employee we have known since 1979 who used to work at another tire and wheel shop. He was gone and has moved on to another business. I bought tires for my 4Runners several times over the years and was always pleased with the service I got from Steve.
Where is Steve now?
Yes, I was told he is now at Beggs. I first met Steve in the early 80’s when he worked at South Pacific Tire and Wheel.
I have been buying tires from Steve for many years. Steve is one of the best in the business knowledgeable, excellent service and just a great guy all around. He is now at Beggs Tires. Go see him if you need tires!!
Thanks for the update, Hasso. I had no idea. Always sad to see long time businesses close.
Bummer! I always liked the power sports division. Bought a motorcycle from them. Parts, gear, tires etc. spouse bought a car. Always very easy to work with people.
We’ve had multiple tire-sets installed there on our old Saab’s. Good people, great service… They will be missed.
I was on an overextended bike ride recently, on one of the very hot days, and stopped in their to cure my heat exhaustion. (AC and lots of water was just what I needed)
I needed brakes, so I took my car there a week later to say thanks.
I could tell they were going under. Too bad.
Grocery and retail would be awesome there. We are isolated from those things down here.
You are right. A grocery store is what we need there. As it is, everyone, except those who live in SE Albany (or North Albany), have to drive on busy roads, that average about two accidents a week, to get to a grocery store in this town.
I’m still mad at Safeway for leaving South Pacific Blvd. and also at the City for not letting Walmart build at the old plywood mill site on South Pacific. Oregon Freeze Dry, if I remember correctly, objected and got their way.
I wish Trader Joe’s would put a store on the property up for sale. That would be great.
Didn’t they just open a motorcycle/quad/side-by-side shop a few years ago? They had to have spent a ton on the new building and all the inventory.
I liked the tire shop (and bought a lot of tires from Steve), but the prices on the car lot were absolutely bonkers. I looked at a Nissan pickup there one time and it was literally $10k over blue book. I used to sell cars, and I understand negotiating is normal, but not for 1/3 the cost of a vehicle. I walked around and saw the other cars and trucks were overpriced as well. Most of their stock was brodozers anyway.
It wouldn’t hurt if they put a WinCo in there
We already have a Winco. We don’t need another one. They only accept cash, checks or debit cards.
Also, it was reported a while back that Albany Winco has as much shoplifting and parking lot crime as Walmart. We don’t need a duplicate of that.
Looks similar to Noah Kellogg & mule, “discoverers” of Kellogg ID. Maybe they can sell it to Kellogg?
I think they should open up food carts there like in north albany. I have stopped going to north albany because the amount of traffic
Not a fan of food carts.
Same prices as sit downs,
no service. JMO
When my husband’s construction trailer was stolen years ago, South Albany Auto Sales were extremely helpful. We got the trailer back but it was stripped inside and out and they even took the good tires. They only left a pair of work boots on the inside. SATS sold the parts we needed at cost or below and assisted with the installation. A good will that will never be forgotten.
We’re sorry to see another business close. Good luck to them in the future.