Obituaries
Obituary: Former Alameda Jeep Dealer Kjell Qvale
Kvell Qvale opened a Jeep dealership on the Island just after World War II and later became an early dealer of British sports cars in Northern California.
An entrepreneur who opened a Jeep dealership in Alameda in 1946 and later became an early dealer of British sports cars in Northern California died in San Francisco on Nov. 1. He was 96.
The New York Times published an obituary of Kjell Qvale Thursday, which tells how the Norwegian immigrant and WWII veteran parlayed a small savings into an automobile empire specializing in makes like MG, Jensen-Healey, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Morris and Rolls Royce.
Qvale sold the Jeep dealership in Alameda after he fell in love with the MG, an automobile the New York Times described as the first imported sports car to find a broad market in the United States. Starting in the late 1940s, Qvale promoted his still unfamiliar brands by sponsoring races at Buchanan Field in Concord. He also established the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Find out what's happening in Alamedawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Do any longtime Alamedans remember Qvale’s Jeep dealership? Who bought an MG from Qvale?
Find out what's happening in Alamedawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
