A month has gone by since Chrysler terminated its franchise agreements with 789 dealerships nationwide, but for many of the rejected dealers, D-Day was anything but the end.

Of the 16 former Chrysler dealerships in the Pittsburgh region, only a few shut down. Cleared of new Chryslers, many are now repositioning themselves as used car dealers and service businesses.

Century III Dodge in Pleasant Hills is among the dealerships reinventing themselves. It's now Century III Sales and Service, according to the signs in the deserted showroom. The dealership is focusing on its service business and has lowered labor rates from $72 an hour to $59.95 an hour in an attempt to draw customers.

So far the discount hasn't been enough to attract customers, said office manager Sabrina Hardman. "Many people still think we're closed," she said. "We lost a lot of customers."

Looking around the dealership's lot, one can see why. The location used to be filled with new Dodge vehicles but is now largely empty, save for a few used cars.

Co-owner Robert Raymond Jr. said he was building up the inventory of pre-owned vehicles to become a used car dealership once the permit goes through. Once that business is up and running, he hopes to hire back many of the employees laid off last month.

As for the rationale behind keeping the business, Mr. Raymond said the decision was natural.

"This is what we do, this is what we know," said Mr. Raymond, whose father founded the dealership in 1983.

That sentiment is keeping many other owners tied to their livelihoods, even after being cut loose by Chrysler.

Third-generation Golick Chrysler-Jeep, which has been at its same location in Pitcairn since 1935, is now Golick Motor Company and also plans to sell used cars once it acquires a license.

Kalmar Motor Sales in Leechburg, which formerly sold new Pontiacs, Chevrolets, Jeeps and used cars, now is focusing on Chevrolets and used vehicles of all makes and models.

"We've been here for 70-plus years," said owner Chris Kalmar. "We're not going anywhere."

A phone call to Town & Country Chrysler Dodge in Ligonier was answered as "Town & Country Motors." Previously a Chrysler and Ford dealership, it's now just selling Fords.

"We haven't missed a beat," said dealer Jane Sapone. "We've had a really good June."

But despite the dealership's successful transition, she's still bothered by how Chrysler terminated their agreement.

"It was unfairly done. They could've at least taken the vehicles and parts back," she said. "But they just stuck you with everything."

Now, those specialty tools and parts are nearly worthless, being purchased for "pennies on the dollar."

"The loss is significant," said Ms. Sapone. "It adds up."

Another dealership familiar with loss is Day Baum Boulevard Dodge in Shadyside, which didn't survive Chrysler's restructuring.

The faint letters of "Baum Blvd Jeep Dodge" is still visible on the facade of the building; but inside the new Day Vespa, gleaming scooters sit where Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge vehicles used to be.

In contrast, Hickory's Corwin Chrysler and Jeep is taking a step back. The third-generation dealership has been selling Jeeps since 1945 and acquired a Chrysler franchise in 1999.

Now, it's returning to its roots as Corwin Jeep and selling used Jeeps.

"We're just missing the new cars now," said Mr. Corwin. "And I'm not even sure we're missing them."

He predicts that he'll sell 125 used cars in a year, quite a drop from the dealership's previous sales figures of 150 new and 150 used cars per year.

"We're selling less, but we're gaining," said Mr. Corwin. "It'll take a while to get it back to where it belongs."

Though Mr. Corwin said he didn't miss the aggravation that came with being a new car dealer, his still is upset with how it came to an end.

"For the record, we didn't cost the manufacturer a penny. They insisted we cost them money. I'd like to see where we cost them money," he said.

On Tuesday, the dealership's Chrysler sign was taken down, a bittersweet elimination of the manufacturer's last trace on the property.

"It's like atomic warfare. You don't know who to feel bad for, the dealers killed or the dealers going forward," said Mr. Corwin. "Because they might have the worse road ahead of them."