Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

I believe my latest Chevelle project was a dealer trade to Jim Chumbley Chevrolet (Ypsilanti) from another Detroit dealer, possibly Funston or Merollis. Does anyone have any good leads for information from either dealer? I know Merollis is still around.

Thanks in advance, Tony

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Funston and Merollis were both in the Yenko dealer network. I have some memorabilia from both dealers in my collection.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Does anyone know if Merollis was an Olds dealer in the 70's.
I found a business card in my red 71 w-30 convert when I took it apart for restoration tahat was from Merollis.

Paul

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

I worked at Funston when it closed in September of 1972. It was a smaller Detroit neighborhood dealer. They did have a 'Sports Department' across Gratiot Avenue from the main store. All the Hi Perf stuff was housed there. Merollis was always a Chevrolet only dealer that I know of (60's to present). I still live nearby. Both Merollis and Funston stored cars at storage lots in the neighborhood. Lots of parts stolen from new cars back in the day, especially the Hi Perf stuff. Intakes, Carbs, Heads and more went missing. Cars were stolen too.
I worked on the used car lot for a while. Lots of Hi Perf stuff limped in on trade-in after street/ strip racing and being blown up etc. We used to take headers, tachs. traction bars etc. off and put them in a pile. I got to drive some neat cars around the block for 'time trials'. A lot of fun back then.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Did you know Sales manager Bob Hirsch or maybe Bill Barnwell pictured below?

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/24565-funston.jpg

From Chevrolets Central publication..
Funston's "Pit Stop" was located across Gratiot and half a block down.They averaged 22 new performance car sales every month,which alotted for 14% of Funstons overall new car sales.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Paul, you have a PM.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Anybody know about any '67 Z-28 Camaros being sold out of Funston Chevrolet? They got a very early one, the 25th one built and I would like to know more about it. It probably arrived at the dealership in late January '67.

Thanks,
-Jon

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Did you know Sales manager Bob Hirsch or maybe Bill Barnwell pictured below?

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/24565-funston.jpg

From Chevrolets Central publication..
Funston's "Pit Stop" was located across Gratiot and half a block down.They averaged 22 new performance car sales every month,which alotted for 14% of Funstons overall new car sales.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I knew 'Candy Bar' Bob Hirsch. He was my aunt's brother. He got me the job there. He is deceased.
Ah yes, the 'Pit Stop' kept the service department very busy. I was a young gofer and service writer. Lots of BB sucked valves getting fixed and short blocks going in. Guys would slip a junk yard short block into a warranty engine job and take the new short block home. Nobody cared about numbers. The customer was glad he got a new motor after beating the sh!t out of his car. Detroit streets were teeming with muscle iron.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Some pics. Scunio, I mentioned to you that Little Joe's car was White/ Black. That may have been before or after this blue one.

Detroit Cobo Hall Autorama.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Funston004.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Funston003.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Funston002.jpg

'67 Camaro called the Mod Topper.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Funston001.jpg

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Killer pics, keep them coming Paul!

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Groovy! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

wow... you have my attention! Great pics!

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Thanks for the vintage photos Paul! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif I never saw a Mod Top Camaro before (I've only seen it on Mopars).

Rita

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

For those of you who grew up in Detroit...

You probably remember this jingle for Merollis Chevrolet: https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

"Gene Merollis, what a GREAT, GREAT Guy!"

Click here to listen to the radio commercials from 1967

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

That particular jungle is from Gene Merollis Chev. in Garden City, MI. It was the "Other" Merollis Chevy. I think it is closed now. There were two of them in the Detroit area. The one I am near is in Eastpointe (Formerly East Detroit) MI. It is still in business. It was always known as just plain Merollis Chevy. No relation at all between the two dealerships.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Boy, those keystones on the Nova are BAAAADDDDDd! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

The local trim shop (the one on Little Joe's quarter panel) was across the street one block north of the 'Pit Stop'.
Looking at online map; Funston's building is still there. The Pit Stop building is still there. The Reasonable Trim Shop building has been leveled. http://maps.live.com/

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Chttps://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gifhttps://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gifL pics...really Lhttps://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gifVE the L88 Engines Installed sign!!!

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif
~ Pete

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

We need to get a Detroit thread going.... Cool older guy at work used to drag race a 56 Vette in 60-61 and brought in a few pics yesterday. I'll scan them and start a thread.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Wow awesome old pics. Those cars are so COOL Looking.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Paul, do you happen to know if Funston Chevrolet owned the blue Nova that little Joe drove? Sorta like Fred Gibb and Herb Fox did with little Hoss...

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Paul,

Can you tell me any more about that Mod Topper car and do you have any other pictures of it? It looks like it could be the 25th Z-28 I was talking about.

I like the body-color rally wheels. I have seen a few Z's like that with all appearances of being a factory job. Have not seen white stripes on a Granada Gold car though.

Thanks,
-Jon

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Paul, do you happen to know if Funston Chevrolet owned the blue Nova that little Joe drove? Sorta like Fred Gibb and Herb Fox did with little Hoss...

[/ QUOTE ]

That is a good question. I do not know the answer. Knowing how things ran around Funston, I would say the dealership owned it - whether they knew it or not. I'm sure any racing breakage was covered under warranty too. I used to get my broken 4 speeds fixed 'under warranty' all the time. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/shocked.gif

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Paul,

Can you tell me any more about that Mod Topper car and do you have any other pictures of it? It looks like it could be the 25th Z-28 I was talking about.

I like the body-color rally wheels. I have seen a few Z's like that with all appearances of being a factory job. Have not seen white stripes on a Granada Gold car though.

Thanks,
-Jon

[/ QUOTE ]

I was wondering if it was a Z also. The car may have made an appearance or two at the drag strip also. The body shop had some very talented people. I'm pretty sure the wheels and stripes were done there, but not certain. The guy who would have painted it was around at a local cruise night several years ago. I have not seen him since. Funston and other dealers would doll up cars like this all the time. I remember seeing a sort of spray-on vinyl top on cars. Trim shops would sell packages of mouldings and tops etc. Plain Jane Novas and such would get spiffed up.
The Mod Topper theme just went with the times. I remember it sitting right there and that was before I worked there. I have no other pics. My cousin gave me the ones I posted. I'll see if there are any more.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Paul,

I've seen several Chevys that had those wild tops, although they seem to have been on more Mopars than anything else. With the lettering on the rear quarter, I assume the gold Camaro was used as a salesman's car, especially due to the appearance of somebody's name at the top of the door. When I tried to blow up the photo, it looked more like it said "Kar Topper" on the door. I was hoping another angle would make it more clear. Thanks again for posting all the pictures but especially that one. Made my day! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif

-Jon

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

There is a name or initials at the top of the door. I'm seeing Mod Topper at the lower part- in an obsure 'mod' lettering.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

I'm sure you're right. That would make more sense. Thanks, Paul.

-Jon

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Got any more pics Paul?

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

I'm working on it...I have some emails out.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Looking forward to it!

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Did you ever have a clue of the dealer for the 69 Z?

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Previous owner thought somewhere in Flushing. I have 2nd owner's contact info, you can talk to him if you want. I'll send you a PM.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

After a little research I discovered that Chumbley ordered two COPO cars, a Garnet Red Camaro and my Orange Chevelle. Bringing this back to the top to see if anyone has info on this dealership.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Was this Merollis dealer located in Garden City Mi.?
I have a bottle opener that says Gene Merollis Chevrolet..
"The Great Great Guys" Phone GA7-6200.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

There were two dealers with the Merollis name. Gene Merollis in Garden City; And Merollis Chevrolet in East Detroit (now Eastpointe). No relation between the two.
The Eastpoint Merollis is still in business but I think the ownership has changed but kept the name Merollis on the dealership.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Merollis (Eastpointe) had a ZL1 in the showroom back in the summer of '69 or '70. I can't remember the year exactly. I think it was Fathom Green. It sat there for a long time.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

...Not long enough.
Thanks Paul.http://www.greensmilies.com/smile/sm...ns_thumbs1.gif

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Merollis acquired 5 re-distributed Gibb ZL-1s:

#11 N609016 Cortez Silver 4-speed
#24 N609838 Dusk Blue 4-speed
#32 N610515 Hugger Orange auto
#37 N612963 Fathom Green 4-speed
#50 N620498 Le Mans Blue auto

All 5 were reported stolen. #11 was soon recovered and still exists. #24 was salvaged in MA in 1973. The remainder probably were recovered as they were not registered to insurance companies when I checked many years ago. They may have become race cars.

Beware that all 5 VINs now show Canadian registration.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Merollis (Eastpointe) had a ZL1 in the showroom back in the summer of '69 or '70. I can't remember the year exactly. I think it was Fathom Green. It sat there for a long time.

[/ QUOTE ]
It was a 4 speed.

Re: Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?
 

Got this pic from a friend.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ag_Funston.jpg