J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Yes, J.C. Penny used to sell speed equipment at one time. This is from an old Car Craft ad but I also have a 1970-71 J.C. Penny catalog and the speed equipment was in there also-about 10-12 pages. For you younger guys Pennie's used to have autoservice centers and they would install the speed parts for you. In the ad it says "drive in and charge it" Looks like they stocked all the Edelbrock, Hurst etc.

I also have alisting of the JCPenny speed shops and most were in hardcore car areas, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Dayton Ohio, Cleveland/Youngstown, New York Burroughs etc

In my area there was a store called Harts. Kinda like a Ames etc. and they also had an autoservice center which sold a bunch of speed equipment in my area cira early '70's. Stuff like intakes, wheels, shifters, gauges etc. Right after checking out the new model cars I would run over to the automobiles section and checkout the speed equipment. They shut down the service center in mid '70's to expand into groceries and they literaly gave away all of the speed equipment at rock bottom prices. My brother bought thrush mufflers at this sale for something like $2.00 each.

I also remember the local Nationwise auto parts had a section within their store called "The Rod Shop" Also sold a bunch of speed equipment. Matter of fact much of the speed goodies on my car came from there.

I've been to the new Summit retail store but it is nothing like the old days IMO.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-...2/File0042.jpg

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

One think hasn't changed whitetop---they're still getting a piece of my paycheck--My wife sees to that......Now if Avon sold racing fuel..........

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

JC Penny ran there auto shop here in North Seattle into the the 80's...I barely scraped together enough money to buy two brand new front cragars and Pos a Traction tires and did some wierd trade for the rear used cragars with bald tires for my first ride..I hopped there garbage tire fence about every other month and would find a pair of 245 15 50's that had 1/8th tread left..buzz over to Penny's and the guy would mount and balance them for a 20 cash...man that brought back some memories...thnx https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

this about '81

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/131162-78Camaro.jpg

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

There was/is a J.C.Penny Dept.store here in Lombard Il.In the Yorktown shopping center.When this Mall opened up in 1967,it was all the rage.Everything under one roof,you spent all day there,& my Family & cousins always did.Something for everyone.
We used to enter & exit the mall everytime through the J.C. Penny store,& at age 10,I gauked & oohed over the cool car parts & HotRod displays in their speedshop.
They had a Movietheater next door,and Herbie the LoveBug was showing.After we saw that movie,and went over to the J.C Penny Speedshop..I remember trying to buy One shiny Mag wheel with all our allowances combined,but the salesman refused to do so to such young punks.We ended up buying a single shifter knob instead...what did we know,we were kids. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif
I remember going back there in 1980 to buy speed parts for my 1st Chevelle,but they really weren't selling to much by then.Not like 10 years previous. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

The Lombard store is one listed in Illinois in the ad.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Dave I didn't even notice your Picture link.
Very Cool! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Here's a 1968 photo of a Penny's Auto Center in Bay Shore, New York. These guys were running that '65 Hemi Belevedere called the "Penny Pincher" in B/MP. Photo is from the May, 1968 Cars Magazine.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

I used to deliver parts to the JC Penney auto center !!! They had all kinds of cool stuff in the 70's there. When I was a few years younger my brothers and I got a mini bike from them...a Golden Pinto 3 1/2 horse Tecumseh !!...man that thing must have been 150 bucks...it was like a present from heaven for us...

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Loved the J.C. Penny drag slicks! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Whitetop this is a great thread! A while back when I heard that JC Pennys had a speed shop I was suprised!

Here is an ad from Hot Rod June 1970

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Back around 1981 or '82 I had purchased rear window louvers for my '74 Z from Penny's through their catalog. Did they stop selling automotive stuff and if so when?

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

In fact one of your fellow Chicago area Yenko owners used to work at the JCP in Scahumburg. I bought my Cragar SS's (2 at a time) from this store to put on my 68 Firebird 400.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Another shot. I thought it was a 2-door post car, but now I know.

Anders

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

A guy in my hometown built a hot '55 Chevy back in '68 and the local Penny's had a Lifetime battery deal going on. I think they wanted you to bring in the car and they would check out other things like the brakes, exhuast etc to drum up business. Of course people only kept their new cars back then 4-5 years and Penny's probaly did not figure into the equation antique cars or street machines the owners would hang onto. Of course the '55 was imaculate and well maintained by my friend. He would take the car in every 4-5 years and get a new battery as needed. When Penny's dropped the local service center in the early '80's he was out of luck and had to start buying his batteries.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

[ QUOTE ]
Did they stop selling automotive stuff and if so when?

[/ QUOTE ]

Our local service center closed in '82-'84. JCP probably stopped selling automotive stuff about the same time. My local service center did not sell alot of speed equipment(but was available through order) because we had a 4-5 other speed shops that did very well in my area but I think that was dependent on each location. I have talked with people over the years who said their local JCP store did stock a bunch of speed equipment on site. I also think the centers probbaly were into more speed equipment in the early '70's and then it started to die off in the energy crisis era and when summit started to get big into mail order.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Article says the car began life with a 426 Wedge and the guys put the Hemi in. No doubt they swapped-in the "Hemi" A/FX-style 2-headlight grille too.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Side view showing skinny Cragars and Blue Streak tires. Probably had a JC Penny heavy-duty battery too.

Skinny Cragars = https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Great pic !!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Bill
I really like that Picture of the "Penny Pincher" because it hits home with me growing up here.
Can I get a Color copy of it somewhere?

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

I scanned the pics from the May, 1968 Cars. Here's what the cover looks like for all you fellow eBayers.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Thank You.. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif
May the ice upon your Wings,fallen onto the House of your enemy.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

I remember the deal with the lifetime batteries... I had a '73 Z/28 that got only limited miles and I bought a battery, figuring to be like the old guy in the Midas commercial, "see ya later boys". When I took the battery back in (I was 50 miles away) I told them I couldn't bring the car as it was a "show car". They said "well that's like a tractor", no warranty, but gave me the battery anyway. By the time it was battery replacement time they were out of the lifetime business. Still have the Z.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

A friend of mine has a set of cheater slicks that are JC Penny brand.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Mr70...find me a pic of a JC Penney Golden Pinto mini bike...circa 1970...

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Hey,

Here's one circa 1978... sorry I couldn't find anything older...yet!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/...ures/pinto.jpg

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Spring 1970 ad from Popular Mechanics
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...s/minibike.jpg
OPIE...MOVE YOUR BIKE!
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~vince004/jcpennyw.jpg

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

O M G .......Rick my older brother is going to crap....can you e-mail that to me in a jpeg !!! I can't even believe you found that !!!

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

You want fries with that?
Watch your email light. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

The JC Penny set of 3 Guages looks like SW Greenlines.

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

I found this 1970 JC Penny ad & thought of you Bob.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...inibob0001.jpg

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Hey....that sure looks the same as the bike I had too! . Mine was well used and motorless when I got it but my best pal and I put an old 5hp McCullough Chainsaw two stroker in it....BRRRrrrraaaapppp.....Yippppeeeeee! .
The Penny family sold Snowmobiles too....Manhandler I think they were called? ~ Pete

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Makes me wonder who/where the kid on the bike is, and how badly his kids would like to see 'ol dad' in that add!

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Were we really all that hungry looking back then? . Something tells me you Photoshop guys are gonna' have fun w/ this shot? ~ Pete

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

I think that's a testament as to why the young were all so lean back in those days.
More outdoor physical activities.
Sure we had Saturday AM TV,but only for a few hours & then out the door you went!
Not like now with days upon days of interactive Videogames and stagnant computer sitting.
In my neighborhood if you weren't peeling from a sunburn by the age of 6,you were considered a Nerd. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

<< GUYS >>, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT THREAD, ALL THE INFORMATION, PICTURES, AND PERSONAL HAPPENS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING, SURE MAKES ME THINK WAY BACK TO THOSE DAYS...KASEY.. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

i had a JC Pennys musclebike back in the 60s. it was a 5 speed with park brake in the console. it was a poor mans schwinn. here is a calalog pic. 396/425blr

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Not a speed part, but I just picked up an old school JCPenney Am to Fm converter...

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

I have 2 JC Penney's catalogs 1968 and 1971. I also have an AF/X tach and a pair of AF/X Foremost drag slicks. The slicks were made by Mickey Thompson and the tach is a Dixco. They also carried Mickey Thompson headers, like the ones Frank is running on his COPO. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

Sam...see what they called their mini bikes will ya...

Re: J.C. Penny Speedshop
 

I've got a friend here in St. Louis that has an old brass/wooden wall plaque that reads "Dick Harrell Performance Clinic, presented by Sears, Roebuck". Even though the name Dick Harrell has become the quite the sore subject with a lot of people these days, he's still a hero to me and I hope to acquire that plaque for my garage wall someday.