Humphrey Chevy---Yenko Dealer ad

JChlupsa · #1 03-08-2008, 10:10 PM

**firstgenaddict** · #2 03-10-2008, 12:37 AM

I like the individual 4 2 7 letters below the Camaro emblem on the fenders... has any 67 Yenko been found with emblems like that?

**William** · #3 03-10-2008, 02:50 AM

I bought a used Corvair at Humphrey May 1969. At one time WI largest Corvette dealer.

Gone now. The lot where the showroom was has been vacant since it was torn down in the '70s.

**bkhpah** · #4 03-10-2008, 04:50 AM

I think that was one of the few that stared out as 350 car. The one we are restoring right now was a 396/375. The emblems on the 396 were simply changed to the 427 Turbo Jet style...BKH

camarojoe · #5 03-10-2008, 06:15 AM

Yes, it was an SS350... the car in that ad was actually photographed by Don himself behind the dealership. He sent copies to various network dealers to use for advertising and promotion. I have all the original shots of the car, including the one used in the Humphrey's ad. Here's a few other outtake photos from the same photo shoot. Seems they couldn't decide whether to leave the headlights open or closed! Note the pic selected for the ads is marked with a #6... pretty sure that meant Don wanted 6 copies printed of that particular shot. Not sure what the "H" signifies on the other photo, Humphrey's maybe? Who knows!?

camarojoe · #6 03-10-2008, 06:20 AM

Here's what appears to be another SS350 converted car, with stock SS hood, vette pipes, redlines, rallys, (sans trim rings) and no vinyl top...sitting inside the Yenko dealership in Canonsburg. Note the date on the pics... March 1968. Either a leftover 67, or possibly a year old car in for service...wish i knew for sure!

camarojoe · #7 03-10-2008, 06:37 AM

Close-up of the fender emblems on the Humphrey's ad car. Sorry it's blurry!

**firstgenaddict** · #8 03-10-2008, 07:20 AM

Have any of the SS 350 cars been found?

**bkhpah** · #9 03-10-2008, 03:06 PM

I think the one in the photo was found years ago. It was an ACC tech article Camaro at one point. Color was butternut yellow With side pipes. One of the reasons you may see some 68 dates is the cars were produced very late in 1967. The plum car we are doing is 05D and is one of the first. I have paperwork from Yenko with one "new" 427 67' Yenko Camaro being sold in March of 68'....BKH

**csx289** · #10 03-10-2008, 05:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I bought a used Corvair at Humphrey May 1969. At one time WI largest Corvette dealer.

Gone now. The lot where the showroom was has been vacant since it was torn down in the '70s.

[/ QUOTE ]

William, I envy you for actually being at Humphrey back in '69. I was only able to get in the building long after it was shut down. I went to Marquette high school which is next door to the old Humphrey new car showroom on the SE corner of 35th & Wisconsin (btw, VERY tough part of town for many years). As I'm sure you remember better than me (as I was not born yet) the used car department was a huge lot on the NE corner of 35th & Wisconsin with a small concrete building. Still standing last I checked.

The Humphrey family donated the still standing "time capsule" new car property to my school in '86/'87 while I was there. I was able to con my way into the dealership via a very understanding Jesuit priest...who also looked the other way as I rolled out boxes of old files, signs, showroom displays, etc. The place had just been locked on the last day of operation ('81-'82 I think?), everything was still intact. To this day I have Humphrey service department signs in my shop and still pump gear lube and wheel bearing grease through Humphrey pumps!

The school bulldozed the showroom in spring of '88. I watched it go down while I was supposed to be learning Latin in a 2nd floor class room about 500' away. A sad day. What became of the old dealership is Marquette High School's Humphrey Field, a soccer/ football field our teams made great use of as we previously had no place to practice. I must say, I am probably the only kid that ever went to that school that was sad to see us get a field, as it meant Humphrey had to come down.

Another Milwaukee high-performance institution was Dale Chevrolet. Although I never was able to see Dale in operation either, I am friends with Bill (Billy) Dale, who as a young man took over the dealership in the 60's. I have heard many stories from him about their performance car inventory. One showroom devoted to used Corvettes I am told.
If anybody has a Dale Chevy I am sure I can hook them up with Bill, maybe he remembers the car.

I always thought I was born too late, but at least I was able to visit some "ghosts" here in Brewtown.

Colin

Dedicated to the Promotion and Preservation of American Muscle Cars, Dealer built Supercars and COPO cars.