DANA LICENCE PLATE FRAME

[GMH454]

Yeah saw it myself, even if it was a correct Repo that's not cheap. Very careful description. He uses the word "detail" but not in relation to the plate. Never says it's a accurate reproduction, just that it is essential to complete the resto of your true Dana.

Wonder if there will now be people running round telling others that this is a "true " repo plate frame.
Next it will be this is a "true" plate frame (forget the repro)
I think the hobby is getting harder. It used to be a challenge to find the information, now the biggest challenge is to sort the facts from the garbage, with the garbage growing all the time.

[Joe Sikora]

I am new to the discussion board, but contacted Rob four years ago about my car. I have a sunfire yellow 67 435 horse Corvette coupe Dana apparently kept for their personal use and sold as a "new" used car in 1970. I also have a 67 GT500 and recently found out that Dana was also an authorized Shelby dealership; a friend of mine has a 66 GT 350 that is an original Dana car!

The Corvette's invoice shows it was delivered to Guardian Chevrolet Brea CA. Dana (Mr. G. W. Pickens) issued the Protect-O-Plate in April of 67. The owner listed on the Protect-O-Plate explained he actually purchased the car in 1970, which coincided with the handwritten date on the back cover.

The Sting Ray is equipped with California smog, close ratio four speed, 370 rear gear, N11 exhaust, F41 suspension, redline tires, power disk brakes, am/fm, power windows and tinted glass (See Pix). It is a well documented 435 horse car with a complete owner history and its original window sticker, tank sheet, owners manual and Protect-O-Plate. The first owner also told me he replaced the original 427 with an L88!

The car still has its original transmission and differential, and I went to great pains to assemble a part number/date code tri power 427 to look like it was never out of the car. The Corvette has been re-painted, but the undercarriage is unrestored and the interior is original except for the carpet.

[GMH454]

Very nice Vette. interesting the note on Dana, selling Shelbys, as Peyton Cramer, one of the principals was part of Shelbys Calif team, as was Bob Bundurant (one of Danas drivers at Le Mans.)

[Joe Sikora]

Another interesting piece of Dana/Shelby trivia is the lug wrench used on the 67 GT 500 with the optional Magstar rims. The Mustang wrench for the standard Ford 13/16" lugs wouldn't work with the 3/4" nuts used with the Kelsey Hayes rims, so what do you think ol' Shelby used? You guessed it; he just called his buddy Peyton and ordered a bunch of Corvette lug wrenches! LOL, I've seen the Shelby guys pay $200 for one of these and I think you can still get them from GM for less than twenty bucks!

[35th02SS]

Nice vette, That is interesting that Dana also sold the Cobra's.

[Joe Sikora]

Been meaning to post the Dana frame I had made up for my Corvette. I had a couple extras done to help cover the special run cost and will be running them on ebay. IMHO, much nicer than the ones that are currently available through other sources. Sorry about the high opening bid but the short run and artwork cost me a fortune

I was at the NCRS regional in Wildwood, NJ this weekend and met a guy from Canada with a blue 65 396 Corvette coupe that was sold from Don Yenko Chevrolet!

[Belair62]

Very cool

[Jeff_Speegle]

As a little of additonal info from a Crammer interview. When he left Shelby, he wrote to Ford to get approval for a Ford dealership originally. From Shelby he took (purchased) a group of six 66 Shelbys (three carry over 66 cars and one of each of the colored cars - green, red and blue - the blue beign an automatic car) Well Ford turned him down and all of the Shelbys were returned into the system (High Performacne Motors - the Shelby processing company) With this allot of odd paper work was created - Shelbys sold to Dana - Dana selling back "used" Shelbys to HPM, then the same Shelbys being resold through other dealerships.

Can't find any record of Peyton selling a single Shelby or Cobra (haven't seen any paperwork indicating he ever got Cobras)

Just though I would add a little to the story, been following for about 20yrs..... we own the Blue 66 Shelby

[Joe Sikora]

Thought everyone might get a kick out of seeing the salesman's card my friend found in his DANA Shelby- I'd love to have one of these!

[Z-11 396]

JOE, THANKS FOR SHARING THE ''SALESMEN'S CARD'', SURE WISH I COULD FIND ONE.....KASEY ...