Bob McDorman Show

[olredalert]

------The Bill Mitchell coupe passed thru Classic Motors in Hinsdale back in 1976 or so. We had it for awhile and I drove it frequently. Although it was a 64 it had a Turbo 400 from new. Also had tilt and tele column. Something that wouldnt show up on other Vettes until 1969 as well as a host of other unique features. We found the car thru a buyer we had in Louisville. The fella that had it down there used it more or less as an everyday driver. It was in pretty good shape as we didnt even paint it to sell it. Im sure its been freshened by now.
------I first saw the Harley Earl car about that same time frame at Fall Carlisle in the for sale feild. It was in pretty forlorn shape but remarkably intact. We looked at that thing all week long trying to figure out if we had a case for buying it to restore. In the end my close friend Bob Gold ended up with it and restored it nicely.
------Oh,,,If that is the real No.1 Grand Sport, our shop restored it the first time around, when it was done in red with red leather gut, also in that same general time period. Why would someone restore such a historic car incorrectly, you say??? Back then we had only one customer on earth that wanted the car and thats the color he loved so thats the color it was painted. I found the original 200mph speedometer in Texas on the fireplace mantle of a prior owner. One of the more expensive speedos ever sold, probably!!! We initially had a 377 stroker with a cross-ram Weber set-up that came right out of the Tech Center. The Webers were "58s". You could just about stick your whole hand down one barrel. That engine would have been more correct for when the car was still a coupe, but it was so cool my boss decided to use it anyway. I think the car now has a similar drivetrain to when the car was on the Fram oil-filter box (very early big-block/single Holley done by Traco). I wish they would re-do the windshield to Nassau Speedweeks configuration (as on the Fram box) but obviously, thats not my call. Thanks for the pics and the memories. Hope I havent bored y'all........Bill S

------Oh,,,Andy,,,The Florence car is a restored car. The paint is way newer than 40 years, but is done authenticly. How do I know??? I saw the car in Harley and Florences driveway along with Harleys convert at thier house in Palm Beach in 1965. I was 18, had a smokin blond next me in my rented Mustang convert and just happened by. Thats one thing that I think is incorrect on Harleys car as it was done in "blue pearl" back then!!!

[Eddie M.]

Thanks for the pics Andy

[ANDY M]

Bill, I think I'd like it in blue pearl, but how do you guess at restoring a custom color? The car is stored in a fancy pole barn type building, with bad lighting. The mauve-pink pearl looks 40 years old, even if it isn't.
Bob McDorman does send a couple of his cars to the Vette museum every year, but mostly his cars just gather dust in the dark. I don't think any of them would start without a lot of help. Some day there's going to be a heck of an auction.

[SBR]

BIll, did Mr Shinkay own GS #1 car at one time?

[olredalert]

-------Yes Steve,,,He was the intended victim. Jerome loved red-on-red. It was a wild day when we delivered the car as we took about 10 cars in trade and drove many of them back from WI. to Hinsdale. Included was a beautiful black 1960 300SL and an equally nice drop-top Daytona Ferrari. What did I get to drive??? The truck. Oh well.........Bill S

------I looked a bit closer at the Grand Sport pictured and it is one of the many repops out there. A very nice one, though!!!!!!

[Xplantdad]

Andy...thanks for the pics!


Bill S. thanks again for the way cool stories behind the cars...it's one of the cool things that i like about this site!