Anyone know of a Fathom Blue '68 DICK HARRELL Chevelle?

[69yenkoman]

the_bowtie_gang:

I live in a small town about 10 miles outside the KC area. If you give me the VIN I will do some digging and see what I can find out. I know some people that might be willing to help out. Any rare supercar that comes close to my neck of the woods excites me !!!!

[68TopStock]

supercars/bhkpah

Did Mr. Branine discuss what the connection was regarding Fred Gibb? I have several original Dick Harrell full page ads, from DragWorld, the one dated 4/12/68 lists Branine Chev. in Mulvane, another dated 7/5/68 does not. Both also list "Courtesy" in Phoenix, Arizona, San Diego, San Jose, and Thousand Oaks, CA, and Fred Gibb, Bill Allen and Burt Chevy in Engelwood, Co. A later 12/13/68 ad lists a new dealer, Riley Chev. in Jefferson City, MO. No further Branine Chev. notice.

I have an announcement article regarding Fred Gibb and Dick Harrell, came from Helen's albums),I think dated early January 1968. I will quote the beginning and other pertinent parts of the article:

"New Dealership for High Performance Cars"

"Fred Gibb, Jr., owner of the local Chevrolet dealership, has announced an expansion in the business activities of Fred Gibb Chevrolet. In association with Dick Harrell of Kansas City, Missouri they are planning the production and distribution of high performance Chevrolets through a limited number of selected Chevrolet dealers throughout the United States. The local firm will furnish the Camaros and Chevelles to the "Dick Harrell Performance Center" in Kansas City where the conversions will be made. The cars will also be sold locally....Speaking of the new business venture, Fred said, "We are quite enthused about this new business, but a lot of work lies ahead. We have been keeping the telephone lines 'hot' between here and Kansas City, Detroit, and the west coast for the past several weeks...As we will be the only dealer in this area, as well as distributor for others, I feel it will surely help business here."

Do you have further information or articles etc. to help understand these relationships?
Were these "gentlemen" agreements or specific contracts? I find the saga of Dickie Harrell and Fred Gibb quite intriguing, and would like to help other owners and those interested learn more about the racing and high performance machines they made and sold. Does anyone know about the Courtesy, Burt and Riley connections?

[the_bowtie_gang]

Yes, this is the car Kevin is speaking about.
It's not just a modified car or a "tuner" car with wannabe stickers/emblems added.

It was sold new as a "DICK HARRELL" car.

I'm the one who originally documented BOTH Kevins Camaro, and this Chevelle I'm now asking about.

I still have the 1984 newspaper clipping advertising the Camaro (Kevins car) when I could have bought it but didn't.

I was able to document it AND the Chevelle in 1984-85, were any of you owners OR personally involved with ANY Harrell cars then?

I have the original copies of all of Kevins documentation (I believe), except for the later signed statements that he obtained from Mr. Branine & Larry Gann.

...Kevin, I suppose now you'll be "pumped" for the VIN now, like I have been. I had hoped it (the VIN) wouldn't get divulged since I (like you) probably would like a shot at obtaining the car.


[Edited by the_bowtie_gang (10-10-2001 at 09:45 PM).]

[68TopStock]

the bowtie gang

Just trying to help, I have no intention on trying to "scoop" someone. I have seen others not succeed just because they gave up when they were very close. BTW, Dave Libby lives in Kansas, same place since he worked for Dickie. Maybe he could help.

[68TopStock]

OOPS (that who painted for Dickie Harrell)

My post above is incorrect regarding the Branine Chevrolet name in conjunction with the 12/13/68 Harrell Ad. Branine Chevrolet is noted center stage above the Dick Harrell logo. As a note, the ads I have found in later 1969 DragWorlds are smaller, and not full back page ads, with no dealership names mentioned. I also forgot another Chevrolet dealer in California, appearing in the 12/13/68 ad, Crawford Chevy, in Ventura.

Has anyone heard about a "Harrell" car in New Ulm, MN?

[the_bowtie_gang]

...looking at some of the previous registration documentation I have on these two cars...

Camaro 1st titled 07-30-68

Chevelle 1st titled 05-20-68

They were BOTH marked down on the "New Car check in sheet" (unloaded off of the transport truck??) on 05-07-68.

The Chevelle was titled 13 days later. The Camaro was titled a month and a half to almost a full month later.

[Edited by the_bowtie_gang (10-11-2001 at 12:06 AM).]

[68TopStock]

the bowtie gang

I didn't think it was directed at me, just covering the bases. I understand the VIN is useless in a search as you are going through. I am clarifying at this time whether some of the Gibb historians can check old archives, to see if they can run VIN's. This might be helpful if and once you have found the car, and are trying to document it fully. Or possibly the current owner has called someone connected with Gibb/Harrell cars.

I do not know if banking records ever are open for data base searches, such as when people are using vehicles for collateral, or listing "assets". This might be a far reach.
Also criminal history searches, when property of known criminals is confiscated by law enforcement.(an inside contact?) Just some thoughts.

Keep the search going, use all resources, knowing details about the car is priceless. That is how I found the "Little Hoss" car. Call all ads that reference the type of car, no matter where you find them. Track every last lead to its conclusion. Do not be timid when contacting people, just ask the proper questions and be polite.

[the_bowtie_gang]

68TopStock,

I wasn't directing that ..."pumped" for the VIN quote at you at all.

Since one can't do a "title search" or "title chain search" (as some DMV/state tax commissions/vehicle registrars call them) anymore due to the Federal Privacy Act of 199x, I'm not sure of a legit reason why anyone needs the VIN to help in tracking this car down.

Oh sure, once it's located it would provide final verification that it's the same car I'm looking for.

Maybe I'm missing something, but how would you track a car using it's VIN other than the following....

(a.) State DMV (any and all states it was every registered in.

(b.) NCIC

(c.) NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau's

(d.) ????

[Edited by the_bowtie_gang (10-11-2001 at 12:27 AM).]

[JoeC]

According to the classicnovas.net Harrell had some type of arrangement with Courtesy Chevrolet for racing sponsorship and a dealer network. The Courtesy Chevrolet name was on some of the Funny Cars. This is a quote from the nova site "The Chevrolet Dealer Network he (Harrell) established in the state of CA included the Courtesy Chevrolet dealers of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and Thousand Oaks. Another CA Dealer was Crawford Chevrolet of Ventura, CA. Locations of others were Burt Chevrolet of Englewood, CO, Riley Chevrolet of Jefferson City, MO, Bill Allen Chevrolet of Kansas City, MO, Fred Gibb Chevrolet of LaHarpe, IL, and Courtesy Chevrolet of Phoenix, AZ."

The Courtesy Chevrolet name is still be in buisness and has a web site at

http://www.courtesychev.com/frm_nvh.htm

[Edited by JoeC (10-11-2001 at 08:31 AM).]

[69yenkoman]

the_bowtie_gang:

I to am just trying to help since I live in the area. I am not interested in trying to take something out from under you. I love this site and these cars. The people here are very knowledgeable and care about authenticity of these automobiles. Anyway I couldnÃt afford the price tag even if I did find it. I understand your hesitation though, one cant be to careful.

69yenkoman