Old Owners

[James Berry]

The original owner's reaction was, "I have been waiting for this call a long time." He did not ask to buy the car back he just wants to see it when it is in his area.
The search for old owners can be very hard, I have about 250 hours in this search. All you need is a few pieces of the puzzle like A69COPO2 has, alot of paitence and some good help like I had on this websight.

[A69COPO2]

I very much, agree, the folks on this site, are very helpful and I enjoy posting info, if I can help. This car will get a full ground-up Restoration, as it deserves. I have run into brick walls, some of the previous owners, didn't want to help. I'll just keep looking under all the stones, until Mr. Stubbs and I talk. This car was never registerd, by a few owner, this makes it difficult. I'm just happy the 1973 title/ partial build sheet came with the car.

If their's some one out, that lives in Cliffon NJ area, that knows of a 1966-67 GTO running a BBC with a four speed, namely my 427. I would like the name of this owner and phone#. This is a rumor, that I'm also chasing. Car was drag raced and had some other parts installed, that through me off into another direction. I under stand that NICB, can direct me to the dealer that received this car, just don't know how to do this part, any help on this, would help alot.

Thanks, again Denis, and I'll be calling these People today, will post as I find things out.

MIKE

[Denis]

Just last night, I hit the jackpot myself.

Using a name I pulled off a photocopy of a Polaroid of the P-O-P for my 67 Yenko, I contacted the original owner on the first attempt. As in turns out, the original owner lives 3-4 miles from the address listed on the P-O-P, near Madison WI. His name (Gregg spelled with two g's) made it easy to find him in the telephone listings. Total research time: about 30 minutes.

What a blast! Prior to this phone call, I don't think we knew anything about the car before 1990.

I got to confirm what kind of badging was used on the car (no YSC emblems, only the 427 badge on the fenders like in the Span Inc photo -- plus something on the hood he can't quite remember), the correct spare (Charley, you might be getting your SpaceSaver back ), how fast it ran (low 11's with slicks), and more. He promised to try to find some original photos which, unfortunately, his ex might have. Been there, done that.

So now I want to trace it forward from the original owner. He sold it a couple of years later to a local mechanic/racer who drag raced out of Union Grove in the early 70's. His nickname was "Coke Bottles" because of the thick glasses. Any of you 'old guys' remember who this might be?

I'm thinking maybe it would be nice to reunite the original owner with the car at the SuperCar reunion, and maybe see if it still runs as hard as it used to. That'll give the trailer queens a conniption fit, don't you think?

[gambitti]

Denis, I know alot guys who raced at Union Grove in the 70's. I wasn't in the area at that time but many of my buddies often talk about the Yenkos that ran there. I don't know how many times my friend Bill will bring up the time he beat a 69 Yenko Nova there in 72'. I'll ask about Cokebottles maybe something will turn up.

[Charley Lillard]

Denis, does that mean your the one that talked Kevin out of the 67 ? Cool.......

[Steven J]

Denis,
Great Lakes Dragaway has a website, www.greatlakesdragaway.com . Maybe you can get in touch with the present owners, or leave a message on the message board on their site. The present owners have had the track for a few years, they bought it from "Broadway Bob". I would bet that he knows "cokebottles".

[Denis]

Charley, yep, she's mine now. Still at Kevin's until I clear my wife's Mustang out of the shop. I plan to show it at the mid-March Roadster Show here in Seattle.