68 camaro L78 at St. Louis Raceway Park

[L34Pace]

I got the POP out last night and it seems I made an error with the last name, its Helmke not Helnike.

Ruby Helmke
6874 Elm Point Lane
St. Louis, MO.

I guess I'll have to tell the long story regarding this car so you can get an idea of what I'm trying to discover. I bought the car from Ruby's daughter Donna Morgan of St. Louis. It had been in storage since 1978 with 15k miles on the body and the original engine missing. I have since transplanted another MQ block from 8N391270 and am putting on the finishing touches. I was told by her that the brother was into racing in the local area and hung around with Dick Harrell. Dick had a shop in St. Louis in 1967 that was located next door to the selling dealer, Bill James Chevrolet. Jeff here on the site and Dave Libby helped me with that information last year. Since Harrell moved his shop to K.C. by the time this car was delivered in 1968 it is pure speculation if he had anything to do with it other than help a friend spec it out. Dave does not remember the car being at the K.C. shop and was not with Harrell in St. Louis. Here is the brickwall I'm facing. Ruby is deceased and the daughter ends up with the car titled in her name and sells it to me after it basically sits for 30 years (stored indoors). She will not even give me the name of her brother although she did tell me he is living and "its one of those family things". I would guess its over money and maybe the car? So I'm looking for Ruby Helmke's son as he is the only person who knows what was put under the hood and by whom. the car did have an alarm system and a chain and padalock wraped around the core support and attached to a bracket under the hood! Something was under that hood of value!! Who knows maybe the guy still has it

[COPO]

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[/ QUOTE ] the car did have an alarm system and a chain and padalock wraped around the core support and attached to a bracket under the hood! Something was under that hood of value!! Who knows maybe the guy still has it

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I think that might have been more common than you think. In fact, I did the exact same thing in 1980 when I bought a '70 Z-28 as my first car.

It does sound like an interesting car and if it does in fact have a DH connection that would be awesome. Good luck with the search. The state DMV's are pretty tough now getting info. Several years back I did have luck with the Missouri DMV on a car I was researching.

[markjohnson]

Bill James Chevrolet(now gone) was another performance oriented dealership here in St. Louis. I used to know a mechanic that worked in the service department there in the sixties. He'd tell some great stories. Once told me he that the demand for 409 cars was so great, that they were converting six-cylinder cars off the lot into '09's. Want a car with air conditioning? Him and another mechanic could add that under-the-dash air conditioning unit in 45 minutes. This is the first I've heard of Harrell having a shop next to Bill James though. Anyway, I'm in St. Louis and actually work pretty close to the old dealership and anything I can do to help, just give a holler. By the way, there's a book out at the larger bookstores that specifically focuses on old Chevrolet dealership photos and there happens to be a great photo of the Bill James lot in the sixities.

[L34Pace]

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This is the first I've heard of Harrell having a shop next to Bill James though. By the way, there's a book out at the larger bookstores that specifically focuses on old Chevrolet dealership photos and there happens to be a great photo of the Bill James lot in the sixities.

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Sorry, I'm small town Harrells shop was nearby...maybe on Chippewa? I would like to know the author of that book if you know it? If you could circulate the Helmke name for me I'd appreciate it!

[markjohnson]

I'll ask around.

[L34Pace]

I just Googled a John A. Helmke who lives in St. Louis. He would be the right age. Could you see if he is listed Mark?

[markjohnson]

Just PM'd you a phone number.

[Mr70]

That Book is titled,"The American Car Dealership" by Robert Genat & is easy to find.
It was published in 1999 & is ISBN#0-7603-0639-7.
They show this used car lot for Bill James Chevrolet in 1963.

[markjohnson]

There must be two books then because that's not the photo I seen and the book I looked at was Chevrolet dealerships only.

[Mr70]

Please share that other book title.
I know it's not this one HERE ,and would like to see it.
Was it an interior or exterior shot?