Humphrey Chevy---Yenko Dealer ad

[csx289]

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I bought a used Corvair at Humphrey May 1969. At one time WI largest Corvette dealer.

Gone now. The lot where the showroom was has been vacant since it was torn down in the '70s.



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William, I envy you for actually being at Humphrey back in '69. I was only able to get in the building long after it was shut down. I went to Marquette high school which is next door to the old Humphrey new car showroom on the SE corner of 35th & Wisconsin (btw, VERY tough part of town for many years). As I'm sure you remember better than me (as I was not born yet) the used car department was a huge lot on the NE corner of 35th & Wisconsin with a small concrete building. Still standing last I checked.

The Humphrey family donated the still standing "time capsule" new car property to my school in '86/'87 while I was there. I was able to con my way into the dealership via a very understanding Jesuit priest...who also looked the other way as I rolled out boxes of old files, signs, showroom displays, etc. The place had just been locked on the last day of operation ('81-'82 I think?), everything was still intact. To this day I have Humphrey service department signs in my shop and still pump gear lube and wheel bearing grease through Humphrey pumps!

The school bulldozed the showroom in spring of '88. I watched it go down while I was supposed to be learning Latin in a 2nd floor class room about 500' away. A sad day. What became of the old dealership is Marquette High School's Humphrey Field, a soccer/ football field our teams made great use of as we previously had no place to practice. I must say, I am probably the only kid that ever went to that school that was sad to see us get a field, as it meant Humphrey had to come down.

Another Milwaukee high-performance institution was Dale Chevrolet. Although I never was able to see Dale in operation either, I am friends with Bill (Billy) Dale, who as a young man took over the dealership in the 60's. I have heard many stories from him about their performance car inventory. One showroom devoted to used Corvettes I am told.
If anybody has a Dale Chevy I am sure I can hook them up with Bill, maybe he remembers the car.

I always thought I was born too late, but at least I was able to visit some "ghosts" here in Brewtown.

Colin

[William]

[/ QUOTE ] I always thought I was born too late, but at least I was able to visit some "ghosts" here in Brewtown.

Colin

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As I did not live nearby I did not spend much time at Humphrey. The HP cars were stored in the building across from the used car lot on 35th st, that's where my Corvair was delivered. I remember Z/28s, Corvettes, Chevelles jammed in there. When I worked for CPX one of our customers was a former salesman there and stated they had several '67 Z/28s, none of which I recall.

Dale was nuts-they had 2 of Gibbs' ZL-1s, at least 6 L72 cars, dozens of Z/28s and L78 cars. A friend owned a Yellow/Yellow JL-8 Z/28-RS sold new there, one of the coolest '69s I have ever seen. There were plenty of SHP Chevys in Milwaukee; I believe 25 or so Yenko Camaros were sold in WI. Holz in Hales Corners also had quite a few HP cars in the day and is still in business at the same location. The '67 Z/28 we had was sold new there along with several others.

I will bet some of all that is still here, waiting to be found.

[1969l78]

Very cool car