Anyone hear of George Chevrolet in central NJ?

[Jeff H]

I was talking to one of the "older" guys in our Camaro/Firebird club last night and he worked at George Chevrolet. It was somewhere around New Brunswick or North Brunswick. Anyway, he said they had a ZL1 come in and the manager told him to remove the engine and put in an iron 427. He said he took the ZL1 out and put the 427 from his Chevelle in it. He kept the ZL1 engine for some time, but I don't think he has it any more. He said it was a blue(the lighter blue, probably Lemans Blue), 4 speed car and when they ordered it, they tried to order it with AC! I don't know how much truth there is to his story, but he said they used to pull engines out and swap them all the time. Has anyone heard of George Chevrolet and did they sell hi-po cars? I'll be checking back with him to see what he did with the ZL1 engine to see if it can be tracked down.

[69RSZ]

hi jeff,i have lived in edison for 44 years,i asked my father about the dealer and he only remembers freedman gmc pontiac in new brunswick.maybe it was in north bruns,i used to work at country chevrolet in new brunswick in 1981 but cant recall a george chevy dealer at that time.i have been interested in joining a camaro club but didnt know of one in my area.which club is it that you belong to? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif Ron C


69rsz
02 35th perf edition #11

[Jeff H]

I get together with a bunch of guys/gals as an informal club called CJCFO (Central Jersey Camaro & Firebird Owners). It's mostly 3rd and 4th gen cars but we're starting to get more people all the time. We usually meet at Fuddruckers on Rt 22 in Bridgewater on the 2nd Thursday of each month to bs. Here's a link to our group mailing list. Guys are always getting together to work on their cars or just hang out. I'm down near Trenton so I'm farther away, but I still hang out. My 69 isn't done yet(at least 1 more year) so I just hang out with my SS454 pickup. http://cjcfo.fbody.com Are you going to the East Coast Camaro Gathering in Vineland on June 1? I've gone the past 4 years and it's a good turnout.

[69RSZ]

hi jeff,no i wont be going to the camaro gathering.i was there last year and well i should say i had a good time but was disappointed with the way peoples choice on the cars turned out.the yenko that was there was a rare peice but i was told he wins 1st place every year so i went over to look at it and it had a puddle of oil sitting on the top of the motor with oil sweat on the valve covers and won 1st place.i know i sound like im complaining but right then i made my decision not to attend peoples choice shows.they sent me an invitation but i e-mailed them back and told em to not waste eveyones time and just give 1st place to the yenko with the oil on top of the motor.by the way he was a sponsor of the show there.conflict of interest? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gifmaybe.but no i wont be going this year or in the future unless they decide on a fair judging system for the cars.there was a cortez silver 69 z there that is a legend winner at carlisle and he didnt even place 3rd so that tells you something. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gifi will send a pic of my car and maybe you will remember it.Ron.


69RSZ
02 35th perf edition #11

[Jeff H]

I don't mind the people's choice shows because it gives the people with a regular car a chance. Not everyone can afford to buy the correct NOS parts for their car so the repo stuff will work for shows like that. I had my 93 Z28 Indy 500 Pace Car down there for sale last year and sold it at the show. I know which silver Z28 you're talking about, but I think it comes down to which class you enter your car in. It's more of a fun get together for Camaro owners. The same pro-street cars win every year because there's not enough competition.

[Verne_Frantz]

Jeff,
I grew up in the area. There was a George Chevrolet in New Brunswick (on George St. near Remsen Ave.). In the early '70s it became Flair Chevrolet. The building burned down in '98. I remember buying parts there for my '62. I used to cruise Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick every Fri night. The "Ave" was famous in central NJ. It was just like American Graffiti.
The dealers that catered to high performance cars or had the "right" parts were generally known among the car people, and I do not recall George being mentioned as the place to go for the "hot" stuff. The dealer with the biggest name for that niche was Briggs in So. Amboy.
Probably not a good lead, but I hope this helps.
Verne.

[Mr70]

Briggs & Truppi-Kling campainged a Fathom Blue 1970 LS6 Convert.Chevelle that was driven by Ray Allen,and later Claude Urevig.
Love it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[SS427]

............and is now being completely restored back to original status. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

I watched that Chevelle run many times at E-town. Very rarely beaten.
I bought my "good" parts from Briggs when I ran D/MP with a 396 in my '62.
Verne.

[JoeC]

I found some cool pictures of that LS6. Some on the track, One is them doing an engine change then another when car was repainted I think white but photo is B&W

[SS427]

From Team Chevelle
I thought I would dig this topic up again just because it is such a great car to discuss. I have been collecting information on Ray Allens Briggs Chevrolet Truppi-Kling Chevelle for about 5 years and have detailed specs on this car. I have magazine articles, Briggs ads, Briggs catalog, Color picture in the pits at Englishtown 1970, pics of the hauler they used to carry it on, all sponser decals, National Dragster features for Nov - Dec 1970. I'm always looking for more stuff or talking about this World Famous Super Stocker. I will be checking with Ray Allen for the current updates. I'm hearing rumors it might be sold but have no proof yet. Anybody have any further news? Email me at [email protected] Thanks, Kevin

Joe, Have you ever talked with Kevin? He is researching this car and has been looking for any and all info on it. I too would be very interested in seeing those photos if you didn't mind e-mailing them to me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Rick

[Verne_Frantz]

I don't know if any of you are familiar with Joel Naprstek. Joel is a good friend of mine and has an incredible collection of early photos of door slammers. It is quite possible he might be able to help you locate more pics of this car.
You can email him at [email protected]
I know he was at the York reunion recently.
Hope this helps.
Verne.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Wasn't he at the FCR at Englishtown too? I bought some more pics from him there - I think.

[Verne_Frantz]

Marlin,
Must have been someone else. I was there helping some buddies run their Chevys and Joel didn't make it.
(just like I didn't make the York reunion). Missed my annual hug and kiss from Linda!!!!
Verne.

[Musclecarkid]

Hi gentlemen, I'm back, I lost my password for a while. As you heard from SS427, I have quite a bit of history on the Briggs Chevrolet,Truppi-Kling Competition LS6 Chevelle convertible. My collection is extensive, but never complete. I will trade info or answer any questions you may have. I have color photos, but I can't copy them. Contact Geoff Stunkard at quartermilestones.com for quality pictures.

[Jeff H]

Well, that's start, at least there was a George Chevrolet in the New Brunswick area. The guy from our club said he worked there and they used to swap out engines all the time for people who wanted a car but didn't like the high performance engines that were in them. He said they had a crossram manifold that sat on the shelf for years and they finally threw it in the garbage! I need to get more information from him regarding the ZL1 story though.

[9c6cab]

George Chevrolet changed their name to freehold chevrolet about 5 years ago.It is/was located on Route 9 in Freehold nj.Not far from englishtown race way park ,HTH-Mike 9C6CAB

[JoeC]

Briggs Chevrolet Truppi-Kling Competition LS6 Chevelle convertible pics
One has the hood on top of the white convert top /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[SS427]

Very neat picture Joe, thanks for sharing! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
Rick

[Verne_Frantz]

9c6,
From the sound of it, there were two George Chevrolets in NJ. See my earlier post. If Jeff was inquiring about a circa 1969 vehicle, I would think his search would be toward the one in New Brunswick. As I said, that dealer changed to Flair Chevy about '70-1-2 or so. But I don't know how far back the "George" near Freehold goes......?
Verne.

[Musclecarkid]

Joe C. I will gladly pay for copies of those Chevelle photos. I have been looking for local pics that were not published in national magazines. Where did you find them? Thanks, Kevin

[JoeC]

These came from the guy selling them at the York show. They are old photos not new photos from old negatives

[copo9566aa]

JoeC
Wow cool pictures /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
the center/top pic look like the Briggs Chevelle at Sanair.

[Musclecarkid]

I seem to remember a George Chevrolet that was located in Farmingdale NJ (Monmouth County). I used to deliver auto parts there in the early 1980's. This was a very old Chevy Dealer and changed to Kelley Chevrolet since then. Kelley Chevrolet is owned by Tucker Nicol who's family owned and operated Wall Stadium (Circle Track) since 1948.