An interesting Yenko story

[hvychev]

Marlin doesn't post much anymore......wonder why? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

Come on Marlin. You offered a lot of good info in the past. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif[/img]

[camarojoe]

I'm gonna agree with lil bro... That sure looks like silver paint in the door jamb, and the blue is definitely not fathom blue, which was the only blue a Deuce coulda came in... so its definitely a total repaint. Looking at the USA-1 plate on the rear of the silver car 68l30 posted, and seeing it on the blue car as well, my guess is that this could VERY well be the same car... the pics 68l30 has being of the car fresh from the showroom, and the blue paint job came a little later... Whatdaya think? Its a good theory anyhow.

[68TopStock]

Old racecars continue to excite me the most, especially if they are from an well known dealership involved in Chevrolet racing during the 60's. Many were repainted, and most were never jammed. When I found my car "Little Hoss", it still had (and still does) the original Royal Plum on the cowl, door jams, and underside of the trunk. I was told my repaint was done one Saturday, and it was probably raced the next day.

The above photo sure does look to be a lighter color than the rest of the car. It was probably put back on the street, but you never know, with the rear 1/4's cut, it may still be sitting in a garage, a tired old racecar. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I would imagine that this 'blue' car (definitely silver in the jam's) could very well be the 'Gilchrist' car, (referred as such to give credit to the race photographer). The b/w race car photos are definitely of a Cortez Silver Yenko Deuce, automatic (note class on the windshield), that was raced by Central Chev in Cleveland, OH as confirmed by Charles Gilchrist himself, and some old-school racers who remember it racing in the Erie, PA in the early '70's. Other than these scant recollections, I too have come up empty on my research efforts for this race deuce.

http://www.charlesgilchrist.com/GPC/...eet/YD7001.jpg

Although it might look like a slam dunk on the surface, I wouldn't bet the farm on this one just yet. The reason is because there was another Central Chevrolet, in Hamilton, OH, which also sold Yenko Deuces, one of which was also Cortez Silver, 4speed - now owned by Ed Cunneen. So, it is very possible that this 'blue' car could have been that one. I have traced Ed's deuce back through Holub, Griffin, unknown woman, Griffin, unknown person in Ohio back in the mid '90s.

I sure wish it was the Gilchrist car, that would help somewhat in my research for that car - would love to restore a Deuce back to as-raced condition!

If you can get any more photos, not matter how insignificant you might think they are, it would undoubtedly help a bunch. We have studied those two Gilchrist photos - who caught the SW tach hangin on the windshield pillar?
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

In reviewing the other pictures in that grouping, what's the nova in yellow-ish primer in the background? I see there is a headlight mounted to the core support in another photo.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I spoke with J. Griffin last evening regarding Ed's Central Deuce that he used to own. I was mistaken in that he did not purchase that particular car from someone in OH, (I was thinking of Cliff's red deuce), he purchased the car from Carl Dwiggins. When he purchased the car it was silver with stripes, however they were not yenko's stripes but rather another person's effort at recreating the stripes.

I do not know where Carl purchased the car, nor do I have
contact info for Carl. Speaking with Carl is relevant in our efforts to determine if this car is indeed the Gilchrist car, or coincidentally another silver deuce raced by another Central Chev.

The other way to determine which car this is, would be to see a firewall pic with visibility of the speedo cable exit. The original poster is working on that!

[71SSNova]

Talked with Jerry again today and met Jack, another owner in this Yenko. The story has changed some but it is all coming together.
There were three other guys with Jerry that owned this car together when they raced it back when. I will refer to Jerry and the other owners as JJJR, Jerry, Jack, Jim and Richard (who might still have pictures).

I met Jack today, who was one of the four. He brought more to the table about this car but unfortunately, I am about three months too late. Seems he was cleaning up about three months ago and threw all the pictures away that he had of this car. OUCH!!!

In my first post, I said Jerry bought it from Central Chevy, which he corrected today. JJJR bought the car from a person (so far only known as Keith) in Dayton that bought it from Central. He was injured in an accident and with his settlement, he bought the car from Central (donít sure which one at this time) and a pool hall. Keith bought the aluminum 427 from Allen Chevrolet and had it installed in the car in 1971. Keith also had someone cut the rear fenders out which JJJR put back in. Jack remembers running around to different body shops looking for the fender wells that were cut out.

JJJR bought the car in 1972 off of Keith instead of 1971 like I previously stated, so they were third owners. When I showed Jerry and Jack the pic of the Gilchrist car, they both thought this was the car. They bought the car as showed in the pics I posted, they never saw the car as original but they did get some pics of the car as it was originally and think that this car is one in the same. Hopefully Richard will have those pictures.

We talked quite a bit about the fact that the Gilchrist car was an automatic and the JJJR car was a four speed. They could not remember if there was the indicator in the speedo or a place on the column for the shifter. As we are talking it also comes out that Richard of JJJR, is the one who actually put the original engine back into the car. Richard had to go back to Keith to buy it, but Jerry went and picked it up and he seems to think that there was an automatic transmission attached to that engine.

We also talked about the color of the car and they do not know anything about it. They thought it was the original color but as Jerry was looking at the pics, he saw what was pointed out as a silver door jamb.

I am waiting a phone call from the next owner (D.) after JJJR to see what he remembers and if it might have went to Cincinnati as Jerry now thinks. Also Richard will be in town this week to see Jerry and I will talk with Jerry next weekend again for more info. Hopefully more pics and more leads. More next week.
.

[Ed Cunneen]

My Silver Deuce was sold from The Central Motor Company in Hamilton, Ohio. It was sold 1 1/2 years after being delivered there. Gary Madden (now in Meza, AZ) was the salesman. I have not yet been able to reach him.
Central Chevrolet Inc. was out of Cleveland, OH.
Does the front fender have the INC. on the Gilchrist photo?
It is too hard for me to read.

[camarojoe]

Sorry to drag this ancient post back to the surface, but I was wondering if there have been any new developments on this? Has this car been determined to be the Gilchrist Deuce, or Ed C's Deuce? If it is the Gilchrist Deuce, any luck on finding if it still exists or the details of its demise?

[71SSNova]

Not yet, I've been told there are pictures and possibly 8mm film. I believe they are there, just have not got them yet.