Bill Thomas Chevy II Fastback

[hotrodchev]

Just wanted to add some additional information to STEFANO's post about the Bill Thomas Chevy II Fastback car. If you are fortunate enough to come across one, pick yourselves up a copy of the February 1964 issue of Speed and Custom magazine. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only original article I've seen written about these cars when Bill Thomas still had them in his possession. Although the article is only three pages long, it's still great to have just for the information and the photograph's. Truly unique cars!

[bbdon]

If anyone wants to see this, I can post a copy.

[Stefano]

Cool,I vote post it!

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I agree post it

[whitetop]

Popular Hot Rodding, Car Craft or Hot Rod (not sure which one)also did an extensive article on this car back in the same time period. I stll have it but will take weeks to find.
Dave

[bbdon]

Here it is:
http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/billt1.jpg
http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/billt2.jpg
http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/billt3.jpg

[jbsides]

Wow, talk about bizarre. Looks like a AMC Matador on some kind of steroid. I notice there were pretty much no safety devices installed (maybe just hadn't been yet), but those "fiberglass racing seats" still look like they are from someones kitchen set. The things that you could do back in the day.

Nonetheless, what a cool, wild ride... must be where "sit down, shut up, and hold on" came from...

[copo9566aa]

Car Craft March 66 Page 52-53-54-55-71
Same Nova Fastback But Alan Green Chevrolet
sponsor(Seattle) and Dick Milner(Not-John) http://www.yenko.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif driver,Cut-a-Way of this Nova page 55.

[hotrodchev]

Thanks bbdon for posting the article and thanks copo9566aa for the information on the March 66 Car Craft article. I was missing the issue from my Car Craft collection and now I have all the more reason to hunt one down.

[billythekid]

There was an article in Hot Rod Magazine,
The Car was called (Bad Bascom)?? Bill
Thomas also built Chevy IIs, with 360hp,
4spds. later BTK

[copo9566aa]

Pics of Cut-A-Way Chevy II Fastback
Car Craft March 1966 Page 55
BornForStreetRacing (http://communities.fr.msn.ca/BornForStreetRacing/photos.msnw)

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif
Any of you Texas guys remember this one? Might be one of the original 3 that had the Z11 427 engine installed, also may have become the Dixie Twister of Huston Platt??
M

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

This might not be an AMC Matador, but a much cooler name for a car /ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif
M

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

That is a very INTERESTING looking nova,I have never seen or heard of one like this,I remember the old matador because we had a family friend that was a mechanic for a amc dealership and he owned a matador and one of those marlins.From the info posted on the makeup of this vehicle it sounds like it might have been a pretty quick car.You guys keep posting things like this I learn something from this site every day!!Items like this are verey interesting to all car buffsI would think.

Bobby

[copo9566aa]

Pictures of Alan Green Chevy II Fastback (Ex-Bill Thomas Chevy II)Car Craft 1966.How many of this custom Fastback Chevy II were built?

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

3

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

bbdon;
Since you are the expert on old mag. articles /ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif how many articles were written on the '63 B.Thomas Chevy II's? Which ones were they? I have spoken with Wayne Bushey of NNN and Larry Davis the Super Stock book auther, and I don't think anyone has done a registry for the 3 427 cars or the 9+/- 327 cars. I'm thinking about starting a registry for them in order to consolidate info on the operation. I didn't realize the orig. intention for that project was a racing series in England equivalent to the SCCA!

[bbdon]

I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I do have lots of magazines, maybe too many.
The article that I posted before is the only one I have about the fastback Novas. And this post has all I can find right now about all other Bill Thomas Chevy IIs. If anyone knows the date and title of any other articles about these unique Novas, please share.

Hot Rod Magazine, Chevy II 360HP "Bomb", March 1962:
Page 1 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bom1.jpg)
Page 2 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bom2.jpg)
Page 3 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bom3.jpg)
Page 4 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bom4.jpg)
Page 5 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bom5.jpg)
Page 6 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bom6.jpg)
Page 7 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bom7.jpg)
Page 8 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bom8.jpg)


Car Life Magazine, 360 Hp Chevy II-Corvette, June 1962:
Page 1 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/btii1.jpg)
Page 2 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/btii2.jpg)
Page 3 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/btii3.jpg)
Page 4 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/btii4.jpg)


Car Life Magazine, Autos Abroad, September 1962, More history of that same Nova.
Page 1 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/btii5.jpg)

Hot Rod Magazine, Bad Bascom, July 1963
Page 1 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bad1.jpg)
Page 2 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bad2.jpg)
Page 3 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bad3.jpg)
Page 4 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bad4.jpg)
Page 5 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bad5.jpg)
Page 6 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bad6.jpg)

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

As always, thanks bbdon!!
My printer is running, now I just have to find those mag's.
/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Found another pic of a Fastback Bill Thomas car. The caption said that it is the ex-Allen Green car, with the front end lengthened with chicken wire and bondo! I have seen some pics of this car within the last few years, and I don't believe the front end is 'altered' any more.

[copo9566aa]

Thanks Marlin
the car look more "altered" on this pictures.
What's year this pictures was it taken ??

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

After comparing the pic of the yellow II vs. the red II, I think the rear q/panels were also altered on the yellow II. They look quite a bit longer than those on the red II. I am having doubts that this yellow II is the ex-Allen Green car, but stranger things have happened. I'm thinking it's actually the red II from Fritz Collier. Unless Bill Thomas redid the molds and made a stretched version!

[bbdon]

Here are the scans from Car Craft March 1966, Courtesy of copo9566aa.

Page1 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bill1.jpg)
Page2 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bill2.jpg)
Page3 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bill3.jpg)
Page4 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bill4.jpg)
Page5 (http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/bill5.jpg)

[Rat_Pack]

Marlin, the 1/4's haven't been stretched but the rear wheels have been moved forward about 8-10". Look at the picture of the Allen Green car, the front of the rear wheel opening is in line with the back edge of the 1/4 window. Then on the yellow car it is back about 6" from the front of the window and door at the bottom........................RatPack............. ...........

[Milnersdaughter]

My dad, Dick Milner, was the driver of the Alan Green Chevy 11 Fastback, the green colored car, here in the Northwest.

I know these posts were from years ago but did someone have a question about it- I can ask him? The car is still around, the only one out of the 3 made. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Meagan

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

The cKc car is existing as well. The car your dad raced was in Hemmings around '98 or so, priced at $45k - I really wanted that car! Is the AG car still in Apker's area, or did it go long distance? Gordon is referenced in the NOVA SS book by Steve Statham, along with pics of the car as a primered shell.

[Milnersdaughter]

I had posted last night as well in a different forum about the Fastback and the Z-11. It's my dad's 70th birthday this weekend so I was doing some searches online about him and that is what brought me here.

Gordon Apker was a long time family friend of ours, we live nearby him. The article that he wrote, that you spoke of, didn't hold much truth as I was told and in the end it ended Apkers and my dad's friendship. Apker is a car collector but he was never a racer. LOL! I'll ask my dad where the car is now as Apker sold it. My dad still knows where it's at.

Today my mom brought over a bunch of pictures of the Fastback and of my dad working on the engine. I could post them later if anyone is interested.

My posts from the other forum:
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/289630/page/0/fpart/2/vc/1

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Post 'em, please!!!

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]

Today my mom brought over a bunch of pictures of the Fastback and of my dad working on the engine. I could post them later if anyone is interested.

[/ QUOTE ]


She's new around here, isn't she. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And BTW, wish your Dad a Happy Birthday from everyone here! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

Now let's see those photos. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Paul_S]

Welcome! ...as mentioned, post whatever photos you can. Here is the other discussion with a bunch of pics:
other yenko.net Chevy II Fastback discussion (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/200554/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1)

What are the earliest pics he has of the Chevy II Fastback? I'd like to know how it was originally received by AG/shipped by Thomas (engine, wheels...). Then AG had the Z-11, Cheetah and the Fatback Chevy II... way cool stuff, neat time. Any Photos of any of those cars would be great to see. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/drool.gif

Oh... and give another big Happy Birthday!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Milnersdaughter]

Hey! The party is today and my good ole dad found out about it through HERE http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif I tried to play it off but he knows... He wants me to help him register and show him how to post so he can talk with you guys.

Thanks for the other link, I hadn't seen that one. Any others you can come up with would be great! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Charley Lillard]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY you old SOB. !!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[budnate]

Cheers. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Milnersdaughter]

Paul, my dad wants for me sometime soon to go to the house and sort out all the pictures of the Z-ll and the Fastback, from the beginning to final stages. We're going to post the pictures as he tells the story. He really wants the whole 'true' stories out there.

I got him registered tonight but he kept getting a weird error message. I do see him as the newest registered member on the bottom of the page though, Dick M.

[PeteLeathersac]

Great you're here Meagan...we're all looking forward to more of your postings and the pics of your Dad!.

Here's a fastback article from SuperChevy online...don't think it's posted here yet?.

http://www.superchevy.com/features/nova/sucs_0700_chevy_ii_nova_funny_car/index.html

~ Pete
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[Milnersdaughter]

Hey thanks for the welcome Pete!

All day today my dad and I went through the pictures (and actually saw the article that you posted. Thanks) that he has and tomorrow I will be contacting photographers that took pictures of the 2 cars to see if they have anything left.

As of now I have about 32 pictures scanned in and my dad will tell (and I'll post) about the cars and racing them from the start to finish with pictures. We made a lot of progress today.

Here's a little taste...

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/dickrm/Nova2.jpg

[budnate]

very neat pic!!...when digging keep me in mind if you see any pics of any '62 Novas.

Thnx http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[AndyB]

Hi Meagan,
It's great to see pics of this car and waiting to see others of it. My father owns the CKC car and we plan to restore the car in the near future. If you come across any of the CKC car I would love to see them. I also know the owner of the Alan Green car. If you would like you can contact me at [email protected] and I can forward your contact info to him. I know he love to talk to your dad about the car. Feel free to contact me at anytime.
Thanks, Andy B

[Paul_S]

Meagan,

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif Great Pic... Can't wait to see and hear more.

Hey Andy, would love to see/hear more about the CKC car also.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/drool.gif

Paul

[AndyB]

Hey Paul, Well....The car is in rough shape, But not bad considering it has a fiberglass top. We found the car in Denver. I don't know how many years it had set out before we bought it. We've owned it since the late 80's and has been in storage since that time. I'm hoping to start on the restoration late next year. If I can figure out how to post pics on this site I'll post a couple of them. I'll see what I can do. Hopefully I can clip and paste.
Thanks, Andy B

[markjohnson]

WOW! That's a great photo, Meagan. Thanks for posting and I look forward to seeing more.

[Milnersdaughter]

Andy, you know who bought the car from Gordon Apker? Apker was the last person we knew to have the car. When Apker sold it he wouldn't tell my dad who he sold it to (why will be explained in my dad's post later). It would be so great if I could get him the contact of the new owner!! I'll email you. I just looked on my photobucket page and I don't have a picture with the CKC car scanned. My dad would be very interested in talking with him! Very cool!

Bud! I had showed my dad your post and yesterday he told me he had talked to someone about your mystery car and that someone was going to talk to another person who knew a lot of the cars from where yours came from. I'll ask him tomorrow to see if he's heard anything. And no pictures to show of even what you have??

I have so many pictures, it's killing me not to post them. LOL! Soon!

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/dickrm/Certificate.jpg

[Milnersdaughter]

Andy, a man from another board offered his pictures and I saw the CKC on there. He said we were free to download them for ourselves.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/559429288TNdBjZ

Also, have you read this article? I just found it tonight.

http://www.draglist.com/artman2/publish/...ly_Sed_52.shtml (http://www.draglist.com/artman2/publish/phil_elliott/Book_Review_Super_Stock_Drag_Racing_the_Family_Sed _52.shtml)

[Xplantdad]

Here are the pictures that Andy B asked me to post for him.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/andy%20fastback%20nova%20pics/tn_nova1.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/andy%20fastback%20nova%20pics/tn_nova3.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/andy%20fastback%20nova%20pics/tn_nova4.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/andy%20fastback%20nova%20pics/tn_nova5.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/andy%20fastback%20nova%20pics/tn_nova6.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/andy%20fastback%20nova%20pics/tn_nova7.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/andy%20fastback%20nova%20pics/tn_nova10.jpg

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Nice!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

~ Pete
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Can-I-Have-It.gif

[Paul_S]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

Andy,

The car looks decent. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif This is great! -getting owners/drivers and the history out on these cars. Do you know much of its history? Does it still have the fiberglass doors and front clip?

Hey Meagan, Nice certificate.

Paul

[Fourspeed]

Hi Meagan, I'm a friend of your brother's from his Sunset Chev days. I think you were 12 or so last time I saw you! I've been looking for info on the fastback Nova for a while now. I knew Gordon Apker sold it and it left the area, but I haven't seen much more about it. I passed up the chance to buy that car for a few hundred from that guy in White Center in the 80's. What was his name? The city was going to impound it, so he just wanted it gone. It was really rough, the chassis was long gone so I passed on it. Gordon Apker ended up with it a short time later. Anyway, I'm glad you are getting your dad's pics and stories posted, it's fascinating stuff. Give your dad a belated happy birthday from me, and tell Scoop to stop by sometime.

[Stefano]

Cool stuff Meagan, keep it coming!

[Dog427435]

This is the shot I aways remember
-
-
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t114/dog427435/Super%20Chevy/36269882-L.jpg
-

[427TJ]

Just found this in my archives. My apologies if it's already been posted.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/00024.jpg

[CamarosRus]

Bill, Any pics of (my old) #27 Alan Green ZL-1 when it was fairly new and still a Super Stock drag car. When I bought #27, circa 1975 it was Candy Red in Modified Eliminator with zero lettering.......

Thanks,

[427TJ]

Sorry Chuck, I got nuthin' for ya. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Basic GPa]

Good afternoon - Thanks in part to information posted on this site, I was able to finish my article on a pair of Chevy II's that raced in Britain during 1962. The cars were driven by Chuck Kelsey & Peter Sachs. The article appears in the May/Jun issue of "Vintage Motorsport" magazine under the title "Chuck and Pete's Excellent Adventure". The cars were built at Bill Thomas in California and Smokey Yunick's in Florida. The duo would win a couple of rcaes, beating the all conquering (until that point) Jaguar Mk II's.
"Vintage Motorsport is available on newsstands or electronically at https://shop.vintagemotorsport.com/collections/issues
Take care, Mike Matune

[Paul_S]

Mike, Sounds good, will look for the mag. I remember seeing some pics of the race years ago.

Paul

[Paul_S]

Mike, Great Article!

I believe the original short one I read was from a Canadian mag. Didn't know/remember there were two cars.

So after the Thomas car was built and appeared in two magazines, it returned to Thomas for big Pass-car brakes and 15" wheels (like Bad Bascom). Hopefully at that time they installed the heavy front springs and wonder if rears were done also as the Hard Top had the softest. Too bad this car was lost in a storage fire.

I do wonder if the Florida built car had the full V8 kit of components. Thomas was lacking a few items in the March '62 article (Chevy II Block, Oil Pan & HD Front Springs). The HD brakes had metallic linings but still stock size (9" x 2.25" Front & 9" x 1.75" Rear). It wasn't until '64 they increased to 9" x 2.5" F & 2" R.

Interesting that both were white cars.


Paul

[Basic GPa]

Paul,


So very glad you liked the article.


The story you may have seen on these cars appeared in the March 1963 issue of "Sports Car Graphic" magazine. It was written by Chuck Kelsey and only talked about his car. The "Hot Rod" and "Car Life" stories on the Kelsey car are posted earlier in this thread.


Peter Sachs remembers an article being published on his car during 1962. He thought it was in a British publication. We could never locate that article. If anyone knows more about it, please let me know.


There was a V8 Chevy II road raced in Canada by Fred Hayes with sponsorship from Comstock International. He was successful with the car, but as far as we could determine never raced outside of Canada.


Thanks again for your kind words.


Take care,


Mike