Bill Thomas stuff

[sYc]

Since acquiring the Bill Thomas Nova, I have started collecting BT related items. Just got this catlog in the mail today. Dated 1967 1/2, I am guessing a very early one for both Nickey and Bill Thomas.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/250412-BTN-1.JPG

[sYc]

The Bill Thomas shop in CA. Notice the signs, Nickey on one side, BT on the other.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/250415-btn-2.JPG

[sYc]

The 1967 Nickey/Bill Thomas Camaro.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/250417-btn-3.JPG

They would pay your airfare to pick up a Nickey Camaro at either location, Chicago or Anaheim.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/250417-btn-4.JPG

[sYc]

The back cover. A Nickey sponsored "rail", and the fabled Bill Thomas Cheetah.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/250421-btn-5.JPG

[sYc]

By 1969, Bill Thomas was on his own.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/250422-btn-6.JPG

[sYc]

You say you can not get a Chevy engine to fit in your car, even a Mustang, no problem.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/250427-btn-7.JPG

[sYc]

When it came to the Chevrolet Big Block engine, seems Bill Thomas "wrote the book" on how to get the most out of your BBC.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/250430-btn-8.JPG

[sYc]

427 supplement. Notice where this came from.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/250433-btn-9.JPG

[1969l78]

Very cool

[bbbenny]

Tom, I have the very same two books, you have from Bill Thomas. Thats great!!BBBenny http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

VERY Chttp://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gifhttp://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gifL...great stuff!.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif
~ Pete

[Salvatore]

[ QUOTE ]
Tom, I have the very same two books, you have from Bill Thomas. Thats great!!BBBenny http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[/ QUOTE ]Very nice catalogs! Worth having. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[bbbenny]

Sammy, U can;t beat day TWO catalogs. From B/T!!!!!!BBBenny http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[Tarrytown SS427s]

Whats does that 427 supplement book contain? There was one on eBay a few weeks ago..
Steve

[sYc]

Only a few pages, outlining the differences between the 396 (which was covered in the first book) and the 427, part numbers, etc.

[1967Z28]

First time I had seen the '69 catalog. Attached is the 1970 1/2 Bill Thomas catalog. As you can see, he went bankrupt 9/1/71.

-Jon

[Rainer]

Neat stuff, Tom http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif Any idea if Bill Thomas had a relationship with any Anaheim-area Chevy dealers? One of my cars was sold new at Vern Trider Chevrolet, a little over a mile from Thomas' shop.

[JoeG]

Great reads Tom---Used that 396 performance handbook as one of my bibles back then---------------looks like you picked up one like new.......

[mbxlesney]

Hi Rainer....Just curious about Vern Trider that you mentioned. Where were they located in Anaheim? Did Anaheim have a couple dealerships? The research I have done has a Cone Bros Chevrolet on Euclid Ave near downtown Anaheim a few miles from the Thomas location. The dealership changed their name to Woody in the 80s and then became Anaheim Chevrolet in the 90s. I have found that Thomas did have some ties to Cone Chevrolet in Fullerton around 6 miles from the Thomas shop. I to would like to hear about Bill Thomas and his ties to any Chevrolet dealerships from people that lived in that area but have not really seen any responses from Californians on this subject. Seems like they do not share the same historical enthusiasium of the rest of the country. I purchased the BT 396 booklet and 427 suppliment NOS on ebay a few years ago as the guy had several of them. First time I have seen the 1970 booklet. Cool!!!

[Xplantdad]

If I'm not mistaken...Vern Trider was at the corner of Euclid and Lincoln in Anaheim. It eventually became Woody Chevrolet...and now it's something else...

If there was a Cone Bros. In Anaheim (Sounds familiar)...I would suspect that it was on Anaheim Blvd near downtown..I think that Hardin Olds (where I worked) eventually took over their lot...before Hardin moved down the street...


Cone Chevrolet in Fullerton did have quite a few high performance cars... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[sYc]

Looks like Fullerton on this racer.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/241720-File0014.jpg

[Stefano]

Ronnie Kaplan the Crew Chief for Nickey's road race operations which started in 57/58 had told me that Bill's shop was initially in Fullerton prior to Anaheim.

Kaplan,Thomas and Yunick all knew each other and were key players, as GMs back door engineering dept. These guys had direct access to GM facilites and parts.

Ronnie would personally inspect mass produced parts on the assembly line and hand pick the ones he was going to use on his cars.

Any dealer who worked with Hi-Performance Cars and parts in the area would have known of Bill Thomas. Especially if it had to do with Drag Racing.

[mbxlesney]

Hi Bruce.......I dug up an old Post card for Cone Bros and found the they were on 215 N Los Angeles St. which I believe later on changed the name to Anaheim Blvd. I may have the 2 addresses mixed up. I was thinking they may have moved to Euclid from some info I got from a Anaheim resident years ago but they could have been mistakin also. My memory does not work as good as it used to. I wish I would have written down some of my research findings. Cool ad Tom I have that original Hurst ad from the day. Here is a pic of Mr Cone (Bill Thomas affiliation) who also was a President of Orange County Int. Raceway.

[mbxlesney]

Bruce..... Here is a pic of a Cone Bros License plate frame from Anaheim.

[Rainer]

Kim - Thanks for the info and resurrecting this post. Interesting that you have info showing Cone Bros at that address. Any idea what year that would have been? I have a 70 Chevelle built June of 1970, and the dealer it was shipped to according to the build sheet was Vern Trider. The Vern Trider address on the sheet is the same as what you listed for Cone Bros - 215 N. Anaheim Blvd.

A while back on Team Chevelle I asked for any info on Vern Trider. One member in Garden Grove thought that the current Anaheim Chevy, located on 215 S. Euclid St., was previously Woody Chevy and then Vern Trider prior to that. However, when I contacted someone at Anaheim Chevy, they said that the dealership used to be called Southland Chevy.

We need some long-time So Cal locals to help us sort this out http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
A while back on Team Chevelle I asked for any info on Vern Trider. One member in Garden Grove thought that the current Anaheim Chevy, located on 215 S. Euclid St., was previously Woody Chevy and then Vern Trider prior to that. However, when I contacted someone at Anaheim Chevy, they said that the dealership used to be called Southland Chevy.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
We need some long-time So Cal locals to help us sort this out

[/ QUOTE ]

Let's see if I can help you out...
It was all of those above at the 215 S. Euclid location

I think Cone Bros was on Anaheim Blvd...near old downtown Anaheim...there was a sucession of dealerships that used that address...Cone Bros, Hardin Olds before they moved elsewhere. That location was a few used car lots while I was in high school...and the eventually became BB&H Auto parts (they had a full service engine shop) That's where I had my Novas big block hot tanked, bored, etc....

I lived in Anaheim from 1973-2002...and a few times before that. I lived about 1 1/2 miles from Vern Trider/Southland/Woody/Anaheim Chevrolet. There's a great mexican food restaurant about a block away called MexiCasa....

I worked at Hardin Olds on Anaheim Blvd...after they moved to their more recent location.

My best friends mom still lives in her house less than two blocks from the 215 S. Euclid location... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Xplantdad]

Here's the location...actually the red roofed building inside near the top of the white marked square is an Arby's...so that's technically not part of the dealership...LOL

Neither is the field to the left of the Arby's... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Chevydealerinanaheim.jpg

[Rainer]

One long-time So Cal local to the rescue - thanks Bruce! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

Here's a license plate frame that will adorn my Trider-sold car once its restored

http://www.shapeconsulting.com/cars/triderframe2.jpg

[Xplantdad]

Oh, and by the way

Cone Chevrolet Fullerton's slogan was:

[ QUOTE ]
Your car has a home when you buy from Cone.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/tn_coneframes.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/tn_conechevrolet.jpg

[Xplantdad]

Rainer...Cool...I remember those by the hundreds...those and Eddie Hopper Garden Grove...Cone Chevrolet in Fullerton, Etc! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Next time I go out to visit...I'll see what I can find...

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi Bruce.......I dug up an old Post card for Cone Bros and found the they were on 215 N Los Angeles St. which I believe later on changed the name to Anaheim Blvd

[/ QUOTE ]

You are correct...Los Angeles St became Anaheim Blvd later on...way later on.

Cone Bros was on Los Angeles street as early as 1927 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

See here: http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt3r29q07d/

And this pic taken in the flood of 1938 shows Cone Bros the 3rd building on the right (half circle shaped roof)

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/affiliates/images/cana/kt2199p9w7/hi-res/P12874.jpg

[Rainer]

Bruce - one more question, though. There is currently still an Anaheim Blvd, and mapping the address I have puts Trider maybe 2 miles east of the Euclid site, on the other side of the freeway. Are you saying these dealers were all one and the same AND at the same location, or was the Anaheim Blvd address a location that the dealership occupied prior to moving to Euclid?

[Xplantdad]

And finally:

[ QUOTE ]
Arriving in Fullerton just a year after McCoy & Mills Ford (in 1931) was Cone Chevrolet, now Mullahey Chevrolet. The Cone Brothers originally opened the dealership at Harbor and Santa Fe, now the site of the Old Spaghetti Factory. In 1964, Red Cone and his son, also "Red," moved the dealership to its current location at 600 W Commonwealth. In 1998, Fullerton native Tim Mullahey purchased the operation

[/ QUOTE ]

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
Bruce - one more question, though. There is currently still an Anaheim Blvd, and mapping the address I have puts Trider maybe 2 miles east of the Euclid site, on the other side of the freeway. Are you saying these dealers were all one and the same AND at the same location, or was the Anaheim Blvd address a location that the dealership occupied prior to moving to Euclid?

[/ QUOTE ]

More than likely occupied prior moving to Euclid. I will ask my *older* brother Gary...and get his take on this. A lot of dealerships got their "start" on Anaheim Blvd...but as the downtown became "run down" they moved farther away from Anaheim Blvd....make sense? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

[Rainer]

Got it - makes sense now. So it looks like Trider's location on Anaheim Blvd. was roughly a mile south of Thomas' shop on Julianna.

[Xplantdad]

You got it...YEP! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[mbxlesney]

Bruce.....Was Cone Bros in Anaheim and Cone of Fullerton related? Seeing that they were only 3 miles apart. I see that Bill Thomas's shop was right in the middle of the 2 Cone dealerships at 1.5 miles from each dealership. I contacted Anaheim Chevrolet in the mid 90s and they mentioned a Southland then Woody before their ownership. Also if you have any luck finding any Cone Chevrolet license plate frames please still keep me in mind. Also on a Bill Thomas note I did some research and found another tie. Their was a man named Mike Jones who worked for Bill Thomas in the 1967-68 era that became manager of O.C.I.R. in late 68. He was interviewed by Drag News in Jan. 69 when he was 32 years old. (The same track that Mr. Cone of Fullerton was a stockholder and past president) Mike would be about 71 years old now and I would guess Bill Thomas would be about 75 now. Just some more Bill Thomas trivia. Vern Trider seems to be in this mix also. Interesting

[mbxlesney]

Here is a pic of the post dated 1961 Post Card from Cone Bros that included their used car lot. and a pic of a pic of a business card from Cone in Fullerton. Bruce were you cruising these streets at the height of muscle car era?

[mbxlesney]

another pic

[mbxlesney]

one more

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
Here is a pic of the post dated 1961 Post Card from Cone Bros that included their used car lot. and a pic of a pic of a business card from Cone in Fullerton. Bruce were you cruising these streets at the height of muscle car era?

[/ QUOTE ]

Cool stuff!

I might have been cruising the streets in the height of the muscle car era...but it wasn't in Anaheim..LOL

In 1969 I was 10 years old and was living in Palatine Illinois. We moved "back" to Anaheim (lived there a few times...actually lived in 3 different houses within a mile of each other) in 1973...so the muscle car era was winding down and I still was only 14...so the only 'cruising' I did was with my parents or my brother Gary (it was mostly my parents...LOL

[mbxlesney]

Same here.....Was only 10 in 1970, I was around the leftover musclecar era in the mid 70s. There was still alot of cars around then and got to cruise with my older brother who had a 68 Chevelle SS396 with a transplanted L88 from Bob Perrys Shop who was a famous wheelstander in the Tucson AZ. area. I used to live in the Phoenix area for 12 years also.

[mbxlesney]

Did not mean to change this subject so here is a couple more Bill Thomas ads.

[Xplantdad]

Kim...I'll keep a lookout for Cone Frames for you... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[mbxlesney]

Thanks Bruce........I would appreciate that. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[mbxlesney]

Here is a couple more Bill Thomas pics.

[mbxlesney]

One more pic

[Mike Petrillo]

Hi,
I was reading your post & thought I would offer a long shot that panned out for me.First off,I grew up in fullerton & at age 15.5 spring of 1970 I purchase for $1000.00 a 1964 corvette with the help of my dad so I could work on the car while learning to drive a stick(drivers ed & a drivers permit.I blew up the 300 hp engine 3 weeks after I turned 16.My dad had the car towed to CONE CHEVROLET for basic repairs but I had thrown a rod.I met a youg mechanic in his mid 20s I believe who I was told by the service manager built hi performance motors,his name was Mike Fetterman.We discussed performace & what I wanted we ended up with a 327 12.5 to 1 trw's 780 holley, tarantula intake ,dual point dist,hurst short throw,dougs headers & 411 rear.I bused tables for $1.65 an hour for a year to pay for the mods.Mike Fetterman wherever you are today your one heck of a mechanic.Lots of great memories of the O.C. street racers on sunday eves.I got carried away with my memories of cone chevy fullerton but I ment to respond about the lic plate frames.I recently purchased a 67 BB 3x2 vette that was sold in san diego at courtesy chevy.I went on line & did a search & found that the dealership still existed so I called & spoke to a salesman & asked if they had any emplyees that had been there for a long time.I was transferd to the parts & service director C.R. "CHUCK" TRICOLI.I asked him the same question as I was interested in obtaining more info on my car but was informed all the old document were long gone.What I was not expecting was that chuck had worked for this dealership for 45 years so at that point I asked him a longshot question about licence plate frames.He said I think I have a few sets from 25 or 30 years ago that I placed upstairs.He took my name,# & address.One week later I recieved a pair of mint/new original frames.WOW,what a nice man to speakwith.I plan to purchase my next new checy 500 miles from where I live.If a dealership hasn't changed hands chances are an old time employee may be around.good luck with your search.

[427freak]

Great story, there are still nice people out there in the hobby. I was at Seaworld a couple of months ago and stumbled on Courtesy. My Camaro came from there in 68 so I parked in front and tried to picture it when my wife hit my arm and said let's go. Here is pic of my Camaro with plate frame.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/273026-tn_DSC02563.jpg

[mbxlesney]

Hi Mike......Cone had been bought out by Mullahey in the 90s and not sure if any Ex employees from Cone stuck around. I have found that a lot of Chevrolet Dealers want to sell you a car and not memories. You were very lucky to find cooperation on your license plate frames. I have a couple of Courtesy license plate frames from Phoenix AZ. when I used to scrounge around the U pull it junk yards in the Phoenix area back in the day. They are Identical to yours only have "Phoenix" instead of "San Diego". I noticed that San Diego and Phoenix seem to have had Chevrolet Dealership ties as Lou Grubb from Phoenix opened a dealership in San Diego also. Both good guy companies from my past experiences. Thanks for the info as I may try that.

[mbxlesney]

Here are a couple more Bill Thomas items to rekindle the fire. Pic 1 is a NOS decal and Pic 2 is an ad from June 1970 Super Stock magazine.

[mbxlesney]

Pic 2

[Freddy B 78]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Bruce........I would appreciate that. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gifhello im freddy, new to the site.i collect old dealer frames(GM)..i have 4 pairs of fullerton cone chevrolet, 1 pair anaheim hardin oldsmobile, 1 pair fullerton hansel olds/gmc, and 1 pair anaheim steffy buick..i may be able to get more fullerton cone ones.i have seen 1 frame from anaheim vern trider..none for woody or southland chevrolet..does anyone on when anaheim cone bros changes owners..when was their last year of operation under that name? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Xplantdad]

I worked at Hardin Olds...LOL (1978 through 1983)

I know that there is at least one person that would be interested in a pair of Cone frames...

Cone stayed in business until the mid to late 80's I believe?

Woody/Southland had the crappy plastic frames from what I remember.

My stomping grounds used to be the Loara High School area http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Xplantdad]

By the way...the dealership that was once Vern Trider/Southland/Woody that I showed in my google earth pic...a page or two before this...has since been demolished...along with the Arby's.

It will become a Target store...kinda goofy, because there is one two blocks away http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

[Xplantdad]

Hey Freddy...please fill out your profile...so people know how to get in touch with you...thanks! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[mbxlesney]

Hi Fred.....I would like 2 nice ones for my restoration. I also PM'd you. And Bruce Thank You for the heads up, I truly appreciate that. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Xplantdad]

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

[Freddy B 78]

[ QUOTE ]
I worked at Hardin Olds...LOL (1978 through 1983)

I know that there is at least one person that would be interested in a pair of Cone frames...

Cone stayed in business until the mid to late 80's I believe?

Woody/Southland had the crappy plastic frames from what I remember.

My stomping grounds used to be the Loara High School area http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

78, the year my care came out.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Fullerton Cone stayed in business until 1998 when it was sold to Mullahey..My brother has a friend that used to hang out with Carrol Cone[who later opened Fullerton Cone] back in the 50's...He[my brothers friend]bought a 55 Chevy barnd new off the Anaheim Cone lot.Im wondering what year Anaheim Cone change ownership.

[Xplantdad]

Hey Freddy....thanks for adding your contact info! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[mbxlesney]

Hi Freddy...I sent you a PM and see you attached a pic of one. I definetly would like to have 2 that are that nice. Lets Deal! Here is a variation of a 1970 Impala Wagon sold within a month of my car if you have any like this otherwise I would take the type you pictured. Thanks http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif