Go Back   The Supercar Registry > General Discussion > Supercar/Musclecar Discussion


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-12-2017, 01:19 PM
sixt9rsx33 sixt9rsx33 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 1,243
Thanks: 48
Thanked 495 Times in 145 Posts
Default Holman Moody yesterday

The local chapter of the NCRS here in Charlotte toured the Holman Moody shop yesterday. It was like a throwback to 1965. Original molds for the GT 40's, original sand castings for various parts, original engine, body and chasis parts stacked everywhere. It was amazing. The memorabilia was fantastic too. Pictures of the original Shelby Coupes being fueled in 1965 during LeMans. Lee Holman who was showing me around after everyone left showed me this picture of him dressed in all white the Holman uniform fueling a 65 Shelby Coupe. The license plate was of course a black CA plate that had manufacturer on the side. Lee said he was the only one in the pits that did not smoke so he was designated the fuel guy. He wore a flashlight on his head so he could see down the tank in an effort not have fuel slosh out so not to risk having the car catch fire. Lee told me that in 1971 Ford would not comply to the new safety standards for new cars, and was summoned to testify before Congress on why the company would not. He told Congress it was too costly to do so. One person in Congress told Henry that perhaps if he would not spend the millions racing and shift that money to safety it would be money well spent. Henry told the Congressman that Ford was not racing anymore. After the meeting Henry had his people call the CA highway patrol and have the inbound tractor trailers headed to Riverside loaded with race cars and parts to turn around and head back to Charlotte. That was it for Holman Moody. HM had one customer back then, Ford and it was over. HM had 450 employees I believe Lee said it was a 40 million dollar a year business in 1971. So no small potatoes. Per Lee, Henry could not be the reason for pulling the plug. So he sent a bean counter to Charlotte to audit the books. The bean counter found that HM had over charged Ford by $4,000. Lee said it was over fasteners that had been given to HM and they had charged for them. The bean counter came into John Holman's office with a smirk on his face and proceeded to read John the right act for overcharging. At this point John was angry called Henry cussed him out and per Lee physically picked up the accountant and throw him out. John started selling off the GT 40's MK II's for $10K each in 1971. Lee told me one of the cars that a European guy owns, a gold one is now worth $12 million. John and Lee knew Ford would go racing again so they patiently waited for it all to start again. As the years passed between 1971 and when Ford went racing again. Ford had financial issues and ran though several executives. Finally the new COO was the bean counter from 1971, and when Ford went racing again enter Jack Roush.


Here are a few pictures of the the cars that were in the shop. The T bolt is the original that Fireball Roberts, and Ralph Earnhardt raced. The white car is just a clone race car. The Shelby is a customers car that was restored, and needed to be straightened out mechanically. The GT 40 is a customers car they just finished. Click the youtube link to hear it run.
Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e591_HZpSRM
Attached Images
    
__________________
65 Corvette Coupe L78
67 427/390 Vette Coupe unrestored
67 L-79 Vette roadster (Top Flight)
69 L71 Roadster Survivor
69 L46 Roadster Survivor (Sold)
69 Z/28 RS
69 Dodge Charger R/T
70 W30 442 Auto Air Survivor
2016 Z06 Coupe M7
70 AAR Cuda (Sold)
69 L78 Chevelle

Last edited by sixt9rsx33; 11-12-2017 at 01:22 PM.
Reply With Quote
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to sixt9rsx33 For This Useful Post:
67since67 (11-12-2017), big gear head (11-12-2017), Lee Stewart (11-12-2017), markinnaples (11-13-2017), MosportGreen66 (11-14-2017), NorCam (11-14-2017)
Attachments - The Supercar Registry RenderedContent-EF6DDE6B-54FB-497C-9A45-3D410548483E.JPG RenderedContent-E7280309-BF74-42BB-B761-521D35A3CBE4.JPG RenderedContent-D87EC2A3-9201-480E-AB92-9200EEFC340E.JPG RenderedContent-6894AEC7-0203-4996-A533-D8B2442D6E99.JPG
O Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.
Click here to view all the pictures posted in this thread...
  #2  
Old 11-12-2017, 01:20 PM
sixt9rsx33 sixt9rsx33 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 1,243
Thanks: 48
Thanked 495 Times in 145 Posts
Default

More Pics and youtube link.
Attached Images
  
__________________
65 Corvette Coupe L78
67 427/390 Vette Coupe unrestored
67 L-79 Vette roadster (Top Flight)
69 L71 Roadster Survivor
69 L46 Roadster Survivor (Sold)
69 Z/28 RS
69 Dodge Charger R/T
70 W30 442 Auto Air Survivor
2016 Z06 Coupe M7
70 AAR Cuda (Sold)
69 L78 Chevelle
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-12-2017, 02:22 PM
livettes livettes is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Jonesboro AR
Posts: 259
Thanks: 0
Thanked 193 Times in 58 Posts
Default

WOW! Thank you for sharing that.
Jamie
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-12-2017, 02:31 PM
BJCHEV396's Avatar
BJCHEV396 BJCHEV396 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NEPEAN,ONTARIO,CANADA
Posts: 3,581
Thanks: 359
Thanked 739 Times in 566 Posts
Default

X2!!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-12-2017, 02:55 PM
RPOLS3's Avatar
RPOLS3 RPOLS3 is online now
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Rockford, IL area
Posts: 3,111
Thanks: 4,230
Thanked 1,715 Times in 734 Posts
Default

Cool stuff - thanks for sharing.
__________________
Jake Dykstra

Dykstra Motorsports
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-13-2017, 11:13 AM
sixt9rsx33 sixt9rsx33 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 1,243
Thanks: 48
Thanked 495 Times in 145 Posts
Default

Sure, glad too.
__________________
65 Corvette Coupe L78
67 427/390 Vette Coupe unrestored
67 L-79 Vette roadster (Top Flight)
69 L71 Roadster Survivor
69 L46 Roadster Survivor (Sold)
69 Z/28 RS
69 Dodge Charger R/T
70 W30 442 Auto Air Survivor
2016 Z06 Coupe M7
70 AAR Cuda (Sold)
69 L78 Chevelle
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-13-2017, 02:07 PM
A12pilot's Avatar
A12pilot A12pilot is offline
Yenko Advertising Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: DFW
Posts: 2,687
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4,575 Times in 1,136 Posts
Default

Wow! Sweet! Nice pics, Lawrence!!!

But that’s not a Thunderbolt. Those were post Fairlane cars, although I think the first one or two were hard tops, and built for the drags, not the circuit. Those are the Fastback Galaxies I believe.

Thanks for sharing!!! Now get back on the Charger!

Cheers
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-13-2017, 06:03 PM
KenMaisano's Avatar
KenMaisano KenMaisano is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: So .Cal.
Posts: 446
Thanks: 0
Thanked 165 Times in 81 Posts
Default

Wow, amazing story and pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-14-2017, 03:12 AM
L72copocamaro L72copocamaro is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Gold Country
Posts: 417
Thanks: 228
Thanked 80 Times in 46 Posts
Default

To see that history in person would be amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-14-2017, 09:16 AM
MosportGreen66's Avatar
MosportGreen66 MosportGreen66 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NY, NY
Posts: 8,606
Thanks: 1,028
Thanked 924 Times in 417 Posts
Default

Wow thanks for sharing! That’s GT40 is music to the ears!!
__________________
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbcgarage/
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 02:42 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.