Charley's 55

[Norm reynolds]

What Did happen with charley's 55 chevy On tv it was about to go on the block Then They went to break and when they came back all they said it would not start so they just pushed it off what happen did it sale?????

[1969L78Nova]

Hi Bid $200K...Did not meet reserve...No sale

[x Baldwin Motion]

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[SOM2001SS]

I am so bummed that it wouldn't start <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif
That car could have been the highlight of the auction!
Sorry Charley! (sorry had to say it!)

[Postsedan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SOM2001SS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am so bummed that it wouldn't start <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif
That car could have been the highlight of the auction!
Sorry Charley! (sorry had to say it!) </div></div>

I agree, the BJ stage would have been amazed to see this marvel come to life.

Sorry Charlie <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif

Dan

[SSJunkie68-69]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Norm reynolds</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What Did happen with charley's 55 chevy On tv it was about to go on the block Then They went to break and when they came back all they said it would not start so they just pushed it off what happen did it sale????? </div></div>


He wasn't wearing his lucky velcro shoes..... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

I felt for him as the camera was on him trying to get that beast fired up....I'm sure if it did fire up the bids would of been higher. The guys from Speed were ready to talk up the car but when it failed to start they were caught off guard and had to cut to commercial.

Sorry Charley it didn't work out for ya....

[Norm reynolds]

Hi Bid $200K...Did not meet reserve...No sale
Oh Man I think I read somewhere that the engine it self was worth a million
It good there was a reserve . But its a shame That it had a problem starting
Bet 10n mins later charle had it running even just to prove it runs

[Charley Lillard]

I still have no idea why it would not start. I had just had it running outside and drove it to the staging lanes to wait. Thought maybe it was out of gas but I had added about 12 gallons before I shipped it. I bled the fuel system today and it fired right up and drove it to the trailer. Hearing a huge room of people booing at you is really a life low point. Barrett took the heat for me and Im very sorry I wasted their time. Car should have run. Car always runs. Car was on the block for maybe a minute as the auctioneers could not overcome the boos so we rolled it off. They busted their asses promoting the car as a high point of the auction and I screwed it up. This sucks.

[ORIGLS6]

The car was happy in your stable and didn't want to leave. Can't say I blame it.

No reason for you to feel bad. They're machines and sometimes they just don't do what we want them to. I just felt bad for you.

[LS7]

That's okay, stuff happens. You're still a pretty cool guy and I still dig the car.

[CC Rider]

There's always next year Charlie. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif

Just kidding.

Sorry it didn't work out Charley. Sounds like everyone did their level best to make this happen and for some reason things didn't work out.

[CamaroNOS]

Hey Charley,

In the big scheme of things, who cares....stuff happens!

We all know that if it is mechanical, it's going to screw up sooner or latter.

But on the other hand, if it is Charley Lillard, it's not going to screw up, because he is Charley Lillard. THAT I KNOW I CAN RESPECT and COUNT ON!!!!!

Get'em next time Charlie.

Paul

[LeeP]

It was still one of the coolest thing there!!!!!!!! Lee

[Norm reynolds]

charley. I don't think you scewed up
as I get older I have come to think things always happen
for a reason. don't beat your self up stuff happens, it's still a great car with a great
owner

[DarrenX33]

Hardly think it was anything you did. Sometimes things happen. One thing is for sure, you're not the kinda guy that lets anyone down and everyone knows it. Those people who boo'd need a sock in the head. Starting that car aint like firing up a Prius.

[Sportyworty]

It takes a big man to take 100% responsibility. Good on you Charley speaks volumes. That being said it is a mechanical item and no one can can gaurantee 100% it will perform as intended at a given moment. I have followed the car since it was on Ebay and brought to our attention here. She is a bad mutha and you are a great curator. Love to see it in person some day hint hint

[Tenney]

It's not like you huffed oven cleaner, passed-out and didn't show up. Bummer the motor wouldn't fire - good thing it wasn't in a P-51 flying overhead (though that may've put the ka-bosh on a boo or two). And can't sweat the boo-birds, either - the world needs loudmouths as a point of contrast.

Still a savage set 'o wheels, and easily worth more than two pilot Hemi GTX's and two pilot Six-Pack Coronet 'verts combined! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[markjohnson]

It's a bummer that it didn't fire up, but it's still the ultimate '55 Chevy . . . . no, I take that back . . . . it's the ultimate Hot Rod on this planet. And any REAL car guy knows that Hot Rods can be fickle at times. I can recall watching the Youtube video awhile back and the Start-Up Procedure alone is mind-boggling with all the levers, switches, etc. that all need to be done in a particular order and it's probably extremely easy to overlook just one, especially if front of a large crowd and television cameras broacasting to an audience in the millions! Now that's pressure! People tend to forget that it normally takes MONTHS of Military training &amp; classes to operate such machinery! The people that &quot;boo'ed&quot; might think that they're car people . . . . but showed their true colors as just poseurs.

[black69]

charlie, I give you major credit turning that rocketship without it running, that looked difficult going out the door. Man, that car has to be heavy.

[bergy]

Sounds like anybody who knows Charlie knows that he did his level best. Geesh - it just didn't start - it's not like it went down in flames. Now can we get back to teasing Charlie? He's gonna think we don't love him anymore!

[Postsedan]

&quot;Those people who boo'd need a sock in the head. Starting that car aint like firing up a Prius&quot;

Great line, Darren. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Dan

[Charley Lillard]

The boos were deserved. They had just finished talking the car up and telling people to cover there ears etc. Then what they get is some guys pushing my car up on the stage quiet as can be. I'll get over it but it would have been fun.

[92646]

Charley there is the auction in Orange county in June to try again.

[John]

Everything happens for a reason.... I am sure the next buyer of that amazing Hotrod will be very happy whenever it does find a new owner.
Actually ... by this happening it could cause it to get more exposure even after the auction.

... good luck Charley <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[VintageMusclecar]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...Hearing a huge room of people booing at you is really a life low point.</div></div>

Wow...just...wow...for those people to boo at you over this is nothing short of despicable behavior, and sadly goes to show how far we have fallen as what was at one time a relatively decent society. I could certainly understand a sympathetic &quot;aww&quot; or something along those lines, but booing is absolutely reprehensible.

Charley, you are a class act for all other class acts to strive towards. You have absolutely <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">nothing</span></span> to be ashamed of or apologize for. It is the degenerates who had the gall to boo over this who should seek out <span style="font-style: italic">your</span> forgiveness.

These machines we build and tend to are nothing more than that--a machine. And despite our best efforts, they are at times subject to unexpected and inexplicable moments of, shall we say, non-compliance. In other words, sh*t happens. It's how we deal with it when it does that helps define our character.

Yours is unscathed.

Sadly, the same can not be said for some members of the crowd.

[firez]

Funny thing is most of the idiots that were booing would not know what to look for or how to fix one of these cars. Money does not make them smart just smart asses

[1969L78Nova]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: firez</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Funny thing is most of the idiots that were booing would not know what to look for or how to fix one of these cars. Money does not make them smart just smart asses</div></div>

Right on !...

[TimG]

The good news is that the car is fine and there was no damage done. It was great to see you and to see the wonderful '55. Hey, I'm a 1955 model and I don't fire up the great majority of mornings.

[Mr70]

Charley
Put it up for sale on eBay with a link to the Peter Klute video of it running.
You'll get more exposure,and less booing...well here anyway.

[John]

I would have liked to have seen it fire up and blow the wigs off the people in the first 6 to 10 rows....
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[1969L78Nova]

Here's the Peter Klutt video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIj2GVfua84&amp;feature=related

[SBR]

Charley,'
I was routing for you and was sickened to see the drunks booing you. As others have said, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Stuff happens. I am sure that it will work out in the end.

[Jim Ferron]

Charlie..

One thing we all know...Cars....errr I mean Airplanes...uhhhh , Carplanes can really suck sometimes...

The guys booing really weren't car...carplane guys anyway..or they would have understood...

[m22mike]

This does suck Charley, but there will be another day. This car is still the worlds baddest build ever. Where the hell is Jay.. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif..it would fit in great in his Burbank Hangar.
It is impossible for most to understand how difficult it can become starting engines like this. The fuel air mixture has to be spot on, and a restart can be a real challange.
To late now but special consideration might have been considered to fire Her up once and drive stright to the stage.
Oh yea, and screw the booing drunks, they do not have a clue.

Mike

[bluel78]

Im with the folks who believe everything happens for a reason. At least you haven't kicked yourself for selling it yet. Dustin

[COPO PETE]

What a a fun time. Ya, people were booing, but they were mostly smiling at the same time. The excitement in the air was amazing, some cars just sold for a couple of million...... Jay Leno was in the building..... and I felt so bad for Charley, but people were pumped!.... me included! If that thing had fired, it would have blown the roof off the tent. Too bad, but nothing to be ashamed off. It just proved to me that watching on TV is great, but you need to be there to get the &quot;full&quot; experience. Every dog get his day, and it is yet to come, and I hope I am in the building yet again when that time comes! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif
Peter

[Dayton]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...auctioneers could not overcome the boos so we rolled it off. </div></div>

Maybe the booing was for Charley and not the car?? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[Stefano]

The car looked great and ran just as well prior and after. It must have experienced stage fright?

The car received tremendous exposure and I wouldn't be surprised to see a deal come out of it some time soon.

[Born30YrsLate]

...I understand these auction are run on a schedule, since the car obviously didn't stay on the stage as long as anticipated would it have been that big of an issue to bring it back around again a short time later if it was running, especially for a high profile car like this?...

[resto4u]

Charley, i really felt for you when they showed you in the car and would not fire. That is the coolest car you have owned. I believe everything happens for a reason, you just don't know yet. I would love to see this car going down a strip at an abandon air force base, you just grinning ear to ear.

[rubbinisracing]

Perfect example of the need for a reserve. Would have been ugly otherwise.

[427.060]

It seems that the guy that wrote the following article didn't like Charley's car. Read the 3rd paragraph.
James

http://www.talladegaspoilerregistry.com/...ladega-is-sold/ (http://www.talladegaspoilerregistry.com/2012/01/21/jasons-banjo-matthews-prototype-talladega-is-sold/)

[Xplantdad]

That blog is the perfect example of someone who is reactionary, rather than factual. If you read the response by Jason, the actual seller of the car, you get a more factual view of what happened.

Also, I might suggest to the the blogger that he use spell check in his future endeavours. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif