Jack Douglass Chevrolet Dealership Picture
 

Jack Douglass Chevrolet Dealership Picture. Circa 1963.

That 1963 Corvette sure does have a strange stance. If I saw one sitting like that today, I'd wonder what was going on with it.

----This is the original Jack D Dealership. If you look right above the roof rack on the wagon you'll see a dark shadow. That led directly back to the service department. It was a very small dealership by GM standards and GM mandated that Jack build a new expansive dealer that those of us who know the area are familiar with. because the old dealership property was paid for they had to appeal to Jack's vanity to get him to step up to the plate and take on a bunch of debt. At least he got a big deluxe office! His office at the original dealer was about the size of a medium walk in closet.....Bill S

----I bought my 75 Corvette right off that showroom floor!

It’s tough to tell, but both coupes (Red, White) seem to have the Fuel Injection emblems.

----Think you are right, Chris. Red car iffy, but white car definetly!....Bill S

Awesome pic!!

----When Jack was having the new dealership designed and built he wanted the words Jack Douglass in the middle of the chevy emblem. GM said "No Way"!....Bill S

When did Jack Douglass open up in the new, bigger location?

----Memory may be skewed, but I think 1976!....Bill S

Thanks Bill!! My friend has a 72 Chevelle SS454 M22 Convertible sold new out of Jack Douglass. So his car came out of the dealership pictured above. :beers:

Thanks for posting this pic,brings back a lot of distant memories from my youth.

Agree Rick - good memories.......

I'm sure this is old news for most as I have not been back to our old stomping grounds in a while - but last week when driving up Rte. 83 in Westmont I was surprised to see the "new" Jack Douglass location at 83 and Ogden (then Team Chevrolet, then something else) was sitting empty and looked like it had been empty for some time.

Rick (Mr70) - you probably have some background on this maybe since you are so close......? Thanks

----Tim,,,Maybe they jacked the car into position and then just lowered it and dragged the jack out. As we know you have to roll a C2 back and forth for it to settle to its designed height.....Bill S

Could be, Bill. They would never take the time to rock it into position.

When did Jack Douglas start selling Yenkos in the Span Network ? Any idea on how many they sold 67 ? 68 ? 69 ?

----Doug,,,I wasn't there at that time, but I have never heard of any Yenkos involved with JD earlier than the 69 model year.....Bill S

for what its worth (not much), my aunt and uncle owned a shell gas station right next that dealership at ogden back in the day. She loved to take me to cubs games and I had to stay at that gas station alot with my brother before we went (usually there for a good part of a day or so). The street machines they worked on in their repair bays were incredible that I think we cars that came from that dealer. I was experienced at hanging pumps (easy way to make extra cash) filling up customer cars at gas stations deeper in the city, but did not do that at my aunts station in Hinsdale.

I was there when street machines were the rage and a stock camaro was ok, but if a chevelle or nova came in idling high to keep up with its cam (which seemed to be often) it was a treat. The crazier the car the better. My favorite was my cousin's 62 vette (who was a mechanic at the station) that had a blower and was a fawn beige color, all street machine. Yenkos and copos did not compare in their stock dress. A 70-71 chevelle jacked up in the front was way more interesting. I am sure cars from that dealership came there as it was the closest gas station.

Jack shared the story of when he and Jim Spencer made the deal for Douglass Chevrolet to become a Yenko Network Dealer. Jack, Jim and Don were acquainted via their road racing exploits.

The deal was for the 1969 Model year and they were not a dealer for Yenko Cars prior. To secure the Illinois Chicago Land Territory he was required to purchase a transporter load of Yenkos. He actually ordered two transporter loads, but could not remember exactly how many cars were on each transporter. He recalled that the two loads included Camaros, Chevelles and at least one Nova. Over the years I have acquired info on Three Chevelles, A Butternut Yellow One, Lemans Blue and Olympic Gold. I’d have to count up the Camaros but it is more, I believe 6 or 7 and those are just the ones I have kept track of. None of these cars are part of his later direct order COPOs, which was approx 25 Camaros.

Very nice info. Thank you Stefano

You are welcome. Here is the Former Douglass Dealership getting remodeled.

Here is the Metal Sign found under the facia.

I told Ed to make that his New picket fence that day. :)

‘

Here a few Old Newspaper Ads w/ some of the action happening at Jack Douglass through the glory years.
Keep in mind, the bulk of their advertising was for Corvettes and Cadillacs also we’re at the mercy of what’s been scanned but below ads mostly Non-Corvette Performance cars although I couldn’t help but include some of the best ones also other ads well worth reading too.
Besides yet more proof Chicago was a Musclecar Hotbed, it’s interesting JD seemed to order their performance cars in batches also strange if initially unaware of the ‘69 Copo program and hooked up w/ Yenko for L72 cars before ordering directly from Chevrolet when he found out?:hmmm:
Ads are chronological also as info above, 1969 appears to be the only year w/ Yenko association.
Looks like lots of L78 Novas also Pacers out there to be found, anyone please speak up if you recognize anything or want to try searching specific cars.
:beers:
~ Pete

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Cool stuff, Pete!

----Having not been in Chicago during the "important era" I really appreciate these adds as it shows the depth of JD's performance. I've been told a lot of stuff by my peeps over the years, but this kind of flushes things out. Thanks, Pete!!!.....Bill S

Nice Job Pete, some of those advs are new to me. Very Kool read and nicley laid out!

‘

Thanks guys and hope everything’s readable as the Ads are full of some really great info and cars.
Few 63-65 era Jack Douglass Ads seem to have been scanned and above best I could find, I was hoping for a Z16 but no luck, does anyone know if any rolled through the JD operation?
It appears JD preferred selling in-stock performance cars over ordering individually, looks like lots of L78’s and Pacers also ‘66 L79 Chevy 2’s went through their doors, love to hear of any existing today.
Interesting ‘67 L78 Ads w/ 425 Hp, too late for early higher advertised Hp cars also more likely paperwork Hp than modified cars?:dunno:
Note the Bocar in the 04/29/67 Ad, could be the one Lee posted a few weeks back in the 'Can’t make this stuff up' thread also is the Brigance ‘67 Z28 Ad possibly the existing known car Jon M. has mentioned here before?:hmmm:
Again, Chicago was indeed a Musclecar Hotbed w/ their Newspapers of the day teeming w/ amazing Ads, old Newspapers from LA + Philly also surprisingly Winnipeg are much the same compared to many other major cities.
I was thinking of you Bill when including a few Corvette Ads, cool if you recognize any JD cars also don’t miss the private Ads, especially some of the ‘Vettes listed in that 12/01/68 batch!
Cool if any Ads are new to you Stefano, are you talkin’ the JD stuff or old Nickey Ads?:hmmm:
:beers:
~ Pete

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It was known as Ogden Chevrolet many years ago,and then just before the subprime Mortgage crisis hit in 2007,their Rt.83 entrance/exit got removed due to the county road configuration of RT.83,so now you had to drive all the way to Ditkas' Grill 89 on Pasquinelli drive to get to the Dealership..So they moved their dealership further down to the west actually on Ogden Ave now.They used the old empty Douglas/Team dealership building on Rt.83 as a holding area for some vehicles,but a year later when the economy really tanked,they moved back to their old Douglas/Team location briefly to sell cars.But that didn't last long and Ogden Chevrolet itself soon went tits up.
Now it's been pretty much empty & dormant just like you saw,since then. :(

i like the ad for the 68 Chevelle SS396 convertible with the "gravel crusher" 4 speed :haha: