Detroit Guys: Jim Funston or Merollis Info?

[scuncio]

I believe my latest Chevelle project was a dealer trade to Jim Chumbley Chevrolet (Ypsilanti) from another Detroit dealer, possibly Funston or Merollis. Does anyone have any good leads for information from either dealer? I know Merollis is still around.

Thanks in advance, Tony

[camarojoe]

Funston and Merollis were both in the Yenko dealer network. I have some memorabilia from both dealers in my collection.

[Canuck]

Does anyone know if Merollis was an Olds dealer in the 70's.
I found a business card in my red 71 w-30 convert when I took it apart for restoration tahat was from Merollis.

Paul

[L78racer]

I worked at Funston when it closed in September of 1972. It was a smaller Detroit neighborhood dealer. They did have a 'Sports Department' across Gratiot Avenue from the main store. All the Hi Perf stuff was housed there. Merollis was always a Chevrolet only dealer that I know of (60's to present). I still live nearby. Both Merollis and Funston stored cars at storage lots in the neighborhood. Lots of parts stolen from new cars back in the day, especially the Hi Perf stuff. Intakes, Carbs, Heads and more went missing. Cars were stolen too.
I worked on the used car lot for a while. Lots of Hi Perf stuff limped in on trade-in after street/ strip racing and being blown up etc. We used to take headers, tachs. traction bars etc. off and put them in a pile. I got to drive some neat cars around the block for 'time trials'. A lot of fun back then.

[Mr70]

Did you know Sales manager Bob Hirsch or maybe Bill Barnwell pictured below?



From Chevrolets Central publication..
Funston's "Pit Stop" was located across Gratiot and half a block down.They averaged 22 new performance car sales every month,which alotted for 14% of Funstons overall new car sales.

[scuncio]

Paul, you have a PM.

[1967Z28]

Anybody know about any '67 Z-28 Camaros being sold out of Funston Chevrolet? They got a very early one, the 25th one built and I would like to know more about it. It probably arrived at the dealership in late January '67.

Thanks,
-Jon

[L78racer]

[ QUOTE ]
Did you know Sales manager Bob Hirsch or maybe Bill Barnwell pictured below?



From Chevrolets Central publication..
Funston's "Pit Stop" was located across Gratiot and half a block down.They averaged 22 new performance car sales every month,which alotted for 14% of Funstons overall new car sales.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I knew 'Candy Bar' Bob Hirsch. He was my aunt's brother. He got me the job there. He is deceased.
Ah yes, the 'Pit Stop' kept the service department very busy. I was a young gofer and service writer. Lots of BB sucked valves getting fixed and short blocks going in. Guys would slip a junk yard short block into a warranty engine job and take the new short block home. Nobody cared about numbers. The customer was glad he got a new motor after beating the sh!t out of his car. Detroit streets were teeming with muscle iron.

[L78racer]

Some pics. Scunio, I mentioned to you that Little Joe's car was White/ Black. That may have been before or after this blue one.

Detroit Cobo Hall Autorama.







'67 Camaro called the Mod Topper.

[scuncio]

Killer pics, keep them coming Paul!