DANA CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS - West Coast Connection

[68 DANA]

DANA CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS - THE EMERGENCE OF A WEST COAST FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH!

DANA CHEVROLET EMERGES ON THE SCENE

August 1966 - Dana Chevrolet receives its franchise in August 1966 and purchases former Enoch Chevrolet facilities. The purchase of Enoch Chevrolet includes the main dealership and two used and fleet vehicle dealership facilities.

•DANA CHEVROLET
8730 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate, CA

•DANA CHEVROLET
8806 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate, CA – This location existed until January 1967.

•DANA CHEVROLET
2955 E. Firestone Blvd. South Gate, CA - This location existed until January 1967.


DANA CHEVROLET BECOMES A SPONSOR

November 13, 1966 - Paul Dombroski, president of Dana Chevrolet, South Gate, announces firm will sponsor Chuck Parson's McLaren-Chevy for remaining races in Canadian-American Fall Series, indicating company's participation in future racing programs under direction of partner and vice president, Peyton Cramer.


DANA CHEVROLET HI PERFORMANCE CENTER EMERGES ON THE SCENE

January 1967 - An ad for Dana Chevrolet in the Motor Trend/Riverside 500 program has both addresses located on the program - DANA Chevrolet 8730 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate California and DANA Hi-Performance Center 9735 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate California.

•DANA CHEVROLET HI-PERFORMANCE CENTER
9735 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate, CA


FEBRUARY 1967 - Ex-Shelby American drag racer Don McCain, campaigns the 427 Camaro on the drag strips, acts as sales manager for the DANA Hi-Performance Center and becomes an integral part of the development of the DANA Camaro.

March 14, 1967 - Veteran driver Dick Guldstrand heads up DANA Chevrolet's new Hi-Performance Center, a separate dealership for high performance products and service. DANA produces both a 427 and a Z28 version of the Camaro at the new facility. The Hi-Performance Center also modifies Novas, Impalas, Corvairs, Chevelles, and Corvettes. These cars receive small modifications up to full blown engine and performance package upgrades. It will also be the headquarters of the dealership's team effort consisting of two G/7 cars for Bob Bondurant and Peter Revson and the Z28 for Guldstrand.

August 5, 1967 - Dick Guldstand's DANA #56 Z28 Camaro is for sale in the August 5, 1967 issue of Competition Press; Autoweek.

October 28, 1967 - Dick Guldstrand and DANA Chevrolet Hi-Performance Center part ways. Guldstrand opens his own shop; Dick Guldstrand's American International Racing Corporation located in Culver City, CA. as published in the Competition Press; Autoweek.

February 21, 1968 - Peyton Cramer sells his controlling interest of Dana Chevrolet and goes back to work for Carroll Shelby leaving Paul Dombroski with complete ownership as published in the National Speed Sport News.


DANA CHEVROLET HI PERFORMANCE CENTER CLOSES

June 1969 - DANA CHEVROLET HI-PERFORMANCE CENTER closes and hi-performance optioned cars, Corvettes, Chevelles, Camaros, Novas, Impalas, continued to be converted at DANA CHEVROLET 8730 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate, CA location.

September 6, 1969 - Fleet vehicles and used car dealership continues to operate at the Firestone Blvd. location.

•DANA CHEVROLET
3052 E. Firestone Blvd. South Gate, CA


DANA CHEVROLET ERA COMES TO AN END

Late 1971 – Due to continued EPA restrictions and pressures, Dana Chevrolet closes operations at DANA CHEVROLET 8730 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate, CA and at the DANA CHEVROLET 3052 E. Firestone Blvd. South Gate, CA location.

•DANA CHEVROLET
8730 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate, CA

•DANA CHEVROLET
3052 E. Firestone Blvd. South Gate, CA