Nickey / Bill Thomas 1967 Autorama

[Stefano]

Courtesy of the Bob Ashton Collection

[Xplantdad]

That is as cool as heck! Plus...dig the Formula S Cuda as well!!!

[Stefano]

Here is some of the irony in that picture.

Nickey and Bill Thomas formed an alliance and FORMAL business partnership to build Nickey Super Camaros. A car even the factory wouldn't dare build, at least not until the 1969 model year.

Nickey and Bill Thomas advertised and promoted in just about every major Chevy enthusiast publication as well as at every major Midwest show, which they could attend, including on track promotions with Driver Dick Harrell , in order to let the public know how to order and get a Nickey Camaro.

Yet, there are some who still dispute this very well publicized and documented relationship to build Nickey Camaros and sell Hi-Po parts?


Bill Thomas even put together a dealer "Kit" showing other dealers how they too could be in the Hi-Po parts and Super Car business.

Seminars and presentations were held at Nickey Chicago headquarters. Dealers and Speed merchants would come in from all over the country to check out the operation.

Also, while the Nickey Chevrolet, Dick Harrell race prepped Camaros had no special Nickey insignias or markings, they were still Nickey/ Bill Thomas Super Camaros.


The First one went to Bill Hielsher and became known as Mr. Bardahl II. This Nickey Camaro is widely recognized as the very first Super Stock Camaro.

Note who is in the exhibit booth next to the Nickey Bill Thomas display!

The fish tail on the Barracuda is just too wild!

[Stefano]

The first Nickey Super Camaro, Race Prep, Super Stocker. Built by Dick Harrell,Guy Tipton and crew at Nickey Chevrolet,4501 Irving Park Road, Chicago, Illinois.

[1967Z28]

I'm curious. Why didn't Nickey sponsor his car or use the car in it's advertisements?

-Jon

[Stefano]

Nickey had several other sponsored Drag Racers at that time, including Dick Harrell.

Bill Hielscher already had his sponsors lined up. He won many awards and races in 1966.

You will notice that Dick Harrell has a sponsorship logo on Bill's Camaro.

Dick Harrell built the dedicated race cars. There were three Similar Red Rally Sports while Don Swiatek's team built the "retail" customer cars. Both Don and DIck reported to Al Selig, the VP of NIckey Chevrolet.

[Rondonrus]

What does the price list from 1967 do with who actually built the car that is in the picture?

[Stefano]

"The cars were built under the Nickey / Bill Thomas partnership." and I thought it was a cool document.

Just for clarification. That particular car was built by Dick Harrell and Guy Tipton.

[Stefano]

Here is another cool vintage pic with a young Don Swiatek in the Nickey / Bill Thomas booth.......selling 427 Camaros.

[Rondonrus]

I believe that Guy Tipton was racing with Dick Harrell when this car was built and really don't think that Bill Heilsher paid Nickey to build a car that he could put together at his shop in Texas.