Caught that VITAR TRANS (ENG.) on the left/rear fender, real nice guy. He had a shop on Ditmas Ave. in Bk'lyn.
Vinny did the TH400 on the Buick back in the day...automatic tranny's were the weak link alright, lots of boiling fluid and fires.
Early on Vinny did clutch turbo's also. If memory serves me right, his Camaro on the right side of his shop was a COPO car. I really really hope I"m right on this one, I asked my buddy who owns New Numidia Dragway in Catawissa pa. about Vinny and he told me he's well. God I hope I'm right.
At that time (68-9-70/75) automatics were just finding there acceptance and that yellow decal made some 4 speed street guys think about it. Especially at Cross Bay and Fountain ave.
Hello, When I see the Tom Jacobson 409 photo, I think back to the last time I saw it in person. It was 2019 on set up day at the newly organized displays of the latest Lion’s Dragstrip Museum at the Price Transfer Complex. When we used to drive North on PCH toward the South Bay coastal areas in our surf trips or just cruising the coastal cities, it was different from going South. Other than the direction, it was different starting in Wilmington, the next city on the border of Long Beach. Going past the Terminal Island Freeway, in the city of nearby Wilmington, CA. Then as the years rolled on, the dealership moved to a farther Western area city of Lomita, Ca, near the end of the Harbor Freeway from Los Angeles downtown area that ran to the ocean. It was not located on PCH in the beginning, but on the next big street closer to the LA Harbor, Anaheim St. (It was located in downtown Wilmington.) The oddball naming of the streets and the direction it ran Southeast from Wilmington through Long Beach, (was parallel to PCH) actually ended up intersecting with PCH in Southeast Long Beach, near the golf course, Hody's Drive-In Restaurant, and the Long Beach State College campus back then. Then as the Chevrolet business grew they moved to a new, larger facility on PCH, next to the exit of the Harbor Freeway (farther West) Their next door neighbor was the famous KENDON Porsche Dealership. on PCH Gledhill Chevrolet seemed like it was closer than driving into downtown Long Beach Chevy dealer. But, it actually was 4 miles farther West. The traffic during those early days just seemed like there was less to contend with on PCH at any hour, other than rush hour. Plus, there were several great Mexican food places on PCH in the Wilmington area that we liked and it was a good drive. Now, about Tom Jacobson. He was a 409 guy from the beginning. He worked at Fred Gledhill Chevrolet back in the day. For many years he was the parts manager at Gledhill Chevrolet in Wilmington, Calif. He ran a '62 Biscayne 409 named Ol' Blue at Lions Drag Strip, and was competitive in the day. This is a local race car from our old stomping grounds in Long Beach/Wilmington area. The 409 Chevy was sponsored by Gledhill Chevrolet in Lomita, CA. It was a few miles West, past the City of Wilmington, CA from our Westside of Long Beach home. Tom Jacobson was a popular racer in these classes and times. The 409... was the start of a new era in S/S racing. The big 409 Chevy had an impressive history and over the years, different teams made up the competition sedan. Upton/Jacobson, Edwards/Jacobson and then Tom Jacobson. The car is still around, but looking like a new version that rolled off of the Gledhill Chevrolet dealership lot many years ago. Jnaki The last time I saw this racer was in 2019 at the Lion’s Dragstrip Museum pre-opening days. I was allowed to wander around and see the new stuff for the grand opening prior to the pandemic closure in 2020. As nice as it was, it brought many memories of our high school friend that purchased a 409 Red Biscayne for his personal car and ruled the roost, without anyone taking him up on any encounters. It was one of those “I know what you have…” situations and all hopes for a win was quashed instantly. The stock 409 was impressive with the sound and attitude. We always wondered how it would have done at the competitive events at Lion's Dragstrip. The racing versions like in the popular S/S classes were tuned to the “nth degree” for best performance. Lion's Dragstrip Museum: Class staging area/lanes, tower walkway and all... It is still a nice place to visit, freeway close and almost hidden from normal view. Read the Google Map direction and location before you go there.
The Jalopy Journal
