History Illinois car from the early 70's

I have been searching for pictures of a car from Illinois that I saw back in the early 70's I believe the owner / builder's name was Degregory or something close to that. The car was an early 40's Chevy sedan...black with about 8 different colors of candy paint that went the full length of the car. I think the car might have been painted by Yosemite Sam but I could be wrong.
As I remember, the hood opened normally and then the front fenders / grill tilted forward. The interior was a saddle color with red velor inserts. The trunk had a spun aluminum gas tank with a lot of aluminum panel work
At the time, the car was so far ahead of anything else in Illinois, it stood out.

I have often wondered what happened to the car and would appreciate anyone pointing out where I might find pictures. I went through Rikster's site but did not see anything that even came close. I also tried Yosemite Sam's website but nothing there either

 

Sound like Sam Gregory's car. I didn't know him personally, but recall going to some Northern Illinois shows and seeing it. Also, it seems as though I remember a "Sam Gregory Memorial" award at one or two shows. It possible he has passed, but not for sure. Hopefully someone will chime in with better information. Stu

 

yes, that would be Sam Gregorys chevy, He and my dad were friends before he passed. I think he died about 96-97 just before the car was finished from its last rebuild. I know the cars was white with flames (red/pink if I can remember the photos, before my time), black with multi color flames ( my favorite), then the final red with blue flames. I think the black and red versions were painted by Tom Taylor. Im pretty sure that Frame- Up Wheel Works helped him with the last rebuild of the car and finished it after he died. someone posted up pics in the wild paint thread http://www.motortopia.com/album/view/p/cars/t/garage/a/10456/i/misc_car_pics/po/41/pl/1
I have kinda spotty memories of details on the car other than that, as I was born in '77, after the car was out for a while. I do remember seeing Sam at shows and him talking about redoing the car (actually would ask my dad if he knew of parts, as he had a 40 sedan too) from what I remember the car had independent front and rear suspension, stainless floor pans (louvered possibly?)small block chevy with a tunnel ram. the last version no longer had the tilt front.

The car was shown for a season after it was completed then was raffled off. I think the winner sold the car but after that it kinda disappeared. Ill ask my dad to see if he has anymore info on it other than my memories.

 

Thanks Joe for the update. This car has been stuck in my mind since I saw in a Palatine Il car show about 73 or 74. And thanks for the link. That pic is of the stage of build that I remember. The car had a full page layout in a Street Rod annual magazine that somehow I have lost. That car talks to me

John

 

for some reason i believe that car is now in Minnesota, does anyone know for sure?

 

I don't know if it's in Minnesota, but I remember it from several St. Paul Nationals in the 70's or 80's. It definately stood out. I knew exactly what car ws being discussed before I ever checked the picture in the link.

 

It was here in Minnesota for awhile. Tom Vollebrecht Sr. owned it for a while, but I'm pretty sure he has since sold it.

 

Here is another photo from Andrew Morlands's 1983 book Street Rods

 

Rikster, how could I have doubted you. Thanks


And I realize this is out of the time frame for the HAMB but still a leader at the time. Thanks to the mods for letting this roll

 

I talked to my dad, last he heard of it was the owner after the raffle winner took it to the NSRA nats and just unloaded it a year or so after he got it (my dad tried to buy it but was too late) the only time we have seen/ heard of it since was a small blurb in a magazine and that the new owner put on flame pattern billet wheels instead of the coke bottle americans

 

oh yeah, if you need anyother info on the car you should talk to Bob Janda @ frame up wheel works in Waukegan, IL. he probly knows the most out of anyone about the car

 

Thanks Joe. I was putting together pictures of cars that have sent me reeling over the years. I have been looking for the pic that rikster posted for about 5 years. I'll keep this thread with the contact information.
Thanks a bunch.

 

I work at Frame-Up Wheelworks. Bob would be more than glad to tell you anything you would want to know about the car. 847-746-7637

After Sam passed away the car was raffled off by North Shore Rods at the Freebie Run. The winner didn't really want it so he sold it Tom Vollebrecht. Tom sold it to a guy in Kansas. That is when it showed up in a little picture from an indoor car show with those hideous wheels. After that the car ended up in Tampa Florida. It was for sale in Street Scene a few years back and that is the last I heard of it. If you got any questions call us here at the shop.

Sam was one of the neatest guys I never met.

Thanks Donny.

 

There was another thread about Sam's car last winter:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169070&highlight=sam+gregory

I posted there that I was honored to receive the Sam Gregory Award in 2002 as a rodder who drives his rod.

I wish I had known Sam, he has always sounded like a guy I would enjoy knowing.
PHIL

 

For the record Tom Taylor painted it all three times, not Yosemite Sam.

I got a bunch of stuff here at the shop, including a black rear fender with the original multi color paint on it. I will try to get some pics tomorrow and post them up.

There was a picture of Sam and the back of the May 2009 Hot Rod Deluxe. The car was white with pink flames then (that was the first paint job). the picture was taken at the NSRA street rod nationals in Memphis 1971 where he won best non Ford.

 

As promised, pics