Harry Mann Chevy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 6,501
Likes: 1,938
From: The Golden Triangle, Florida
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '20 thru '25
Here's a Harry Mann '67 California black plate 427/435 coupe I looked at in December. Nice car. Sale pending.
http://www.vintagecorvettes.com/1967marooncoupe.html
If you scroll down the photos, you'll see some vintage pics of the Harry Mann dealership and some other stuff.
-- Steve
http://www.vintagecorvettes.com/1967marooncoupe.html
If you scroll down the photos, you'll see some vintage pics of the Harry Mann dealership and some other stuff.
-- Steve
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 500
Likes: 3
From: Huntington Conn
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 61
I told this once before, but I thought this post would welcome it again since it had to do with Harry Mann Chevrolet.
I had been driven home from the local dealer by a driver that had been in the film industry. He spotted my Corvette in my garage and told me years ago a friend in the film industry told that he was meeting a salesman from Harry Mann to look at two Corvettes. They met him at the dealer ship, and he drove them to a warehouse. In the corner were 2 vettes, both white with red interiors, one a big block the other a small block. They had been used in a Chevy commercial on Bonanza.
He bought the big block.
Dennis
I had been driven home from the local dealer by a driver that had been in the film industry. He spotted my Corvette in my garage and told me years ago a friend in the film industry told that he was meeting a salesman from Harry Mann to look at two Corvettes. They met him at the dealer ship, and he drove them to a warehouse. In the corner were 2 vettes, both white with red interiors, one a big block the other a small block. They had been used in a Chevy commercial on Bonanza.
He bought the big block.
Dennis
And since they had the largest inventory, I was visiting Harry Mann at least once a week. I was taken into "the warehouse" once. It was jammed with at least 20 new 'Vettes and it seemed like every one had a Stinger hood. thus was a big block. Apparently BB's were most of what Chevy was making at the end of '67 production, or at least what HMC was ordering.
Once there, I'd unhook my spring-loaded dealer plates and transfer them to the car we were trading for. Then a check underhood for water and oil levels, then inside and outside for any missing items like hubcaps, lighters or interior trim pieces. Then disconnect the odometer cable (legal back then), gas up if needed and hit the road!
Occasionally I'd pick up an SS350 Camaro or 396 Chevelle, but mainly the "Summer of Love" was my personal "Corvette Summer".
Last edited by sub006; Aug 15, 2011 at 02:54 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,808
Likes: 28
From: CA central coast
In 1968 I was nearing the end of my hitch in the Navy and my ship was in dry dock in Long Beach for repairs. My 63 vert was silver-blue, but oxidized from the SoCal (and Texas) sun because the car always sat outside in parking lots. I heard the painter at Harry Mann Chevrolet was the best around at painting Corvettes (he seemed to be an independent contractor working out of the Harry Mann dealership facilities, but I'm not sure what his deal was with them), so I had him repaint the car '67 Lynndale Blue (loved the color after having seen one passing by on the street one day); he also re-covered the top with new blue (aftermarket) soft top material (I didn't have the hard top with me in CA, so it stayed silver blue), and he replaced a damaged tailpipe panel with a later model version. Turned out very nice, he did great work (but he had to replace the top material twice, at no extra charge to me, because his vendor delivered a teal blue/green color the first time rather than the blue I'd specified). Regrettably, I can't remember the painter's name.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 116
Likes: 4
From: Madison,Mississippi,USA
I recently have bought a '65 Coupe that the NCRS certifies as being sold from Harry Mann Chevrolet. I have a license plate frame that came with the car that says "Lew Williams Chevrolet--Hollywood"
Anyone ever heard of that name/dealership?
Tks.
Anyone ever heard of that name/dealership?
Tks.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 61
Yes, and by definition your '67 is a C2. A couple of years into C3 production, Chevy substiuted a very dark brown shade with a fine gold flake in it for black on all cars from Vega on up, including Corvette.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 61
In 1968 I was nearing the end of my hitch in the Navy and my ship was in dry dock in Long Beach for repairs. My 63 vert was silver-blue, but oxidized from the SoCal (and Texas) sun because the car always sat outside in parking lots. I heard the painter at Harry Mann Chevrolet was the best around at painting Corvettes (he seemed to be an independent contractor working out of the Harry Mann dealership facilities, but I'm not sure what his deal was with them), so I had him repaint the car '67 Lynndale Blue (loved the color after having seen one passing by on the street one day); he also re-covered the top with new blue (aftermarket) soft top material (I didn't have the hard top with me in CA, so it stayed silver blue), and he replaced a damaged tailpipe panel with a later model version. Turned out very nice, he did great work (but he had to replace the top material twice, at no extra charge to me, because his vendor delivered a teal blue/green color the first time rather than the blue I'd specified). Regrettably, I can't remember the painter's name.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
check out this thread about the dealership from Dec of 2010.....
lots of pics!
http://ca.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu8f...ps-anyone.html
lots of pics!
http://ca.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu8f...ps-anyone.html
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 2
harry mann chevrolet
My father was a corrvette fuel injection specialist for Harry Mann in the late 50"s and early 60"s. I have here at home the first place and world record trophies from the 1960 Boniville speed trials. my father built and drove the car for Harry Mann. I also have a book-shelf made from the engine crate with the shipping label in tact. attn Frank Milne.
my father had been involved in many magazine articles through his short carrier. His name was Jim Vedenoff. when he left us, he took a wealth of knowledge with him. A damn shame we couldn"t retain some of this.
Roy Vedenoff,So. Ca.
my father had been involved in many magazine articles through his short carrier. His name was Jim Vedenoff. when he left us, he took a wealth of knowledge with him. A damn shame we couldn"t retain some of this.
Roy Vedenoff,So. Ca.
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I lived in a house right behind Harry Mann Chev from 1958-1962 (5748 Victoria Ave). One of my 1st (full time) jobs was working in the parts dept. They truly were the largest Corvette dealer in the world (by far). They had a warehouse (with armed guards) that housed about 500 cars (if I remember correctly). Not just Vettes. He had a whole car collection there. I think that the car collection was later moved and the Vette w/h located closer to the dealership. I used to help drive cars from the w/h to the store on occasion. I remember that w/h as being the biggest building that I had ever been in (at the time). I wish that I remembered where it was located but I seem to remember that it was in Inglewood somewhere. It may have even been an aircraft hanger at LAX.
I remember the painter that was referred to earlier. I bought a totaled out '60 Valliant that was in the body shop and that painter painted the car for me. The guy was the best painter around.
The parts dept was the largest Corvette parts distributor in the world. I remember that we shipped parts all over the US, Europe and even Australia.
I remember the painter that was referred to earlier. I bought a totaled out '60 Valliant that was in the body shop and that painter painted the car for me. The guy was the best painter around.
The parts dept was the largest Corvette parts distributor in the world. I remember that we shipped parts all over the US, Europe and even Australia.
Last edited by wavery; Apr 3, 2012 at 05:41 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 116
Likes: 4
From: Madison,Mississippi,USA
My '65 Coupe was delivered to Harry Mann in July 1965. He may have sold it to another LA dealer, Lew Williams Chevrolet (as there are two Lew Williams tag frames in the car). The Williams' dealership is also closed.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150810251127...84.m1587.l2649
Found these on ebay. What a way to top off your restoration.
Found these on ebay. What a way to top off your restoration.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento
My father was a corrvette fuel injection specialist for Harry Mann in the late 50"s and early 60"s. I have here at home the first place and world record trophies from the 1960 Boniville speed trials. my father built and drove the car for Harry Mann. I also have a book-shelf made from the engine crate with the shipping label in tact. attn Frank Milne.
my father had been involved in many magazine articles through his short carrier. His name was Jim Vedenoff. when he left us, he took a wealth of knowledge with him. A damn shame we couldn"t retain some of this.
Roy Vedenoff,So. Ca.
my father had been involved in many magazine articles through his short carrier. His name was Jim Vedenoff. when he left us, he took a wealth of knowledge with him. A damn shame we couldn"t retain some of this.
Roy Vedenoff,So. Ca.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 102
Likes: 7
From: Danville California
My father was a corrvette fuel injection specialist for Harry Mann in the late 50"s and early 60"s. I have here at home the first place and world record trophies from the 1960 Boniville speed trials. my father built and drove the car for Harry Mann. I also have a book-shelf made from the engine crate with the shipping label in tact. attn Frank Milne.
my father had been involved in many magazine articles through his short carrier. His name was Jim Vedenoff. when he left us, he took a wealth of knowledge with him. A damn shame we couldn"t retain some of this.
Roy Vedenoff,So. Ca.
my father had been involved in many magazine articles through his short carrier. His name was Jim Vedenoff. when he left us, he took a wealth of knowledge with him. A damn shame we couldn"t retain some of this.
Roy Vedenoff,So. Ca.
Back in the '60s we used to go to Harry Mann to buy Corvette parts because they stocked more parts than anyone. Occasionally the parts man would say, "oh, need to order that from Flint." That meant we had to wait 2 weeks! Mann was always the best place to go.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 148
From: Santa Barbara California
When Harry Mann closed its doors, there was a news article about the contents (including old records) to be auctioned. It seems like someone may have those records. It would be a great find for many of us.
