Help, Illinois/Indiana: Looking for original owner.

[matthon]

I found a receipt in the glove box from Advanced Auto and it had a name and number on it, so I called.
It was the third owner of my car; the second being his son.
Based on the information he provided, I am hoping that maybe someone knows the body shop that sold it to his son, or even the original owner’s wife.
I have been able to verify this:
My car was originally purchased in May of 1967 from the Clyde C. Netzley Chrysler/Plymouth dealer (located at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Washington Street) in Naperville, Illinois.
The original owner ordered it: 383 Formula S, green with black bench.
The modifications he made were Cragars, Hurst shifter, Superior 500 steering wheel, valve covers, traction bars, Weiand intake, and a Holley.
He eventually had an accident which required fenders, bumper, header panel, grills, and half the radiator support was cutout and another welded in.
In roughly 1995, he brought it to a body shop in Rockford Illinois to have it painted. Unfortunately he passed on before it was completed.
His wife agreed to sell it to the body shop on the condition that they paint it the original green color; which they did.
The body shop sold it to a man in South Bend Indiana, Richard Stewart.
He rebuilt the heads and the tranny, and replaced the carpet.
He sold it to his father in 2003, David Stewart, who never registered it.
It changed hands again in 2005 in South Bend, and I bought it in 2008.
From the body shop to me, it has not changed- David even asked me if it still had the pealing clear coat!

If anyone has any information on a green 67 Formula S that was at a body shop in Rockford Illinois sometime prior to 1995; the body shop name or the original owner it would be greatly appreciated.

Here is a pick of the car, and one of the Netzley dealership:

 

[ramcharger]

Wow, nice detective work! Wish I could help and I wish you luck on your search. Nice Barracuda.

 

[78kitcar]

Wow, nice detective work! Wish I could help and I wish you luck on your search. Nice Barracuda.

I 2nd that! Nice job i think what i would do next is call all the body shops in rockford....cross your fingers they are still around! how many body shops could possibly be in rockford? I had to do the same thing except it was tranny shop.They keep the car due to non payment.

 

[matthon]

Long shot bump...lots of body shops in Rockford.

 

[matthon]

Today I was able to locate a name: Ray Schumacher, who had some type of connection to the Netzley dealership.
I then found a phone number for him and his wife, so I called.
Who answers the phone, Clyde Netzley's daughter, Dee, who married Ray.
Ray and Dee's brother ran the dealership after her father, until the city forced them out- they didn't want car lots within city limits.
I told her what I was looking for, the original owner, and she started giving me all the info she could think of.
The funniest thing, when she asked me the year of the car I said 1967, and she replied, "That's not so long ago, well for me, I'm 80 years old."
She just called me back and gave me her nephew's name, Clay, and number, and told me to call him because he ran the sales piece and might have some info that would help me.
It would be really kool to locate the original owner's wife, some pics would make it all worth it.

Anyone think Dan Schumacher is related to Ray? I forgot to ask her. His business is only 20 minutes from where the dealership used to be.

The search continues...

 

[matthon]

I called Clay the other day, and he could not help in my search.
He was the sales manager from the early 70s until the dealership closed in the 80s. I explained that my car was ordered and the original owner had it for some time, hoping it would stir his memory a little and he might possibly remember the guy coming in for service - nothing, (obviously not a car guy).
I tried the Indiana DMV website, but there is not an option for a title search; maybe I should use the snail mail and write a letter, but I doubt they would supply names and addresses of all the owners.

There is a widow out there somewhere that may have the original shifter and intake/carb, but all I really want is a pic or two and that would make it all worth it.

So close...

 

[Small Block]

Maybe a long shot but here's an idea. Body Shop in Rockford ? The city issues business liscens to these guys or they cant do business in that town, so go to the city office and slip the girl a $20 or what ever you think it's worth and see if they can produce a list for you. They do keep records. Maybe an old phone book. This stuff is neat.
My memory recalls my father in law saying in earlier years before the family exploded he had a barracuda and he live in the Rockford/Belevedere area and was in the banking business for many years in that town. I called the wife in to look at the pic of your car to see if she had any recollection of anything looking like that but she was too young to recall. I'll check the father in law and see if it leads to anything.

 

[matthon]

Updates:
I located a guy who worked in the parts dept. at the dealership in the late 70s. He told me since the dealership was in the city, in order to get cars to the bodyshop in the basement, they would drive them in the first floor, where the sales were, and put them on a giant elevator to the basement. He gave me the service manager's contact info from the dealership! He worked there from the early 70s until it closed, and even lived with the Netzley's for a while. He did not remember the car, but he said he would ask a friend of his who is a Mopar freak, and who is also helping him with his search for the 68 GTX he used to own, (blue, black top, white interior, sounds kool).
No news yet, but it does not look promising.

Get this, he told me that when he started in 73, they had a Superbird on the lot. It was there since new and they could not sell it. So, the dealership took the wing off, put a regular road runner front end on it, and sold it.

Now I have heard that one before, but never from the horses mouth.
Maybe it was this car:
http://www.carsinbarns.com/Superbirds & Daytonas/pg24.html

I also contacted the Illinois and Indiana state DMVs, they referred me to some forms for requesting the previous owner's information, a title search of sorts. The catch is, they will only release the information if I first get the previous owner's permission in writing - but why the $@%& would I pay a fee for a title search, to find the original owner, if I had his name and address already?

The search continues...

 

[Oklacarcollecto]

This is a really cool thread.

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[matthon]

I started searching newspaper archives on Google and other sources. I searched for 1967 Barracuda for sale, accident, crash, etc.
I found a few newspapers that give you on-line access to scanned pages, but the ones that I am interested in finding more info about have very limited information.
Here are the 2 articles I found; the first right in Naperville were it was sold new, and the second in Indiana where I bought it. I did further research on Tibor Kelemen, thinking he would be easy to locate, and believe it or not there are quite a few people with that name. Gregory Lett turned up nothing as well. I researched the law case and other leads with no luck.

Anyone with any info please let me know.

Oct 2002Oct 6, 2002 - He was driving a black late 1960s-model Plymouth Barracuda in good condition. Anyone with information is asked to call Naperville Crime ... 26, of the 400 block of North Ohio Street, Aurora, was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving without insurance. ...
From Suspect sought in gas station attack ($$) - Related web pages
docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/BC/lib00101,0F6EE8FB2D911B2E.html

Suspect sought in gas station attack
Naperville police are searching for a man who battered another man on Sept. 29 at a gas station in the 500 block of East Ogden Avenue.
A 52-year-old Lisle man was injured during an argument with another man about 4:55 p.m., police said. He was treated at Edward Hospital in Naperville.
Police are offering a reward of as much as $1,000 for information about the incident. The suspect is described as a white male, 25 to 30 years old, about 6-foot-4, 180 to 200 pounds, with a muscular build



Apr 1988Apr 18, 1988 - FACTS On September 17, 1983, Gregory Lett was involved in an accident on US Route 52 in Franklin County, Indiana, while riding in a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda driven by defendant, Tibor Kelemen. Lett sustained extensive and severe injuries in the Page 750 accident and was transported via ...
From Indiana Case Law - LETT v. STATE, 519 NE2d 749... ($$) - Related web pages
www.loislaw.com/gpc/index.htp?dockey=9722929@INCASE

 

[memike]

There is a well known big time body shop in Mendota that did most all the great work in the area, Check Mendota to8) it's just 30 miles away.
I looked at this thread because I had a 73 Challenger in Ill. Paw Paw.
I think it will be worth a call, They are the best and well known in that neck of the corn fields up there 8)

 

[matthon]

Do you know the name of the bodyshop?
I am not in that area.

 

[CudaChick1968]

A cut-n-paste from Local.com ... hope this works and helps!

Cross Body Shop1213 Meriden St, Mendota, IL 61342 map
1.5 MI
more info | phone (815) 539-7010 Tony's Body Shop215 N 4099th Rd, Mendota, IL 61342 map

1.4 MI
more info | phone (815) 539-3057
Furar's Body Shop306 Plaza Dr, Mendota, IL 61342 map

1.4 MI
more info | phone (815) 539-6075 Greathouse & Sons Body Shop1403 Peoria St, Peru, IL 61354 map


14.4 MI
more info | phone (815) 223-5245 Sponsors

Pakula Body Shop, 2115 Chartres St, La Salle, IL 61301 map

13.2 MI
more info | phone (815) 223-3018 Scholle Towing & Body ShopPeru Twp, Peru, IL 61354 map

13.1 MI
more info | phone (815) 223-0070 Pro Body Shop the1801 Ninth St, Peru, IL 61354 map

14.5 MI
more info | phone (815) 224-4274 Lasalle Body & Fender Shop140 Crosat St, La Salle, IL 61301 map

14.7 MI
more info | phone (815) 223-0598 Go Dan Industries820 Brunner St, Peru, IL 61354 map

14.8 MI
more info | phone (815) 224-1959 Eakas Corp6251 State Route 251, Peru, IL 61354 map

13.0 MI
more info | phone (815) 223-8811

 

[matthon]

Thank you all for the info.

I just took a look through some things I had found in the car when I first got it and cleaned it up, and I re-found a small keychain/tape measure.

There is some text on the back that is half rubbed off, something to the effect of ".... or Gray...(and?) Ductile Iron ... daily"

It appeared to be a slogan for the company, and I always thought the company name was the first word, which unfortunately was scratched off due to wear, and the name of the company that made the tape measure was on the other side. I remember seeing promotional things like these when I was a kid.
Turns out, I am a dummy and what I thought was the tape measure company, was in fact the Gray and Ductile Iron company - Brillion.

Brillion Iron Works in Wisconsin is only 3 hours from Naperville.
I know a tape measure for Brillion could probably be had by anyone, anywhere, who bought one of their products - but maybe the original owner worked at Brillion? or even resided in Wisconsin?

Anyone know a guy who used to drive his 67 green Barracuda to work at Brillion?
I need to change the title to include Wisconsin.

You people must think I have completely lost my mind!

The search continues...

 

[gts340]

My Uncle is a body man and has worked at several body shops over the years in the Rockford and Belvidere, IL area. I believe he is in his early 50's, so he's been doing it since the late 70's or early 80's. I don't see him much but I will try to get over there and ask him. He also does a lot of classic cars and at one time did a Barracuda Formula S 340 car for someone, but it was blue and had a green 318 parts car at the same time that was nicer.
In any case, I am very close to Belvidere and Rockford and will travel there myself to check out a lead for you if you have any clues you want looked in to. Just give me a pm about it.

 

[matthon]

I found an ad with a pic of Clyde in it (it must be Clyde the 2nd), start at the center of the car and he is the 2nd guy to the right with the glasses, the light colored jacket, leaning on the fender.
Interesting, to me anyway.
I located some obituaries that may be the original owner, if the story is true, but unable to make any contact with possible relatives.

I feel like Mannix here, (minus the string of Mopars), and I need a break in this case!

 

[matthon]

Well its been a few months and the search has been unsuccessful.
Just some pictures, thats all, a few snapshots of when it was new, thats all I want.
So close, but not really.

 

[rhinodart]

Matt, got your email and replied back. I currently work in a restoration facility in Machesney Park, IL just north of Rockford. Though I do not live in the immediate area I will talk with the guys I work with who have lived there since birth. We have a Mopar swap meet this Sunday in Elmhurst, IL and I will talk with some people there also. Our club has been in the Naperville area for decades so there may be some people who know more about the original dealership also.

Jim

 

[matthon]

I found this keychain through a Google search today, already sold- on e-Bay.uk
And another picture of the dealership.

 

[matthon]

Just wanted to bring this to the top since it is the car show season.8-)

 

[matthon]

Well, I've taken this search in another direction.
For months I've been searching the internet for anyone searching for their dad's/uncle's/cousin's/neighbor's old green 67 Barracuda, or anyone who has mentioned someone in their family having one.
I thought I was close at one point, but no go.
You could reason that if it was sold no one in the family cared to keep it as their own, but then again people sell cars and regret it every day, and there are cars my relatives sold when I was too young to purchase them.

I'm having a hard time believing that this guy ordered this car, then spent additional funds on it at the time, and no one remembers the car, or him, or cares to remember- probably my frustration talking here.

Has anyone else done a search on the dealership their car was sold out of, and found literally nothing?
If I search for Netzley, Clyde C. Netzley, or Netzley Plymouth, or whatever, I find this thread and little else.

I've also been searching old car show photos, classified ads, old photos and books of Naperville- nothing.

Of all of the parts that were not with this car when I got it, the only thing I have not been able to replace are the alternator, a 'date coded' one, and the original shifter. It has a great Hurst in it, which is a real deal A body period one, but I have yet to even see a real Inland A body bench seat shifter. Also the Certicard was missing.

The third owner had the alternator, but after a long search he was unable to locate it. He said if he ever found it he would ship it to me- no charge.

The shifter would be so kool to have, although I think I would keep the Hurst in it because I drive this thing!

Of course, the Certicard would solve this mystery, so I endlessly search ebag and swap meets, hopelessly I should say.

To talk to a relative, and to see some pics would be the true reward. If I could order an A body today, this would be the one, except I might get green interior if possible, maybe.

And the second and third owners believe the engine was originally orange, not turquoise. I've been all over this car, and the engine, and it appears to have been originally orange, then painted turquoise over that with the engine in the car. Yes, I know anything can happen in 40 years, and I'm not saying I believe it, but stuff happens- and this thing was shipped on a Friday, lol.
It would be nice to prove it one way or another, (yes, I know, Chrysler painted all A body 383s turquoise).

OK, the search continues...

 

[matthon]

I put a high bid on another Netzley dealership key chain screw driver, like the one in the pic on the first page. The auction ended at 5 am today, I put a bid in at 3 am well over the starting price- and I lost!

I am not happy- sometimes the little things really get to you, ya know?

 

[oldkimmer]

.................U have to remember that back then there were not too many photo buffs,.......and this i really hate too say.......with all the muscle cars back then and all the unlimited choices, it was thought of as...JUST A CAR......nothing special........kim............if i had all the cars from back in the day that i used too own, now, i would think i've truely died and gone to heaven..............

 

[matthon]

Yep, I agree- yet part of me would like to believe the whole story; ordered the car, (which I know it was), spent money at that time to make it better, (which is also true based on the period parts still on it), and held on to it the whole time, (not sure on that). And when he passed on, the wife knew it meant something to him and requested the body shop paint it the original color, (no idea if that is really true- but if it is, there is a chance someone remembers that guy and his car).

Or not.

 

[dustermaniac]

I do not know if this web site would be of any assistance but you may want to try....

http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi