HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I'm looking for anyone who remembers a '69 Camaro that raced in the northeast area (Island, Cecil, 75-80, Maple Grove, Numedia, Atco, etc...) under the banner of HUCKLEBERRY HOUND. I'm holding a vintage photo of this car in my hand that I purchased at the York show - after all you other guys beat me to them, I was busy chasing Benjamin [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I only noticed this pic because someone had mentioned this racecar to me in the past, I believe it was Dan P. from NJ. However, I do not remember the details of the conversation. The car appears to be fathom green, cowl hood, silver grill, bowtie, endura, 1/4 gills, normally running in SS/EA, but on this evening it was shoe-polished as SS/DA. In this pic it is running against a '69 Chevelle that is in SS/EA under the banner of Bob Fisher Chevrolet - is that a 427/auto classification for the Chevelle as well?

Any info appreciated, I'm trying to piece together a few stories that I have collected about a certain car in this area over the last several years. I think this picture factors into my research.

I will try to scan the pic.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I have one of a 396 Chevelle that says SS/FA on window

That guy has some great photos. They were developed back in the day which I like better then when you get a new photo from an old neg.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Yea, he had good stuff, The Buzzkill Mayor got some good ones too! This vendor will be at Englishtown in two weeks, I may go back to check out the rest!

Where's DanP? I know he out in AZ battling with the home associations, but haven't heard from him in a while! I'm pretty sure he told me about this 'HOUND' car, and that it was from NJ.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Marlin, Chevelle is probably Musser Bros. car sponsered by Fisher Chevrolet. I'll see if I can find anything about the HH car.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I remember Huckleberry Hound quite well. This 1969 Camaro SS was bought at Wallace Chevrolet in Linden, NJ. In fact, 2 cars were purchased at the same time - a 1969 Nova SS (396) and the subject car. The original owners were Frankie Johansson and Andy Zimmerman. I had an interest in the car but my primary interest was the cousin Nova. By the way, both were all black when new. Rogers Speed shop in Garwood, NJ did most of the engine work - at lesast provided the facilities, and Andy was the brains behind the actuall mechanics. Andy died in the mid to late 1970's and Frankie is somewhere. He was a professional painter (offices, etc.) and probably inhaled too many fumes.

The Nova ran Pure Stock - B auto and consistantly ran in the low 12's. The Camaro ran in B SS Auto and, when right, ran below the class record.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Nicely done Ray!!

After reading what you typed, I can decipher more names on the car in this picture. 'Chief Mech. Andy Z' is on the lower front fenders. 'Driver Frank Johanssen' is above the door glass on the roof roll. The pit crew members are on the rear quarters behind the rear wheel, but I can't make out the names. The seller told me this pic was taken at Cecil County dragway. Car is very dark in this b/w photo, so black it is. I don't see any SS markings on it, which is why I suspected that it might be a COPO car from NJ or a Yenko car from PA, as well as the class on the window of SS/DA. There is a big 'Duffys' decal on the front fender, is that a parts place? It's a very cool picture!

Now that you mention Wallace Chev. my conversation with Dan P. is coming back to me. Dan was trying to document one of his '68 Novas that has indications of Motion conversion possibilities, this Nova was out of Wallace in Linden, NJ. Dan had tracked down some people that had told him about these cars, and the possibility that there might be a Wallace/Motion connection much like the Baldwin/Motion deal. Dan had conversed with guys who told him about the H.Hound car. When I first saw a HH pic at the show, (it was a smaller pic with the HH car in the other lane, I didn't buy it) I was surprised because I had thought that the HH car was indeed a Nova, possibly Dan's '68 Nova. I guess not unless there were two HH cars - one Camaro and one Nova? Was the Wallace Nova lettered up?

Awesome pic, the more I study it the more I like it. Would be fun to find it, and put it back as the Huckleberry Hound!

Greg, thanks for the tip on the Chevelle. After reading what you typed I can decipher the lettering on the front fender which does appear to be Musser Bros. I could make out the Bros. part but not the 'Mu' portion. Neat car, has a holeshot on the Camaro, both are seriously wrinkling the slicks!

Thanks again, keep the info flowin!

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Marlin,You must have a HorseShoe up your A**!
Way to go Ray. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

We wanna see the picture! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I gotta figure out how to scan the darn thing! I'm not sure how to do it here at work using the fax machine, can't seem to get the file over to my computer - without someone seeing what I'm doing!

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

The info is flowing in, amazing what an old pic can bring out of the woodwork! The car appears to still be around, will post more when I get the pieces put together. Some records show that Andy Zimmerman passed on in 1976.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Found another pic of the Huckleberry Hound, but it's a '66 or '67 GTX! Same names on the car.

Still diggin for info on the '69 Camaro lettered as the HH car, it is indeed a COPO - and is alive!

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

What was the name of the guy selling those photos at York? Was he at the FCR in E-town? I would like to get some good old local drag photos. Thanks, Kevin

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I don't know the guys name, but he has a lot of pics. He says he has 2x that amount still at home!

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Short update on the HH car;

The original owner of this car confirms that it was a Tuxedo Black, X11 Copo that was purchased from Wallace Chevrolet in Linden, NJ. The owner removed the VIN (616462)and Trim Tag many years ago, and junked the car. The owner retained the bill of sale, dash bezel, the doors, a fender and possibly the transmission. The owner told each of us the same story, that there was no body and it was junked 20 years ago in northern NJ. These items were for sale, however, approx. 6 people passed on the deal because there was no firewall - much less an entire car. One person considered buying the items as memorabilia, and to prevent a rebody, but the price was prohibitive for that purpose.

About a month ago, I received word that somebody in NY claimed to have bought these items from the orig owner. Additionally, the claim is that the original body was found and pulled from a junk yard after 20+ years even though the orig owner did not remember where the body went. The plan is to restore the car, not sure if it will be done as the HH or factory.

Take it for what it's worth, but beware https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Good work Marlin! Love to see those old race cars. Do you know the people in N.Y.? Should we go and take some pictures? Like....before and after https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif Thanks, Sam

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Marlin,

Any idea what caused the demise of the car? Did it get wrecked during a race or was rusted out??

Mike

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

To my knowledge the car was not wrecked, but was sitting in the guy's backyard on a trailer for around 10+ years rusting away. The car had 1/4's tacked on, but never fully completed. The BE rear was narrowed and chromed, along with the rear springs, rollpan, etc.... Lots of chrome all over. There were several items that were taken off the car and installed the owner's daughter's car, ie; cowl hood, etc... So, there was really nothing left except what I typed above, and therefore the tags were removed and the body junked. If the owner had known to remove the firewall, he would have done so - he felt that the tags were sufficient to preserve the value/rarity.

Where/how the new owner found the so-called 'original body' in a junk yard is unknown.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Marlin
Will you post a picture,or guide us to a picture of the Huckleberry Hound car,back in it's Hey Day?
Rick

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I'll try to get one scanned, it's a cool, old school car!

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Here's one I had....cool car!!

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

That's it! Cool pic, huh? Like the chrome shackles and roll pan?

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Nice picture Mike. Where did you get it? Thanks, Sam

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I downloaded it from another site https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif. Here is another one that has been posted before.

Mike

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I think that's just the way the light is hitting the rear pan. The "roll pan" is an integral part of the whole tail panel itself. I doubt a racer would go to the trouble of drilling out spot welds, cutting, chroming, and rewelding just to have a shiny lower tail panel. I know...I know...never say never, but I seriously doubt it, JMO. Cool pic though. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Thats a cool picture. Those are wide chromies on the rear. To bad we could'nt find the firewall on that car M. We'd have started a whole new spitin match. Schonye https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I would love to find the firewall and graff that to the kit car camaros you can buy. Hey Marlin, Schonye, We would have a brand new Hucklberry Hound car!!! Marlin, as long as we could keep it in Day 2. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif Sam

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Sam, we could use those e70 white stripes up front as long as we put the white stripe to the inside. Schonye https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Ya man...Lets Do it!!! We will have to get Frank and Dave involved also.https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

You guys are shootin me!
White stripe tires are cool lookin, on the outside!
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/Charley.gif

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Cool pics Mike https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Interesting reading guys, even if some of you can not agree if the whitewalls should go in or out. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Ya-Ya Marlin, We may let you hang out with us if you are good, and don't say much!!! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif Sam

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Looks like Atco, N.J. in the early 70's. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif Sam

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

I just found 2 more cool pics of the SS/EA 69 Camaro "Huckleberry Hound" at Englishtown, in a 1970 Raceway News. One has a feature article that is real interesting. I will try to get them scanned and emaied to someone for posting.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Want to sell any of your Raceway News? How about your doubles? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif Sam

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Sam.....I don't own the Englishtown Raceway News issues, but have access to them for reference and or copy privilages. My friend "Corvette Lou" has about 20-30 old issues dating from 1970-75. He also has the newer stlye news from late 1970's to 1990's.Lou has a black and silver 57 Vette and is a legend at Raceway Park. He was there the day they opened. All his Raceway News issues are sealed in an air tight vault. Real nice condition.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Thanks anyhow Kevin. Sam

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Sam or Marlin, I made some copies at Kinkos today. If you want me to mail to you. Send your home address to my email. You can scan and post them if you'd like.

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

As a follow-up to the picture I posted of the Huckleberry Hound car....credit for that picture really needs to be given to Mr. Dan Palchanes. I don't know Dan personally but I do know he and Marlin worked hard to uncover the whereabouts and fate of the Huckleberry Hound COPO. It's evident that Dan is passionate about musclecars and his efforts in finding information about these old cars should be admired and appreciated. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif Thanks Dan for giving us the opportunity to see the Huckleberry Hound in its prime.

Thanks again,
Mike https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

Those are some cool pics, so are the articles from the Raceway News! The color pic was taken in order to produce promotional handouts, not sure of the purpose of the pic that has the HH car running against the Chevelle. I also bought the big pic of the Plymouth factory lightweight HH car. When I see that vendor again this summer, I'm going to buy the other pic of the HH Camaro racing against a '68 Camaro. I wish more of the car had survived https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif

Re: HUCKLEBERRY HOUND
 

That's my Dad's car. Nice pic.