Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

[Rob M.]

Does any one know if Jack Applebee Chevrolet in Crete, Nebraska is still in existence or there is a succesor Chevy dealer? My Daytona Blue/Saddle 1963 coupe was delivered here and probably sold and I would love to find that first owner!!!

regards,
Rob.

[Tom H.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

SID DILLON CHEVROLET BUICK

• 2455 E HWY 33
• CRETE, NE 68333-2636
• Phone: (402) 826-5167

[Rob M.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

SID DILLON CHEVROLET BUICK

• 2455 E HWY 33
• CRETE, NE 68333-2636
• Phone: (402) 826-5167

THANK YOU!!! I'll give them a call later today or Monday!!!

[Tom H.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

THANK YOU!!! I'll give them a call later today or Monday!!!

Best of luck !!!!!

[Rob M.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

I've contacted the referenced current Chevy dealer in Crete but they had no knowledge about the car or Jack Applebee (or didn't want to invest the time and effort to look and thing back) so I decided to send an article with some pictures to the local Crete newspaper (see below). Hopefully it will be published...

Latest update1: the article is now published online at: http://cretenews.net/index.php?optio...news&Itemid=22

Latest update2: included the scans of the actual newspaper article
___________________________

1963 vintage Corvette originating from Crete
About two years ago I bought via e-Bay a vintage 1963 Corvette coupe. This one year only model has the famous split window which makes this car very desirable and the originals colors being Daytona Blue exterior on Saddle trim made the car even more exclusive so I decided go for it and buy the car.



Now you need to know, I'm living in the Netherlands in a little village called Limmen app. 30 miles north of Amsterdam so the car got shipped by boat, unloaded and picked up from the Rotterdam harbour.


Since then the car has been completely dismantled, the frame sandblasted, welded where needed, and freshly painted and build up exactly as how the car has left the factory. Also the body got totally stripped, sanded, cleaned and is currently bare, nearly ready for painting.


Only recently the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS), an international club of Vette enthusiasts, offers a new service to determine the build date of a Corvette what the original dealer was the car was originally shipped to by GM. For my car this turned out to be Jack Applebee Chevrolet in Crete, NE. Wow, how would have expected this car to be delivered in such a rural community!


Now I'm curious if anyone in the Crete area still remembers this car, and maybe even remember it first and later owners? Please don't hesitate to contact me via email address rob.musquetier@itcap.nl, Skype via rmusquetier or phone 00 31 6 16480329 (be aware of the time difference being New York time + 6h)!


I'm looking forward for any stories related to this car back "in the good all days" and I will sure keep you posted via this newspaper about any progress on my quest of determining the origins of this car!!!


For those interested about the progress of the restoration of this car please visit my weblog at http://www.c2registry.org/index.php?...d=10&order=asc


Rob Musquetier
Limmen, The Netherlands

[Glenn B.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

Rob, will be very interested to hear if you have any success with your search, and if so what techniques were ultimately successful for you. My situation is quite similar to yours in that I am numerous time zones away, and in another country.

My car was also delivered to a small town in Nebraska about 100 miles from yours (Oakland NE). I would tend to think that these types of cars were fairly uncommon in towns this size. So am still hopeful I can find something, particularily as I am sure my car remained in the general area until the early 90's.

I have tried searching old newspaper archives (thought I might have found a reference to the delaership or maybe some advertising), and have searched online corporate records (to maybe find when they went out of business, or even the dealership address). Nothing. I did locate a relative of the former owner and sent an email, but had no response - I think calling is probably a better approach.

I have also located the town newspaper and was planning to call the editor. I may try to source an old phonebook to at least find the dealer address.

FYI - I tried obtaining information from the the Nebraska DMV back in 2008 (using exemption item 5, Research). They wrote back and they indicated they are prohibited from disclosing prior owner information.

Will let you know if I have any success in my case - and if so - what worked for me. Good luck.

[Rob M.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

I've been able to get in contact with the Crete news editor and they promised to publish the article (with photo's???) in the Crete newspaper this Wednesday. They also promised to do some local research on the Jack Applebee as a dealer back in the good old days...

[Tom H.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

That's how ya do it !!! Nice job, Rob. Keep us posted.

[Rob M.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

Got some nice response today from the article which was apparently publish during the last couple of days:

Hello Rob. Tom here from Crete.

I'll let this be a test e-mail and keep it short. I read your story in the Crete News. I was a Senior in H.S. When your car was sold new here. I knew Jack Applebee and the salesman that likely sold it. A fellow by the name of Don Busboom. Don't know who he sold it to, though. My father's business was only 100 meters (yards) west of the Dealership. I hung out there a lot, so I'm sure I not only saw it, but touched it and sat in it as well. Applebee's "mechanic" was Leonard Warner. I'm sure he did the pre-delivery and repairs if it stayed local for a time .

I loved Chevys. I have restored two '62 Corvettes and a 63 Roadster. The 63 is a 327/340, 4 speed. Has both tops. Still have all the books and the GM assembly manuals I used. All 3 cars were "matching number"

Write back if you want. Can share pictures of mine, as well as Crete circa 1963!

Tom

[Tom H.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

Pretty cool !!!!

[Rob M.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

Another nice response on my request for information I received this morning:

Jack Applebee Chevrolet was owned by Jack, who has many fond memories of the "Chevrolet Store" in Crete. Jack and Patti live in Granby Colorado, and Jack still has a collection of desktop size model cars of all sorts. He is a true "car man." Jack is 82, and does not use a computer, but Patti does and she will be pleased to help with messaging back and forth (I am typing this for him, I have the house next door to them). Jack has a million stories as you can imagine, many involving entertaining events at Crete and his auto business. After reading the Crete News article about you today, I asked Jack if he remembered the Corvette. (I used to have a 63 S/W Coupe that I bought from Mac Chevrolet in about 1973 or 74, and I loved that car) Jack says in the early 1960's Chevrolet would only sell smaller dealers 2 corvettes a year, so your car would likely be one he will remember if you can tell us who you purchased it from. Crete is a small town, back then probably only aboug 1500 people, and not many local Corvette buyers. Very likely, he will be able to relate details of the deal. I am sure Jack would enjoy hearing from you.

To reply to Jack and Patti, just click "reply" and you will see the email address for them.

Best regards,

Jack and Patti Applebee

[Erik S.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

nice online story Rob - shame I didn't got the engine painting picture credits

[Rob M.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

Today I received a 1964 ad of Applebee Chevrolet; notice the phone number 76. I guess not many phone's in Crete, NE back in 1964 ;-)

[Jack H.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

Who would want to admit they'd had their engine painted by an attorney???

[Erik S.]

Re: Zone 29, Code 17 - Jack Applebee Chevrolet, Crete NE

Who would want to admit they'd had their engine painted by an attorney???

Engine painting PICTURE jack - but who would want to admit they'd had their picture taken by an attorney huh