Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

[John P.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

Hello Everyone,
I just found that my "64" coupe was ordered from Dawson Taylor Chevrolet through the NCRS archives.
Does anyone know what the dealer logo that would have been affixed to the rear of the car when it was purchased looked like?
I would like to find one to reinstall on the car.
Thanks,
John
46928

[George J.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

John,
I have not come across a decal as of yet. If I do, I will be sure and post it.
Regarding your car, what are some of the details? I am specifically interested in the engine and whether it was a high performance version.

Thanks,

George
31887

[George J.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

Tony DeLorenzo sent me this today:

"Dawson-Taylor was on the corner of Livernois and Grand River and did indeed have a separate Corvette showroom/building a block east of Liv. that Swindell headed.

As you recall he had a bad accident with a CanAm car at Elkhart Lake that around 67 or 8 left him badly disfigured from a fire. Sometime shortly thereafter his wife Mary divorced him.

Years later we heard he was found dead in Florida in a boat burned to the waterline with his hands and feet cut off. Everyone concluded it was a drug deal gone very bad."

Jim,
tell Tony "thanks" for me. I think his info. is the most detailed to date, as horrible as it is.

George

[John P.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

John,
I have not come across a decal as of yet. If I do, I will be sure and post it.
Regarding your car, what are some of the details? I am specifically interested in the engine and whether it was a high performance version.

Thanks,

George
31887

Hello George,
My car is a 300 hp car, 4 speed. It was ordered with tinted glass, power brakes, and the J65 metallic brake shoes (Odd). The original brake shoes were still in when I started the restoration. The car has around 54000 miles on it.

Thanks,
John
46928

[George J.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

John,
Thank you!

George

[George J.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

All,
I have recently visited the building that housed the Corvette specific showroom of Dawson Taylor. It is still being used as an auto repair shop. I spoke to the owner's son, who has been working at that location for almost 40 years.
The building appears to have been sold by Dawson to a trucking company who occupied it for a few years. It was then used by John Conyers for his first campaign headquarters. Then the current owner bought it and has been running his shop for the last 35 years, or so.
The owner's son gave me a complete tour of the building. It was a very complete shop with a crane rail that was shaped in a "U" around the whole shop area. The floors were radiant heat (even back then), and there was a separate room for tanks housing oil, lube, etc. It seemed like what would have been a first class facility in the day.
The business area was housed on the second floor at the front of the building and still retains the original stair railing and offices. It was quite a time capsule. The owners knew that there were Corvettes there before they purchased it, but the only thing left to show this was an Ontario Chapter Corvette Club sticker on a heating unit, on the second floor.
I am going to return to give the owner copies of the pictures I have, and hope to take some pictures, then.

George

[James R.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

Thanks George for the update.

Jim

[John P.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

All,
I have recently visited the building that housed the Corvette specific showroom of Dawson Taylor. It is still being used as an auto repair shop. I spoke to the owner's son, who has been working at that location for almost 40 years.
The building appears to have been sold by Dawson to a trucking company who occupied it for a few years. It was then used by John Conyers for his first campaign headquarters. Then the current owner bought it and has been running his shop for the last 35 years, or so.
The owner's son gave me a complete tour of the building. It was a very complete shop with a crane rail that was shaped in a "U" around the whole shop area. The floors were radiant heat (even back then), and there was a separate room for tanks housing oil, lube, etc. It seemed like what would have been a first class facility in the day.
The business area was housed on the second floor at the front of the building and still retains the original stair railing and offices. It was quite a time capsule. The owners knew that there were Corvettes there before they purchased it, but the only thing left to show this was an Ontario Chapter Corvette Club sticker on a heating unit, on the second floor.
I am going to return to give the owner copies of the pictures I have, and hope to take some pictures, then.

George

Hi George,
The pictures that you have, are they from when the dealership was in buisness?
If they are would you be able to e-mail them to me?
Thanks,
John

[George J.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

John,
Yes, I have a few from when they were in business, from ads. I'll send them to you. I hope to get some as tyhe building exists, as well.

George

[Dino L.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

70
194670S401123 (LT1 Convertible) (Original owner George Jerome Siener Den, CO) (Sold new at George Irvin Chevrolet Denver, CO)


George...did you own this lt1?

Dino

[George J.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

70
194670S401123 (LT1 Convertible) (Original owner George Jerome Siener Den, CO) (Sold new at George Irvin Chevrolet Denver, CO)


George...did you own this lt1?

Dino

Dino,
I would have been one cool 3 yr. old, if I had. Unfortunately, no, it wasn't me and the name, though coincidental, is not any connected to me, that I know. Good luck.

George

[George J.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

All,
just had lunch, yesterday with Van N., who bought a '65 coupe from Tom Swindell and Dawson Taylor, new, and still has the car. We had a great conversation and he is going to look for his paperwork so that, maybe, we can post some logos, etc., from the dealership. We may even try and have some license plate frames made up.

George
31887

[John P.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

All,
just had lunch, yesterday with Van N., who bought a '65 coupe from Tom Swindell and Dawson Taylor, new, and still has the car. We had a great conversation and he is going to look for his paperwork so that, maybe, we can post some logos, etc., from the dealership. We may even try and have some license plate frames made up.

George
31887

George,
Thats is great news! I can't wait to see the logo, and what a great idea for the license plate frames.
John
46928

[James R.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

George,
Thats is great news! I can't wait to see the logo, and what a great idea for the license plate frames.
John
46928

I have the key ring from Dawson Taylor that came with my car. Nothing fancy but I will see about posting a picture of it over the weekend.

Jim

[George J.]

Re: Dawson Taylor Chevrolet

Jim,
please do!

George