Lew Williams Chevrolet

[Mike M.]

I have recently bought a '65 Coupe. The NCRS sent me confirmation that the car was sold by Harry Mann Chevrolet in Los Angeles in 1965. The car came with a license plate tag holder that says "Lew Williams Chevrolet--Hollywood (at the bottom)". Anyone ever heard of that name?
Thanks.

[Tom H.]

Re: Lew Williams Chevrolet

I show a Lew Williams Chevrolet in Fresno. For sure in the late 60's. California records shows the business may have started in 1955 in Sacramento. There is also a Lew Williams Chevrolet that existed in Oregon.
From the internet:

The former dealership is located at 2020 Franklin Boulevard, on the south side, between Orchard and Walnut Streets. The auto showroom/display pavilion was designed in 1959 by the architectural firm of Balzhiser, Seder & Rhodes. Construction began on January 2, 1960 by Gale M. Roberts Construction. The grand opening of Lew Williams Chevrolet was held August 12th through August 14th, 1960. Joseph Romania is general manager. Wendell Kaufman is sales manager. Oregon's Secretary of State Howell Appling along with City of Eugene and Chevrolet officials are in attendance. Joe Romania became full owner in 1969 renaming the dealership Joe Romania Chevrolet. The property was sold to the University of Oregon in 2005. The Showroom is built in the Space-Age, Googie style of architecture.

Check these links out.

http://eugenemodern.org/romania/history.html

And this. Turns out, old Lew's place is somewhat of an icon !!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationa...er/6035197915/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationa...er/6035197297/

Found this on the Corvette Forum:

Lew Williams Chevrolet in Sacramento was on Fulton Street, across from Tognotti's High Performance if I recall correctly. You might contact the Sacramento Bee newspaper to see if they can give you more information. Or contact the current dealer at that location, Mike Daugherty Chevrolet, 2449 Fulton Ave, Sacramento - (916) 482-1600

[Mike M.]

Re: Lew Williams Chevrolet

Tom: Thanks for the response. I will check out those links. I am enclosing a couple of photos of the tag holder for the '65 Coupe (S#194375S122610). These clearly show the word "Hollywood" on them. So, perhaps Lew Williams had some sort of presence in Hollywood? For sure the original delivery dealer on the '65 was Harry Mann Chevrolet, per the NCRS Shipping Data Report. Thanks for your help.
Mike

[John C.]

Re: Lew Williams Chevrolet

Mike

Maybe this guy can give you more info.

http://www.genesmithparts.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=page/page_cd=info/info.htm

John

[Mike M.]

Re: Lew Williams Chevrolet

Mike

Maybe this guy can give you more info.

http://www.genesmithparts.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=page/page_cd=info/info.htm

John

John: Thanks much. I will contact. I am glad to see that there was a Lew Williams Chevrolet in Hollywood.
Mike Martin
Madison, Ms

[Michael H.]

Re: Lew Williams Chevrolet

Your car may have been shipped to Harry Mann but traded and sold new at Lew Williams. I believe the NCRS data is the shipped to dealer and not necessarily the selling dealer.

[Mike M.]

Re: Lew Williams Chevrolet

I think you are correct about the car being shipped to Harry Mann and then sold by Lew Williams. The car is a two owner car. The second owner was a fellow named Tom Sparks that was well known in S. Cal for being a hot rodder, car collector and supplier of autos to the movie industry. He had a repair shop across the street from MGM/RKO Pictures. He had worked on the '65 Corvette that I ended up owning, buying it from a teacher in Burbank Ca in 1988. He put only about 8000 miles on it in the next 23 years. The car has a total of 81000 on it now. Thanks for the help. Mike