John Falb Co
PO Box 151
West Union, Iowa 52175
Dealer Code 225 Zone 18
Delivered my 1973 LS4 Coupe Dark Blue Metallic/Black Leather to Eric Jon Karban of West Union, IA.
VIN 1Z37Z3S420604
I have all original paperwork and have spoken to the original owner. He ordered the car from the dealership's owner, John Falb, on 2/2/73. Falb was unsure when he'd be able to have a Corvette built, since his dealership had not sold one in years (West Union had a population of approximately 2500). The car was built 4/3/73, and delivered to Eric on his 23rd birthday, 5/5/73.
Eric had problems with his license (young guy in a small town with a big block Corvette) and only put 1700 miles on it by the time he sold it in 1984. He sold it to another young guy in West Union, who worked at his father's chrome shop. The young guy's wife, who worked at a Playboy Club in Omaha, ran off with another guy, and he bought Eric's car to try to get his mind off it.
In 1986, Eric was walking a car show in Omaha and saw his old car now in the hands of another individual. This guy had taken off some aftermarket chrome the kid from West Union had added, returning the car to stock. This was the last Eric knew of the car until I called him in 2008.
The car eventually ended up in New Jersey. Conte's Corvettes in Vineland, NJ bought and sold the car a number of times. It appears Joe Conte first acquired it from Suzanne Quintolino, then sold it to Randall R. Hoffer of Collegeville, PA. He bought the car back and then sold it to James F. & Billie Jo Levengood of Sicklerville NY in 2004. It was back again with Conte's when I bought it 3/17/08.
I've spoken on a number of occasions to Eric Jon Karban, the original owner. He doesn't remember the name of the kid from the chrome shop in West Union that was the 2nd owner, or the guy showing it in Omaha that was the 3rd owner. Haven't been able to track down Suzanne Quintolino either. Joe Conte's file had a handwritten note "Iowa -> Suzanne Quintolino sister-in-law -> 1984 to present (2001)".
I've spoken to Randall Hoffer and James Levengood, and they know no more than I do.
Looking for any information on the original dealership and anyone who remembers this car in that small town of West Union. Looking for any leads on the 2nd and 3rd owners.
Pictures Eric sent me of when the car was new:
PO Box 151
West Union, Iowa 52175
Dealer Code 225 Zone 18
Delivered my 1973 LS4 Coupe Dark Blue Metallic/Black Leather to Eric Jon Karban of West Union, IA.
VIN 1Z37Z3S420604
I have all original paperwork and have spoken to the original owner. He ordered the car from the dealership's owner, John Falb, on 2/2/73. Falb was unsure when he'd be able to have a Corvette built, since his dealership had not sold one in years (West Union had a population of approximately 2500). The car was built 4/3/73, and delivered to Eric on his 23rd birthday, 5/5/73.
Eric had problems with his license (young guy in a small town with a big block Corvette) and only put 1700 miles on it by the time he sold it in 1984. He sold it to another young guy in West Union, who worked at his father's chrome shop. The young guy's wife, who worked at a Playboy Club in Omaha, ran off with another guy, and he bought Eric's car to try to get his mind off it.
In 1986, Eric was walking a car show in Omaha and saw his old car now in the hands of another individual. This guy had taken off some aftermarket chrome the kid from West Union had added, returning the car to stock. This was the last Eric knew of the car until I called him in 2008.
The car eventually ended up in New Jersey. Conte's Corvettes in Vineland, NJ bought and sold the car a number of times. It appears Joe Conte first acquired it from Suzanne Quintolino, then sold it to Randall R. Hoffer of Collegeville, PA. He bought the car back and then sold it to James F. & Billie Jo Levengood of Sicklerville NY in 2004. It was back again with Conte's when I bought it 3/17/08.
I've spoken on a number of occasions to Eric Jon Karban, the original owner. He doesn't remember the name of the kid from the chrome shop in West Union that was the 2nd owner, or the guy showing it in Omaha that was the 3rd owner. Haven't been able to track down Suzanne Quintolino either. Joe Conte's file had a handwritten note "Iowa -> Suzanne Quintolino sister-in-law -> 1984 to present (2001)".
I've spoken to Randall Hoffer and James Levengood, and they know no more than I do.
Looking for any information on the original dealership and anyone who remembers this car in that small town of West Union. Looking for any leads on the 2nd and 3rd owners.
Pictures Eric sent me of when the car was new:
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