James Garner's L88s

[Gregory M.]

If you have not seen this yet you are in for a treat...

http://www.airl88.com/

Enjoy.

GM

[Bill I.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

Greg, Awesome photos, thank you. Bill.

[David D.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

WOW....that's some great history and photo's. You guys always amaze me.

Thanks

[Peter M.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

Wow ! Pretty neat. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[Martin N.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

GREG-
GREAT photo's! Love the dealership showroom shot. 2 Camaros and 3 Vettes and 2 of those were race cars. Now those where the days. When was the last time you saw that in a Chevy store?

Marty

[Paul H.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

Thanks for the great photos. Loved that shot of the dealer showroom back in the day.

[James G.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

These were the days that created GULDSTRAND ENGINEERING. The shop in these photos were on Jefferson Blvd. in Culver City, California. Dick Guldstrand had his shop there from 1968 thru 2000.

The area was nicknamed "Thunder Alley" as TRACO was next door. They built great race engines. Iskenderian Camshaft was under the 405 freeway. Headman Headers was around the corner with Edelbrock.

Everyone 'tested' on Jefferson.

[Gary C.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

Jim, did you ever get to discuss in 1968 with Jim Garner about his wanting to buy a race track in Oklahoma? Gary....

[James G.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

Jim, did you ever get to discuss in 1968 with Jim Garner about his wanting to buy a race track in Oklahoma? Gary....

Are you thinking about Anatoly "Toly" Arutunoff's track at Hazzard, near Tulsa?

[Gary C.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

Jim, as best can recall it was straight east of Oklahoma City within an hour's drive and not operational in 1968. Can't remember whose it was or a name of a close by town. Know it was War Bonnet as they had a sanctioned race in '68. Just recall visiting the track and doing some research for someone associated with Jim Garner. Regards, Gary....

[John N.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

Are you thinking about Anatoly "Toly" Arutunoff's track at Hazzard, near Tulsa?

Jim
Toly's track at Hallett was built in 1975,out of the Garner time frame. Garner (I believe)was from Okla.
Regards

[John N.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

Gary
War Bonnet was at Mannford. War Bonnet and Hallet are both 40 miles West, Northwest of Tulsa.
Regards

[Gary C.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

John, Hallet came about after my time. War Bonnet had a TransAm race in '68 if I remember correctly. Yes, James Garner's from Oklahoma. Regards, Gary....

[Gregory M.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

These were the days that created GULDSTRAND ENGINEERING. The shop in these photos were on Jefferson Blvd. in Culver City, California. Dick Guldstrand had his shop there from 1968 thru 2000.

The area was nicknamed "Thunder Alley" as TRACO was next door. They built great race engines. Iskenderian Camshaft was under the 405 freeway. Headman Headers was around the corner with Edelbrock.

Everyone 'tested' on Jefferson.

Wow...a time and place into which legands were born! You sound like you were/are there?

I always heard that Garner had 3 L88s but had no details. The photos blew me away, and I agree with the other posts that the Clippinger dealership photos are awesome!

I also did not make the Bob Wingate connection until I used one of the links to Wingates Goodwood Green 1967 Big Block. I had read about that car years ago in an article in the Restorer.

Don't forget to use those links as there are great photos in the other albums as well. The Jacobson Album has a black and white of one the L88s on a ramp back at speed, which is my new wallpaper, and a shot of the activity in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn that is beyond description...check them out if you have not already...Enjoy.

GM

[James G.]

Re: James Garner's L88s

Wow...a time and place into which legands were born! You sound like you were/are there?

I always heard that Garner had 3 L88s but had no details. The photos blew me away, and I agree with the other posts that the Clippinger dealership photos are awesome!

I also did not make the Bob Wingate connection until I used one of the links to Wingates Goodwood Green 1967 Big Block. I had read about that car years ago in an article in the Restorer.


GM

All three Garner cars have been found and are either restored or under restoration. Guldstrand has driven his and Ed Leslie car that was owned by Jim Herrlinger at Monterey Historics in 2002 and one other year. Dave Herrlinger, Jim's brother, owned the other racer and was restoring it.

I have heard that the restored racer was for sale last summer, then it disapeared. So I don't know if it sold.
The last car, which was never really raced but was a backup car, is under restoration in Southern California.

Bob Wingate was the person that got these cars ordered and delivered for Jim Garner. He was one of the top sales people in the country for Corvette and high performance Chevrolets and personanally knew Joe Pike and others at the factory and in Michigan.

He worked for Clippinger Chevrolet at the time, but these cars came thru Security Chevrolet if I remember right. I have to ask Bob how that happened.