43 Years ago today

[William L.]

St Louis Mo 43years ago today.

[Stewart A.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

I don't live in the states, I confess I have never seen that monument in the back ground ? great photo !! Hey and what's with those hats. Looks like a european photo. What age is the city

[Harmon C.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

The hats are what the Shriners wear as part of their unifom. They have as their project to suport burn units and rehab for children. The Corvettes are a part of their motto. ( We ride so children can walk.)

The arch in the back ground looks like the StLouis arch under construction.

[Terry M.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

It is indeed the St. Louis Gateway Arch. St. Louis is known as the gateway to the west from its position as the entrance to the western expansion in the USA of the 1800s. That arch is a part of the National Park Service, and there is an interesting display about the prominence of St. Louis in the settling of the United States, a video about the construction of the arch -- quite a feat of construction in its day -- and one can ride an "elevator" to an observation room at the top of the arch. That is quite a view, if you don't have claustrophobia. I would bet there is more than a few things on-line bout the arch.
This photo was as it was nearing completion.

[Edward B.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

A wonderful photograph - inclusion of the almost joined arch serves to fix the date in a manner seldom accomplished while documenting arrival of the new Corvettes. Sometimes photographs are produced that truly stand the test of time. This is one of them.

[Joel F.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

Do Shriners sill have Corvettes? When I was a kid in the 70's, they drove go-karts in parades, etc. I brought my own kids to a 4th of July parade this year and saw the Shriners for the first time in years and they had Harley Davidson motorcycles.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

It probably depends on the wealth of a particular chapter. I've seen some on Bicycles, others on Harley's, but never any parading in Corvettes. That's a first for me.

Stu Fox

[Harmon C.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

Shriners have units which they join as part of the larger group. In Toledo the have the Jeepsters which are late 40's cars, motorcycles,a band and go carts to name a few.

[Mike M.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

the shriners here in Cumberland,md parade in old Jeeps. they also have a group that ride the parades in go-carts. mike

[Mike D.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

great picture! I rode up to the top of the arch when I was at Nationals in July and have a great picture of it as it is today. I know the shriners bought new cars every year from 1962 through 1967. I believe the 62s were painted purple mist.

[Joseph T.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

St Louis Mo 43years ago today.

A classic photo that reveals history of the Corvette and the St.Louis Arch!

This photo resurfaced years ago when Bill Lacy and I interviewed John Evans at his home. John was the one and only Chief Inspector at the Corvette Plant in St.Louis from 1953 to about 1970 or so when he retired. One of the original copies of this photo that hung on the wall in Johns house is in my collection. John was the guy that transferred the Flint Corvette production to St.Louis in late 1953.

John Evans was responsible for all the plant pick up cars including the Shriner cars. One year about 1959 or so..the cars started having some issues once the shriners arrived back in Omaha. The manager of the plant sent John to Omaha to stay there until all the cars were fixed.

John Evans was a Harvard engineer and he was responsible for many improvements at the the St.Louis and other plants.

I have his original idea submission for tranporting corvettes and corvairs by rail which was put into place and saved thousands in transportation costs, other ideas submitted by John involved improved tools to be used on the production line as well as special coverings on transported cars to keep them from being damaged by leaking fluids from the car stacked above.

John passed away a year or so after Bill and I visited with him. We have that video tape interview somewhere.

I had a white 54 at the time and John enjoyed sitting in it to have his picture taken. One of the few corvettes he had was a 54. Bill we should put together an article for the restorer on John Evans.

I have John's hardhat from the plant painted 1954 Sportsman red with Chief printed on the front.

Joe Trybulec
#930

[William L.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

This is another picture of the Tangier Shrine delivery 1965. It was taken on the St Louis riverfront with the River Queen Boat in the background. The bridge is "Veteran's Memorial Bridge" now the "MLK Bridge". These pictures are from my ED Teskey File. Mr Teskey is the 3rd man from the right. Mr. Teskey was one of the Plant Managers. Just 43 years ago., seems like yesterday!

[Chuck L.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

Wow, does this bring back memories. During the summer of '65 a GM buddy and I drove to St. Louis from Kansas City to get our first tour of the Corvette Plant. We both worked at the Fairfax Assembly Plant (B-O-P) at the time. He had a blue '65 roadster and I had an "old" red '63 roadster so we flew down the road side by side with both tops down. This was on old State Route 40 as I-70 did not exist yet. We spent most of the day at the plant. After the tour, we went down to the bank of the Mississippi to see the arch under construction. Had to be a little bit earlier than this picture, but it was well along by then. Thanks, Bill for the opportunity to relive those moments. BTW, the Shriners in KC always drove Harleys, too. A Restorer article would be great!

[William L.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

Wow, does this bring back memories. During the summer of '65 a GM buddy and I drove to St. Louis from Kansas City to get our first tour of the Corvette Plant. We both worked at the Fairfax Assembly Plant (B-O-P) at the time. He had a blue '65 roadster and I had an "old" red '63 roadster so we flew down the road side by side with both tops down. We spent most of the day at the plant. After the tour, we went down to the bank of the Mississippi to see the arch under construction. Had to be a little bit earlier than this picture, but it was well along by then. Thanks, Bill for the opportunity to relive those moments. BTW, the Shriners in KC always drove Harleys, too. A Restorer article would be great!

Thanks Chuck. We are in the beginning stage's of putting an article together.
I have to get all my ducks in a role. I don't want to step on anyones toes!
Bill

[Terry M.]

Re: 43 Years ago today

great picture! I rode up to the top of the arch when I was at Nationals in July and have a great picture of it as it is today. I know the shriners bought new cars every year from 1962 through 1967. I believe the 62s were painted purple mist.

They also bought C3s - although I don't know if the new Corvette every year continued, but it might have. I know of a 1970 Shriner Corvette that was/may still be in Minnesota.