Yes, that is Mr. Joseph. I actually have quite a few invoices. The car did run out of H-M it looks like in 1970. There are invoicesfor hauling it to different tracks, parts, etc. Also for labor for Roger Baldwin and JP Berthellette?I'll post some of them eventually! We actually still have some David Pearson postcards left over I'll put up too.
Thanks for the info. Mr. Joseph's son, Mel Jr., looked but he hasn't had any luck. I think he had leads but nothing panned out. Mel is my uncle as Mr. Joseph was my grandfather.
I haven't quite figured it all out yet!
I'm sorry I haven't gotten anything scanned in yet, I'm a little electronically challenged! I have found some other interesting H-M photos, such as the 1972?#41 Pepsi Torino driven by Bobby Unser at Riverside. I believe it was the last Cup car built by H-M. My grandfather bought it in the late 70's and then sold to the gentleman that restored it in South Carolina?
I'm glad I found you guys! it's great to be able toshare this stuff with folks!
That would probably a whole other discussion!! Melvin and John met in the late 40's when John had a Ford dealership in Lewes, Delaware. They became instant friends and business associates. Melvin, through his construction companies did many project for Rollins' different companies, from trucking terminals in Baton Rouge for Matlack to work at landfills in Baton Rouge, Houston and Denver for Rollins environmental!
The story Melvin always loved to tell is when the pair went to Ford's Chester truck plant to look at a new Ford truck for the construction company in the late40's. The tale was long but the clinchwas, when they sat down to meet Ford's truck sales manager to discuss the "deal". John led him to believe Melvin was buying a "fleet" of trucks when in actuality it was only going to be one! They did form a friendship with the guy though, his name was Lee Iacocca!
I think Melvin lured John into the deal at Dover, as an investor. He invested more cash than Melvin while Melvin was in charge of construction, thus John had a larger interest in the company. He has since also passsed and some of his children are on the board, as well as his brother Randall.
I tried to keep it short!!
My Mother just showed me a picture of the 49 car apparently at H-M under construction, dated August 1970. It's setting on jack stands and already lettered with the Joseph-Rollins names on the 1/4 panel. With 4 wheel drum brakes?! I will post as soon as I can get scanned.
Great pics. How were you able to access the "Thompson" pic?
They actually raced lil Ralph's "baby grand" at the Georgetown dirt track in the "mini stock" division while they were here. They actually converted it back and ran the "baby grand" race at Dover the same year!
I was thinking about your question about the spoiler. Something told me it used to have one on it. I went out to the shop to look and there are pop rivet holes where apparently there was one at some time!
I would be glad to get a photo. I believe there were more than one of the cars that were tested. The one we have is a stock street version of a 79 Capri. No front spoiler. I haven't spoken to Mitzi in a while but my Mother stays in regular contact. Actually, they all got together, Jr., Ann and Mitzi joined my Mother and others at a table for Bobby's induction in the Hall of Fame this past spring.
For a time while they were working on the Capri, Ralph, Mitzi and Ann actually lived at Melvin's house.
