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i am the owner of 1966 corvette coupe vin194376s117575. protect-o-plate states origional owner c.f. Kottcamp delivered 4/8/1966. This gentleman was oil engineer at gulf oil. I have a paper written by him on high temperature turbine oil from gulf labs in an oil enginering journal. Subsequent owners were , Offelt, Lehman and Andy Lebun a paint engineer at Gulf. According to an interview with a Champ Anderson apparenly a mechanic at Gulf i think. This is a big block 390 hp air car w power brakes, Power steering Telescoping steering wheel, tinted glass all the way around, and am- fm radio. I have been told these gentlemen were part of gulf racing. My car was not raced but i have been told that it was present at sat morning parking lot events at gulf labs in monroville pa. Can anyone help me further authenticate car. photos would be especially helpful. this was a yellow coupe. Mr Kottcamp lived in somerset pa and died in atlanta and is buried in allegheny cemetery in pittsburgh. i do not know if he left any family that couldpossibly have pictures. i am currently restoring car.
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
Contact the STEELTOWN CORVETTE CLUB http://www.steeltownvette.com in Pittsburg. Don Yenk founded the club, and GRADY DAVIS of GULF OIL was more than likely also involved.
JOE CARELLA is a YENKO EXPERT. TOM CLARY has his website http:www.yenko.net/. PAUL YEAGER was an old racer from Phitsburg with Yenko guys in the 50's and 60's. Send me an email at jim@vettefinderjim.com and I will give you more, or call me. my website www.vettefinderjim.com explains who i am.Last edited by James G.; October 27, 2012, 06:16 PM.Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COM -
Re: 1966 corvette provenance
thanks jim i willComment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
In all the research I did regarding Gulf Oil racing (research from 1981 through 2002) none of those names surfaced as one that had any significance in Gulf racing. Not trying to be a wet blanket. Gulf racing was done out of Gulf facility in Harmerville.Comment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
Interesting story, also with a 66 from PA, any one from Clearfield, Kennett Square, or Selinsgrove areas?Comment
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Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COMComment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
thanks mike. could you tell me where you did your research. did you find any archives of gulf oil? i know for sure that the origional owner did work at harmarville and the last owner did also. They most likely were not part of the racing team but i am told some of them still get together monthly. the car was bought at don allen chevrolet. is there the possibility of finding employment records. would any records be at the corvette museum. Not worried about a wet blanket just want toget documentation the restoration journey is more valuable to me and i will not sell the car. i have been told there is someone at fort Pitt historical society. One little nuance is that all previous owners were pipe smokers and i have found flecks of pipe tobacco everywhere it actually put a film ovr everything and may have preservad things. soap and water takes the fim right off. It is unfortunate that pendot will no do historical documentation of ownership. thanks for your commentsComment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
John Connolly at Ft. Pitt has the most extensive collection/knowledge of Gulf racing. He's also, rightfully so, wary of people using him and his research/memory for their profit. (not implying that you are, but others have). Gray Davis' things were gone through by others after he died. All the guys I had contact with are gone--they were in their 40's 50 years ago. Nothing from Gulf archives.Comment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
Thank again mike. I sure wish i could find out if origional owner had family with any history. I will keep you posted. at ncrs christmas party this mr. Connelly was referenced. I tried to call but didn't get anywhere will try again. Where are gulf archives if you know. Have a good week
joe romano
my personal email drromano@zoominternet.netComment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
Joseph, See Mr Kottcamps' obituary below. Call the funeral home to see if they will give you a better obit and name of next of kin.I could not easily find a more detailed obit. Good luck Bill Gould
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA) - Sunday, January 7, 2001
Deceased Name: CHARLES FRANCIS KOTTCAMP
CHARLES FRANCIS KOTTCAMP, 87, of Athens died Friday. Graveside service, 2 p.m. Monday, Bridges Funeral Home.Comment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
Thanks for your reply. I will follow your lead
joeComment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
since we last talked now have a document that mr kottcamp also purchased a 1970 corvette and this document is titled "from gulf research and development company and it lists dyn, car, and rpm and also 4th gear and it is signed by rns,rmt and the date is 8/13/70 and has mr kottcamp's name on it. I definetly know mr kottcamp was a high temp oil turbine engineer at gulf because if you google scholar him you will find a paper by him in a peer reviewed oil journal. If they dyno'd a 1970 wouldn't they have dyno'd a 66 big block at a time when they were racing corvettes or just beginning to enter ford cars. I guess my next step is a private investigator because I am getting nowhere on mr kottcamps activities at gulf and whether there was any association with the racing team. wouldn't they want to have an oil engineer on board for racing when he was readily available?Comment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
Joe, Monroeville and Harmarville are very few miles apart. They are both suburbs of Pittsburgh Good luck, DanComment
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Re: 1966 corvette provenance
Thanks dan. Am going to try and get down to pittsburgh historical society. Will also try to get to archives at corvette museumComment
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