Help Wanted - Cobra/Shelby History project

computerworks · #1 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 08:25 AM

Looking for a few good men...

I am working on a hobby project that involves some research on the early days of Shelby American. I have quickly realized that unless I get a few other die-hard enthusiasts to help, that this could take a real long time.

If you have a sincere interest in the early history of the Cobra and the glory days at Shelby American...
...and you have access to a good collection of Cobra-related books and magazines...or like to hunt down things online...

Contact me at ron.computerworks@gmail.com and I will tell you about the project and how you may be able to contribute some help.

computerworks · #2 (**permalink**) 05-06-2006, 11:55 AM

TTT.

...a few nibbles but no bites yet.

Still looking for some help on this Shelby history project...

...any buffs with some free time?

Drop me an e-mail for more info.

CSX 4027 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2006, 09:31 PM

Gee... Pick Me Monty.
I can help

STG · #4 (**permalink**) 07-13-2006, 11:40 PM

Ron,

Call Lynn Park and see if he still has contact information for Dennis Ercek. I knew Dennis years ago when he owned and operated a body shop in Redondo Beach, California. Dennis worked for Shelby as a painter at the L.A.X. facility and painted virtually of the 427s.

Dennis also kept a notebook on each car, listing paint colors, instrumentation, customer ordered modifications, etc. Rick Kopec has been trying to get his hands on this notebook for decades with no luck. Dennis doesn't get along with him.

I used to get a laugh watching owners of original 427s come into Dennis' shop requesting a paint job. Dennis asked what color the wanted. The customer always said, "Original." Dennis would disappear to consult his note book and tell the customer that he'd paint the car the color the customer wanted, but it wasn't original.

The customer would always cite SAAC or the registry, and invariably I would pull the customer aside and inform him that Dennis painted his car originally and kept note of each job. Then, magically the customer would go with Dennis' version of original.

Anyway, I've heard that all that painting finally caught up with Dennis and he had to get out of the painting business and his current physical condition isn't good. A couple of years ago, Lynn told me that he had met with Dennis and traded some great Shelby stories. I think Dennis even let him take a peak at his old notebook.

kercek · #5 (**permalink**) 09-04-2006, 10:29 PM

Hello Hot Rodders,

I'm very sorry to report this, and wish it could have been relayed in a more personal manner, but I have seen my father's name, Dennis Ercek, posted in this forum a few times now. It's true that he has been in very bad health the last few years and has passed away June 21, 2006. He was a true hot rodder at heart, and made wonderful contributions to the automotive industry. For those of you who knew him, you can sign his obituary guestbook here:obituary guestbook . It will never be removed from that listing, and all of Dennis' family and friends are updated with each posting. I'm sorry we did not have enough contact numbers to inform everyone, but we did the best we could. Any memories or respects are gratefully appreciated.

Hot Rodders Forever,
Karen Ercek

Power Surge · #6 (**permalink**) 09-05-2006, 07:28 AM

Sorry to hear about your dad Karen. Thanks for the heads up.

theturd · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 04:54 PM

I am totally ready to help on this project!

Best Regards
Vern

ALF · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2007, 01:31 AM

Hello

I'm not sure if I'm the right person to help, but I've a lot of books and I could contact a friend of mine, Phil Henny.
He worked for Shelby in 67. And I'm sure he has a lot great contacts: like Bob Bondurant (Phil's new book: "Bob Bondurant - America's Uncrowned World Driving Champion")

Regards
ALF

Racer26 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-13-2011, 08:25 AM

If this project is still ongoing, I'd be very interested in assisting. I recently transitioned from club/semi-pro racing to vintage racing and have been researching Shelby related racing for the past six months or so. So I'm building a pretty nice library of books on the Shelby racing (and the marque in general) in the 60s. I've also got access to some pretty cool old Shelby race cars from contacts I've made recently. I'm sure others know a lot more than I do currently, but I can make up for my short period of study with a high level of enthusiasm and good research skills.

Best,

Doc in SoCal