l Dues Mailer l Back to 1950 by Mike Whitel Christmas Party Coverage and More

OldsletterThe

Jan/Feb 2019

Newsletter of the Northern California ChapterOldsmobile Club of America

Inside This Issue;

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Car Show Chair Vacant Needed This could be you!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx CA xxxxxx

Newsletter Editor Larry EwingTechnical Librarian 3330 Henriette CtBoard Advisor San Jose, CA 95135408-528-9770 Rkt88LL@earthlink.net

President andClub Historian Bob Griffith209-329-1506 2434 Grenoble Ct

1955oldsmo@gmail.com Lodi, CA 95242

Vice-President Jeff Stanish hm: 408-370-9142 2030 Anthony Dr. cell: 408-529-6209 Campbell, CA 95008 homan1954@att.net

Treasurer/Membership Dan Haggerty408-268-7904 1157 Valley Quail Circlednehaggerty4957@ San Jose, CA 95120comcast.net

Secretary Beau Brown 916-333-1736 3806 Dell Road beaunjody@comcast.net Carmichael, CA, 95608

Pacific S.W. Zone Directors Dan Anderson1842 E. Campbell AveGilbert, AZ 85234(480) 467-7054 dander1968@msn.comJon Manji, 2257 Moorbrook Way Sacramento, CA 95826916-386-1642j.y.m@sbcglobal.net

209-833-3413mlkprod@mac.com1460 Velasquez LaneTracy, CA 95377

Nor Cal Olds Club Website: www.norcalolds.com

Don Sutherland-Linda Sutherland Webmaster - Health and Welfare

Officers and Representatives 2019

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President’s Message

Cover: Beau Brown’s ‘49 88 coupe being dropped off by Santa. Wouldn’t fit down the chimney!

Greetings Nor Cal Olds Club Members,I trust you are enjoying the Christmas season, and ready to usher in the new year.Our club will be starting the new year with our annual business and planning meeting on Saturday, January 5, 2019. If you can’t attend please call me or email me with any sugges-tions you may have.As you renew your Nor Cal Olds Club membership, please note the “new” two-year option.Best Wishes.Bob Griffith

Holiday Greetings NCOC members!We are looking for new events and places to go to for 2019, and members willing to be the Point of Contact for the event.It doesn’t have to be anything to involved, like a Cars and Coffee event in your area some morning, a Museum Tour, a Car Show, etc.Let me know if you have some place to go, or better yet come to the club planning meeting on Saturday 5 January.Thanks,Jeff Stanish, NCOC

This issue has coverage of the recent Christmas party starting on page 10.We also have a dues mailer inserted in this issue for your annual sign up. You can now do a discounted 2 year sign up if you prefer. Much of the information in the club roster is outdated. When you renew, can you please provide us your current phone number and email address to ensure we can contact you?

Member Mike White has a fun story on his “rare” ‘50 Olds. I say rare because production on his model was 10,772 for the deluxe 88. There was near equal production of the standard 88 and also available in 76 series, standard and deluxe. So all total coupe body production for 1950 was 35,071. Why I say rare? A 1955 Chevy 2 dr post had a total production of 602,065 includ-ing versions of 6 and 8. Wonder why there are usually about 15 of these Chevys for every 1 ‘50 Olds at a show? Well the answer is they made 17 times as many!

We have included a Draft version of our Zone Show flyer so you can post the dates on your calendar. The dates are correct and you can make host hotel reservations now but the Pontiac flyer is pending. See pages 13-15. Your Editor, Larry Ewing

Editor Message

Vice President’s Message

12-8-18Membership as of December 8, 2018 is 138 members with 52 associate members.NCOC membership dues are due by January 1, of each year; $25 for member only or $25 + $5 for member and spouse; 2 years membership $45 + $10 for 2 years spouse; send to Dan Haggerty membership chairman.Applications for NCOC and OCA are on our club website at (www.norcalolds.com).Membership Chairman, Dan HaggertyTreasurer ReportOur club bank account is solvent.Nor Cal Olds Club Treasurer, Dan Haggerty

Membership/Treasurer Report

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Out and About

CAM Events: http://www.calautomuseum.org/

Exhibits: Hitting the Road, Road trippin’ through the years, on nowShow your valid Nor-Cal Oldsmobile Club Membership Card and get free admis-sion once a year.Admission$10 Adults, $9 Vintage (65+), $9 Military & Students (with ID), $5 Youth (5-17) Kids 4 and under FREE Members are always free! Hours 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; last admis-sion at 4:00 pm

Every third Sunday we are hosting drives through Sacramento in vintage cars selected each month rides will be free with admissions (Donations Welcome!) and with various routes in the Downtown Sacramento Area.Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to cruise through old Sacramento in a Model A back in 1931? Well, we don’t have a time machine so we cant take you back to Sacramento when it was 1931, but we do have a 1931 Model A and we can drive you through modern-day Sacramento. Join us every third Sunday for classic drives by landmarks around Sacramento. *Weather contingent & Times are subject to change.

Husband and wife members Tony and Denise La Centra as seen at a recent GoodGuys show.

Above is Art Swenson’s ‘67 442 that won our Perpetual Trophy at our Lodi Show. Reason for the photo is I could not find one for our last Oldsletter with the hood down so he sent me this great shot! Thanks Art. LEE

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Other Events

Olds Club Events 2019Jan 5 Annual kick off meeting for 2019. CAM Museum conference room. 10 am to 3 pmJan 26-27 Turlock Swap Meet, Nor Cal booth, Bldg 2 space 12, Stanislaus Co. Fair GroundsMar 23 All Oldsmobile Show, Arizona Club, Scottsdale, AZ. see page 12 for flyerMay 3-4 PSW Zone Show, Clovis, CA w/Pontiac Club. See update on pages 13-14June 25-30 OCA Nationals, Wichita, Kansas. See JWO for info and registration form

Feb 15-17 Sacramento Autorama - www.rodshows.com, Cal Expo Fairgrounds - SacramentoMar 7-10 Silicon Valley New Car Auto Show, Mc Enery Convention Ctr, svautoshow.comMarch 30-31 Goodguys All American Get Together, Alameda Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA

CAM

Planning Meeting/Lunch at the CAM 10 am - 3 p.m. Saturday Jan. 5th 2019

California Auto Museum in the Education Center, 2200 Front Street, Sacramento, CA 95818 Phone: (916) 442-6802

Directions;Located near the High-way #5 and Highway #50 junction in Sacra-mento.

Follow the signs to Old SacramentoArea as Front St. runs through the center parallel to the river.

From south of Sac take Broadway turn off. Go left to Front St. then right to 2200.

Lunch provided with reservations. R.S.V.P. Dan Haggerty by email dnehaggerty4957@comcast.net. or ph 408-268-7904

All Members WelcomeAll Nor Cal Olds Club members can get free admission to the CAM, just identify yourself and show your 2018 Nor Cal Olds Club mem-bership card.

your 2019 Nor Cal

Please Note Date Change:

We have our Nor Cal booth in Bldg 2 space 12, at the Stanislaus Co. Fair Grounds. If any of you members want to help out (which I can use) and or sell some of your parts please contact Larry Ewing at 408-896-1950 days before the meet. I set up Friday afternoon and tear down about noon on Sunday. If you plan to sell have your items priced and if not sold please pick up before you leave the swap meet. President Bob Griffith will have a booth in the next building where he will be promoting OCA as well as our club.LEE

Turlock Swap Meet Jan 26-27

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Ask Your Zone DirectorBy Jon Manji

A few months ago, OCA started offering a new membership option. Electronic or E-Member-ship allows members with internet and e-mail access to receive their monthly Journey With Olds (JWO) in an electronic format instead of a mailed paper copy.

The E-Membership option is slightly cheaper that the regular membership with a paper copy of JWO. Pricing is $30 for one year, $55 for two years, compared to $40/$70 for Standard Mail membership, and $50/$90 for First Class Mail membership. Benefits of E-Membership include faster receipt of your JWO, and less paper to store around the house (leaving more room for NOS parts storage, etc.)

Note that if your membership includes receipt of paper copies of JWO, you may also access the electronic copies of JWO at no additional charge, through your member access and account on the OCA website. Back issues of JWO may also be accessed through the website with your active membership. Not all issues are available now, but more are being added as they can be scanned and added. The goal is to have all back issues of JWO available to members on the website.

Paper or electronic, you now have both options.

While reading my latest issue of Hemmings Classic Cars I came across this sketch that looked familiar. Turns out this was a sketch by designer Jack Carroll drawn in the mid sixties for AMC. This was a proposal for the 1967 Ambassador. The concept was never

adopted by AMC. Looks like Olds had the similar idea for the 1969 Cutlass. Makes me wonder if some of these sketches get passed around. LEE

At First Glance?

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Don Knopp passed away in July 2018. He was the car parts icon of Niles, CA running Don’s Antique Auto Parts. Many folks knew and bought parts from Don over the years includ-ing me. To go to his store was an experience in its self. Parts were stacked waist high from the entrance to the counter and a sideways move or two was necessary to reach the counter. Parts everywhere and behind the counter they were stacked to the ceiling. He also had multiple other locations of parts a short walk from his store arranged in the same seemingly chaotic manner. But amazingly he knew where everything was and what it was for and what it would fit. If you asked what you needed he would know if he had it and would quote you a price. If you thought it was too high and told him he would ask you to leave! So this was no swap meet, this was his business practice and he had no time for negotia-tions. This may have ruffled a few customers feathers but once you knew the rules you could shop there. One time I was in need of a shifter for my Cad/LaSalle transmission. He said he had one on a transmission and wanted $750 for the whole transmission. I told him again, all I need is the stick. He paused and scratched his head and said “well it’s going to cost you” . Reluctantly, I said “how much”? A hundred bucks, was his reply. I was happy with the price and bought it on the spot. I had it chromed and it has been shifting my ‘50 Olds coupe now for more that 20 years. I’m going to miss Don a lot but when I shift my Olds I’ll be thinking of him fondly. LEE

Something Borrowed Something BlueLast Summer our oldest granddaughter Rina came to us and asked if she could have our blue convertible (Blue Angel) in her upcoming wedding. We were honored and more than happy to do so. On the day of, I was summoned to the hotel where the bride and her bridesmaids were

ready to be taken to the wedding. I came with the Olds and drove them to the site a few mile away. During the wedding the car was decorated with JUST MARRIED banner across the rear and the traditional tin cans strung to the back. The wedding was beautiful and the car added the needed segment of the ceremony of “Some-thing Borrowed Something Blue”. LEE

Husband and Wife, Donny and Rina Scott

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Above is the dual intake with factory Rochester back draft carbuera-tors and Edmonds air cleaners. On right is the aftermarket tach along with the traditional Cad/LaSalle floor shift.

Pretend it’s 1950 and your uncle has a ‘50 Olds coupe. He wants to soup it up so it will go faster. So he pulls the engine, bores it, works the heads over, balances it, gets a 2x2 intake from Edmunds, Fenton headers, he figures he needs a tach to find those perfect shift points, LaSalle three speed, positraction rear end. Then for looks he drops the front end, wide whites with spinner caps. Smithy glass packs for that great sound.

You don’t have to pretend. That car is in my garage. The uncle is long gone and the car is now 68 years old. (a few pictures below) Thank you Pete and Pat Horvath for making this possible.Mike White, Paso Robles, CA

Above is the infamous Rocket Engine equipped with Fenton headers that flow to Smithy glass pack mufflers.

1950 Oldsmobile 88 Deluxe Club Coupe Total Production 10,772Wheelbase 119.5” Overall length 202 “Engine V-8 OHV 303.7 cu. in. B/S 3.75 x 3.44List price when new FOB Lansing, MI $1,977less shipping, options and State and Federal tax

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Larry Simone show here in front of his Tor-onado wearing the shirt he got at this years Homecoming event held in Lansing, Michigan

On November 4th, three Nor Cal cars came to the San Jose Classic Chevy Club annual food and toy drive. This was their 30th annual event and got its start in 1989 when the Loma Prieta earthquake shook and damaged many area homes and lives. The Chevy Club stepped up to help by collecting toys and food for them at their car show and has been doing so ever since. Our 3 members were Jeff Stanish with his ‘69 Hurst Olds, Larry Ewing with is ‘50 convertible and Larry Simone with his ‘71 Toronado. Of course, most cars were Chevrolets and Corvettes but the show is opened to all makes. The event typically draws more than a few hundred cars.They have a great pancake breakfast, a hot dog lunch available with an on-going raffle throughout the day. A very fun event and with a good chari-table cause. LEE

Classic Chevy Club Annual Food and Toy Drive

10Larry and Linda Ewing Cheryl and John Wallin

Janette and President Bob Griffith Dan and Elaine Haggerty

Pat and Dave Kennedy Karen and John Kennedy

Our Annual Christmas Party, December 2, 2018Once again we had our party at the Cattlemans’ Restaurant in Livermore. We had a smaller turnout than usual because of some members heath issues. It was good to see Dave Kennedy as he is recovering from a recent operation but felt good enough to make the event. All had a good time and as always the food was delicious. Dave Kennedy gave Larry Ewing a special gift of a self-winding ‘51 Oldsmobile clock for his contribution to the club for more than 20 years as newsletter editor. Our thanks to Steve and Sonia Spatola who volunteered to take the Toys for Tots gifts to the ap-propriate location.

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VP Jeff Stanish

Sonia and Steve Spatola Beau Brown(Responsible for the only Oldsmobile at the event)

Dave Kennedy presents a gift of a special Olds-mobile clock to Larry Ewing for his service to the club over the years.

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Download mail-in registration flyer at www.azoldsclub.com

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Update: 2019 Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac and GMC Car Show Holiday Greetings to all Northern and Southern California Oldsmobile Chapter Members!The Pontiacs of Central California club has been making great progress in planning for the 21st Annual Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac and GMC Car Show to be held on May 3-4, 2019 in Clovis, California. We certainly enjoyed hosting last year’s show, especially the added excitement of blending our show with the Oldsmobile Club’s spring event.As we did for the 2018 show, we have selected the Hampton Inn and Suites along with the Homewood Suites hotels in Clovis as our host hotels. We received very good feedback from those who stayed at these properties and are pleased to offer them for show entrants in 2019. The arrangements are similar to last year although the room rates have increased just $4.00. For 2019, rooms at the Hampton Inn and Suites will be $119 while rooms at the Homewood will be $129. Rooms at the Homewood have just undergone extensive updating so the guest experience should be better than ever. You must make your reservations by April 3, 2019 to take advan-tage of these reduced rates. If you have not attended the show in previous years, just know that the two hotels are on the same property.Reservations are now open so you can call either property and set up your stay for next May. Be sure to identify that you are with the Pontiac/Oldsmobile Car Show so they know to apply these reduced rates. Be aware that if their desk line is busy, the call may be transferred to the national call center. That center will not be aware of the local booking rates and will not honor them. So, when you call, be sure to ask if you are speaking to local staff at either of the hotels. We had a couple of issues with that last year. It isn’t a problem per se, just that we are receiving a locally negotiated rate. Contact information for the properties is as follows:Homewood: (559) 292-4004Hampton: (559) 348-0000The entry form for the show itself is not posted at this time. We hope to have it up by Decem-ber 15. Once the entry form is ready, it will be forwarded to each Oldsmobile club, sent to last year’s show attendees and be posted on our club website; pontiacsofcentralcalifornia.org.If you have questions after the entry form has been posted and distributed, please use the fol-lowing contacts:Show entry questions: Sam Fisher at fisher_s@unwiredbb.com or by phone at (559) 718-9350. All other questions: Andy Hoff at andiana766@gmail.com or by phone at (559) 298-4527.Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Pontiacs of Central California!POCC CoordinatorAndy Hoff

Note:The Pontiac registration is mandatory to be entered in the Oldsmo-bile Zone show as we share facilities. Their flyer will be posted on our website norcalolds.com as soon as it is available.

Oldsmobile PSW Zone Show 2019, Clovis, CA May 4

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•! Judged Car Show •! Pre-Registration Postmarked by April 20st, 2019 •! Day of Show Registration ends at 9 a.m. •! Each Entered Car MUST Display a Fully Charged Fire Extinguisher. •! Vehicles must remain uncovered and on the

show field from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. •! Judges� Meeting @ 9 a.m. Saturday

THE 34th ANNUAL PACIFIC SOUTHWEST ZONE SHOW Hosted by the Northern and Southern California Chapters

of the Oldsmobile Club of America in Conjunction with Pontiacs of Central California in

Clovis, CA on May 3rd - 4th, 2019 (RAIN OR SHINE)

We are Joining the Pontiacs of Central California (POCC) with their BOPC+GMC Show held at Sierra Bicentianal Park in Clovis, CA. Registration to Both POCC and Olds Club is required. http://www.norcalolds.com/ www.pontiacsofcentralcalifornia.org/ Friday: BBQ at Homewood Suites, 6:00 p.m. with special parking for registered POCC cars. Saturday: Show at Sierra Bicentianal Park, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Buffet Dinner 6:30 p.m., Awards Presentation, 7:30

2018, Best of Show 3 Omega David Walters

The Pontiac Show registration is mandatory and is available on line http://www.pontiacsofcentralcalifornia.org/ Registration is $40 which includes the Friday night BBQ for 2, an event tee shirt, one car for the Saturday show at the park with awards and raffle prizes. Please bring raffle items to POCC as early as possible for set up. A show field BBQ lunch will be served for a nominal fee. Other fee options detailed on the Pontiac flyer. Our Olds Club registration will include car awards Saturday night with an available Italian banquet dinner.

Room rates are $129 for One Bedroom King Suite at the Hamptonand $119 for the King Suite at the HamptonBe sure to register by April 3rd to receive these great ratesHomewood Suites, 559-292-4004, Hampton Inn at 559-348-0000*Mention “Pontiac/Oldsmobile Car Show” for May 3rd and 4th 2019

DRAFT

*Be sure to identify that you are with the Pontiac/Oldsmobile Car Show so they know to apply these reduced rates. Be aware that if their desk line is busy, the call may be transferred to the national call center. That center will not be aware of the local booking rates and will not honor them. So, when you call, be sure to ask if you are speaking to local staff at either of the hotels.

Please note:This is a draft flyer that will be refined when the POCCflyer is available by the first of the year. What has been refined are the hotel reservations. See page 13 for details.

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Please note:This is a draft flyer that will be refined when the Pontiacs of Cen-tral California (POCC) flyer is available by the first of the year. Look for a link on our website www.norcalolds.com. A final Nor Cal flyer will also be available at that time. This show is a joint show in conjunction with Pontiacs of Central California and regis-tration for both is mandatory.

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Recently my wife Linda and I were in Memphis, Tennessee and visited the Sun Recording Studio. This place was started by Sam Phillips back in 1951 but was in existence for a few years before, then called Memphis Recording Studio. Sam is know for giving Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash a start by record-ing them on his Sun Label. Lesser known is his recording of Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston before it was named Sun. Brenston was under contract with Chess records of Chicago and came to Phillips from Alabama in 1951 to record his Rocket 88 song and it was sent on to Chess. It became an instant hit and prompted Phillips to start his company Sun Records, really out of the same studio. The song Rocket 88 is said to be by many music historians the truly first Rock & Roll song. Traveling with Brenston was a piano player named Ike Turner who later became a prompter/performer and best known for his teaming with female singer Tina as they formed the Ike and Tina Turner Review. Brenston died young of alcoholism while Turner survived and lived on in the music world. For some reason recent history sometimes has Ike Turner credited for recording Rocket 88 and having the first Rock & Roll song. Although he was in the group proof from Sun records and others it is Jackie Brenston who gets credit with his name clearly on the label of the first pressing. As you will see in the following photos Brenston’s the man! Fast forward to 2018 with modern technology I can play that song in any of my cars through the radio, especially fun while driving my own Rocket 88, Thanks Jackie! LEE

Rocket 88 Music History

A booklet showing the Olds Rocket theme with a figure sitting on a flying rocket above. Left show a display of items related to Brenston including a blown out amp that accidently created a special sound Rocket 88 had going on. Below a placard for Brenston.

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Top left is the original record stamping by Brenston. Mid page is a book article about the history. Above was a Olds trunk Rocket mounted on the office wall along with a framed 1950 Oldsmobile ad promi-nently displayed on the main office reception desk. Brenston and Olds are truly connected at Sun Studios! LEE

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1968 Hurst/Olds Professionally rebuilt Quadrajet 4 barrel carburetor with the cor-rect number for a 1968 Hurst/Olds with A/C (7028251). $400 Contact: Bob Clingman #2533 at clingmanscorner@prodigy.net CA

1965 442 parts- 2 hoods, 2 grilles,1 deck lid, dash, core support and misc parts. Call Kathy 805-794-6447

New Nor Cal white tee shirts with front and back full color Golden Gate logos. Will be for sale at our events. $10 for XL, L, M, S only. Jeff Stanish 408-529-6209

Olds block & LH exhaust manifold. If you want it, come & get it, it’s free. I am not sure what year it is, but suspect 1956. Ron Raff 650-583-0103, Millbrae, CA

Misc. For Sale

Parts For Sale1952 Super 88 2 dr sedan, Restored mostly original. Has steering wheel clock looks like new and works. Call Dave @ 951 850-5770 for more info. Asking $35k (Riverside CA)

1950 88 Holiday Pro built resto w/crate 350/350/w 3 carbs, 9”Currie, FatMan clip, Discs, Air, Pwr Steering, $50k negotiable, Award Winner, Mark 209-223-4551

1949 98 Club Sedan Futuramic, Rare Model. Midnight blue, leather interior 303 Rocket V8 Hydra-Matic 12 volt Completely rewired P/S B/B discs front. Lots of updates Calif car $33,800 Steve 925-989-5752

1949 Rocket 88 Convertible, Firethorne RED! Red / White interior, Stay Fast Top. Power Steering and Power brakes. Twin spot lights. Many spare and support items. Con-tact Alan Marsden 209-923-4396 $55k OBO

1961 Dynamic 88 2-door hardtop. Help find for Mike. See next page

Cars For Sale

Parts For Free

Cars Wanted1970-1972 442, W30, W31 or SX Conv. or hardtop – OCA member looking for true collector car. The more original and docu- mented the better. Prefer numbers match ing. Any condition – from restorable car to showroom condition. John Bumb, St. Louis, Mo. (314) 713-3444 or email me at johnbumb@charter.net

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The Oldsletter is published six times per year by the Northern California Chapter of the Oldsmobile Club of America, and is provided as a benefit to members of the chapter. Its sole purpose is to inform and entertain members regarding all aspects of the Oldsmobile, including history, technical advice and restoration. The Oldsletter is a reflection of its readership and all are urged to submit any article, technical tip, personal history, comment, etc. that other Oldsmobile enthusiasts might enjoy. Just submit all material to the Newsletter Editor. Nor Cal Olds Club dues are $25.00 per year for member only and you can add a spouse for $5.00 per year. Also a 2 year membership is offered for $45. Nor Cal collects Northern California Chapter dues on an annual basis due January of each year. Send to the Treasurer/Membership listed on page 2. See our website www.norcalolds.com for NCOC & OCA membership applications.

Commercial Ad Rates; Vendor-4 lines $5 per issue-$25 yr. Business card size $10 issue, $50 yr. 1/2 page- $25 issue, $125 yr. Full page- $50 issue, $250 yr.Send money to our treasurer and the ad to our editor

Classified ads are free to members. Deadline is the 8th of the Months 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. Ads will be run for three consecutive issues unless cancellation requested

Oldsletter

Your Business Card Here (See left for information)

LYNN WELFRINGER

1103 Paso Robles St.Paso Robles, CA 93446www.mondellotwister.com

(805) 237-8808Fax: (805) 237-8814

(Home of Dr. Olds and His Engine Prescriptions)

Dear Larry,

Would you kindly include the following ad in the Oldsletter for me:

“Information Wanted: I used to own a two-tone 1961 Dynamic 88 2-doorhardtop. The last two digits of the VIN are 91. I sold it in the Bay Area in the 1980s. I would like to find out if this car still exists and what happened to it after I sold it.

Mike Van Auken, PO Box 2653, Mission Viejo,CA, 92691.”

Best Regards,Mike Van AukenNor. Cal. Member No. 1035.

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