Researching vehicle history

[Dave Lisiecki]

I almost decided not to post this, but I thought someone might find the link below interesting. First, a thanks to those who put me in contact with the gentleman who acquired the black '60 Richard Brothers Briarean. We've been able to share info, similarities, differences, etc. between his and the one Rick Graves and John Royark (among others) helped me acquire some years ago.

Long-story short: Through the Walter P. Chrysler archives services, I was able to determine mine was sold through Gamboni Motors of Nebraska City. The dealership is long gone, but I have learned to not give up doing internet searches. Since the last time I searched, I suddenly found two documents that show recent photos of the vacant building. So don't give up on internet searches. You never know when something will appear.

When I found out my Briarean was sold in Nebraska City, the local library there was able to help put me in touch with local funeral homes. I thought I had found the original owner, until over the phone he said it was sent (actually driven by the owner) to Memphis Coach, not Richard Brothers. So I think that mystery is still unsolved. But I found it very interesting that today this link turned up, a lawsuit about taxes charged for the very car that man was telling me about. I wonder what became of that '60 Memphian.

It was a question I did want to ask on this message board - how the wagon conversions from authorized factory dealerships were sent to the coachbuilder, and how/where the buyer received them.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

now that is a interesting. the state of neb charging Memphis the contractors excise tax. because the car was owned by a funeral home in Neb. even though the work was preformed in Ten. money grubbing politicians.

but yes from what I understand this was the normal way the smaller companies did there conversions. you furnished them the car they altered the car for you. it was never there car. they had a set fee to do things and you stoped when they spend enough of your money.

 

[Paul Steinberg]

I know that Chevrolet delivered the cars directly to ACC for conversions, and that some options that were not "compatible" with other options on the same car, were available as dual options if the car was being shipped to a conversion company. An example is the gasoline heater and the hot air heater of the Chevrolet Greenbriar's. You could get one or the other, but if it was sent for conversion, you could get both. They even had the option to switch the left side doors with the right side doors, if you wanted the rear side door to open first. Chevrolet was very accommodating to conversion companies at that time.

 

[John Royark JR]

I almost decided not to post this, but I thought someone might find the link below interesting. First, a thanks to those who put me in contact with the gentleman who acquired the black '60 Richard Brothers Briarean. We've been able to share info, similarities, differences, etc. between his and the one Rick Graves and John Royark (among others) helped me acquire some years ago.

Long-story short: Through the Walter P. Chrysler archives services, I was able to determine mine was sold through Gamboni Motors of Nebraska City. The dealership is long gone, but I have learned to not give up doing internet searches. Since the last time I searched, I suddenly found two documents that show recent photos of the vacant building. So don't give up on internet searches. You never know when something will appear.

When I found out my Briarean was sold in Nebraska City, the local library there was able to help put me in touch with local funeral homes. I thought I had found the original owner, until over the phone he said it was sent (actually driven by the owner) to Memphis Coach, not Richard Brothers. So I think that mystery is still unsolved. But I found it very interesting that today this link turned up, a lawsuit about taxes charged for the very car that man was telling me about. I wonder what became of that '60 Memphian.

It was a question I did want to ask on this message board - how the wagon conversions from authorized factory dealerships were sent to the coachbuilder, and how/where the buyer received them.

Not to change the subject, but I was looking at the pics I took of yours a few days ago and was wondering how its comming along?

 

[Dave Lisiecki]

The Richard brothers literature usually said something like "Available through any Richard Brothers authorized Chrysler dealer." So I wondered how an authorized dealership in Nebraska City worked with a coachbuilder out of Troy/Eaton Rapids Michigan. Of course Memphis wasn't a short drive, either.

(Still in the parts collecting phase. Have repro floor pans, many smaller reproduction parts, rubber items, etc. that I ordered while the guy doing them is still selling them, Began dis-assembly of engine and restoring smaller components - Just don't want to jump into anything big yet that I can't finish in a timely manner. The kids are old enough to be able to help me now, though. I'm pretty sure the '61 Kurt has for sale is turning out to be in a better starting point than mine is.)