The Jalopy Journal

Stovebolt · 05-05-2007, 07:34 AM

Who out there in HAMB-land has info/pics on this guy, his Speed Shops, and the 3 port head he made for the Chev 4, The Wedge OHV he did for the flathead, and the dress-up stuff he did for the Stovebolt 6?

He seems to have slipped thru the cracks, and is certainly deserved of some ink.

Thanks in advance.

**Jimmy B** · 05-05-2007, 06:32 PM

This is a Subject that I have a great deal of interest in due to Lee modifying (or casting?) Olds/Chev 3 ports but I have not been able to find much info, Sept '53 HRM has a 4 page article on the Tornado streamliner & the Dec '49 Mechanix Illustrated ran a article as well (though I don't have a copy).

If anyone has any info please post as I too would appreciate learning more about this forgotten Hot Rod icon, who in my opinion is up there with the likes of Vic Edelbrock, Wally Parks etc.

I think The Tornado Streamliner is the best streamliner ever built, does anyone know what happened to it?

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Stovebolt · 05-05-2007, 06:51 PM

Looks like it only us Aussies who are into this stuff!!!

banzaitoyota · 05-05-2007, 07:20 PM

interesting.

**Jimmy B** · 05-05-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stovebolt

Looks like it only us Aussies who are into this stuff!!!

Haha, sounds about right!

I started this a while back http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=92308

**50Fraud** · 05-05-2007, 08:57 PM

There is still a "Famous Lee's Auto Parts" in Alameda, which is next door to Oakland. I have wondered if it is the descendant of the old speed shop.

Stovebolt · 05-05-2007, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy B

I started this a while back http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=92308

Neat little exerpt from the catalog that Vaphead provided.

BTW Jimmy, I've emailed you.

AS I said - he deserves a bit more ink!

pasadenahotrod · 05-06-2007, 02:08 AM

We had a Tornado OHV setup at Specialized Auto Parts in Houston during the 60s-70s. Don't recall who bought it.

**Jimmy B** · 09-12-2007, 01:05 AM

About time this post got a bump.

I did this a while back

& was able to buy a copy of the catalogue

I need to scan the other half when I get more time.

Stovebolt · 09-12-2007, 01:13 AM

Thnx Jamie, that was great. I can't wait to get my tornado side plate for the stovebolt 6.

**Ryan** · 09-12-2007, 01:49 AM

I've always wondered who owns that brand now... There must be a 20 "Lee's Speed Shops" through out the country, but I've never been able to find out who owns the original.

**Jimmy B** · 09-12-2007, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stovebolt

Thnx Jamie, that was great. I can't wait to get my tornado side plate for the stovebolt 6.

No worries Mark. wait to I post the Stovebolt section!

I need to scan it first though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

I've always wondered who owns that brand now... There must be a 20 "Lee's Speed Shops" through out the country, but I've never been able to find out who owns the original.

Hey Ryan, maybe the name doesn't have ownership? Lee Chapel's was located in Oakland so possibly the shop 50Fraud mentioned is it's ancestor. Also there is a seller on ebay that sells shirts with the Tornado logo & Lee's Speed Shop logos, so maybe free domain.

I was outbid on a pith helmet with Lee’s Speed Shop / Tornado Speed equip sign writing that was from B'ville 1953

**Ryan** · 09-12-2007, 03:35 PM

btt... great post...

hlfuzzball · 09-13-2007, 07:23 PM

I seem to remember reading somewhere long in the past that the V8 Tornado Head pkg. was designed and developed by someone other than Lee Chappel. (That he bought the rights, or somehow took over the production and distribution.)

I may be wrong, but I find it hard to believe that Chappel could have carried out this project by himself. No doubt, like all major engineering projects ,there were one or more "Unknown Brains" that actually did the grunt work in the shaddows, and one guy got all the credit.

**Jimmy B** · 10-24-2007, 05:27 AM

.....& the wait is over, today I had the chance to scan the rest of the catalogue, so here it is.

**Jimmy B** · 10-24-2007, 05:28 AM

Stovebolt · 10-24-2007, 06:47 AM

Ah Jimmy - you've done it again.

The Tornado side cover that is currently available as a limited production number suits a 235, and is different to the one for the 216/early 235. I wonder if another one was developed???

Thanks mate.

**Jimmy B** · 10-30-2007, 06:17 PM

No worries Mark!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stovebolt

Ah Jimmy - you've done it again.

The Tornado side cover that is currently available as a limited production number suits a 235, and is different to the one for the 216/early 235. I wonder if another one was developed???

The market for a 216/early 235 side plate probably isn't there these days so wasn't worth the development/casting cost.

Anyone else have any photos or info to add? or has anyone seen a set of Tornado heads on a flathead lately, got any pics?

Cheers
Jimmy

**cuznbrucie** · 10-30-2007, 07:02 PM

Thank you for the spectacular scans of this historic catalog!! Much appreciated......

Brucie

Wasahawaiianrat · 12-18-2007, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stovebolt

Ah Jimmy - you've done it again.

The Tornado side cover that is currently available as a limited production number suits a 235, and is different to the one for the 216/early 235. I wonder if another one was developed???

Thanks mate.

available from who?

and bump

05-05-2007, 07:34 AM	#1
Stovebolt Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 2,075	Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? Who out there in HAMB-land has info/pics on this guy, his Speed Shops, and the 3 port head he made for the Chev 4, The Wedge OHV he did for the flathead, and the dress-up stuff he did for the Stovebolt 6? He seems to have slipped thru the cracks, and is certainly deserved of some ink. Thanks in advance. __________________ Doing all I can to keep 'em inline Last edited by Stovebolt; 05-05-2007 at 08:11 AM.

05-05-2007, 06:32 PM	#2
Jimmy B Alliance Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tweed Valley, NSW, Australia Posts: 2,367	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? This is a Subject that I have a great deal of interest in due to Lee modifying (or casting?) Olds/Chev 3 ports but I have not been able to find much info, Sept '53 HRM has a 4 page article on the Tornado streamliner & the Dec '49 Mechanix Illustrated ran a article as well (though I don't have a copy). If anyone has any info please post as I too would appreciate learning more about this forgotten Hot Rod icon, who in my opinion is up there with the likes of Vic Edelbrock, Wally Parks etc. I think The Tornado Streamliner is the best streamliner ever built, does anyone know what happened to it? __________________ jimmybarter.com blog 1925 Chev roadster build

05-05-2007, 06:51 PM	#3
Stovebolt Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 2,075	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? Looks like it only us Aussies who are into this stuff!!!

05-05-2007, 07:20 PM	#4
banzaitoyota Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Williston SC Posts: 510	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? interesting.

05-05-2007, 08:57 PM	#6
50Fraud Alliance Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Pedro, CA Posts: 4,338	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? There is still a "Famous Lee's Auto Parts" in Alameda, which is next door to Oakland. I have wondered if it is the descendant of the old speed shop.

05-06-2007, 02:08 AM	#8
pasadenahotrod Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,424	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? We had a Tornado OHV setup at Specialized Auto Parts in Houston during the 60s-70s. Don't recall who bought it.

09-12-2007, 01:05 AM	#9
Jimmy B Alliance Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tweed Valley, NSW, Australia Posts: 2,367	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? About time this post got a bump. I did this a while back & was able to buy a copy of the catalogue I need to scan the other half when I get more time. __________________ jimmybarter.com blog 1925 Chev roadster build

09-12-2007, 01:13 AM	#10
Stovebolt Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 2,075	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? Thnx Jamie, that was great. I can't wait to get my tornado side plate for the stovebolt 6. __________________ Doing all I can to keep 'em inline

09-12-2007, 01:49 AM	#11
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 11,019	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? I've always wondered who owns that brand now... There must be a 20 "Lee's Speed Shops" through out the country, but I've never been able to find out who owns the original. __________________ Ryan Cochran (Notes from the road) "Skating the same line since 1976..." .................................................. .... www.jalopyjournal.com - www.jockeyjournal.com - www.garagejournal.com - www.gearjournal.com

09-12-2007, 03:35 PM	#13
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 11,019	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? btt... great post... __________________ Ryan Cochran (Notes from the road) "Skating the same line since 1976..." .................................................. .... www.jalopyjournal.com - www.jockeyjournal.com - www.garagejournal.com - www.gearjournal.com

09-13-2007, 07:23 PM	#14
hlfuzzball Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Plymouth,Mi. Posts: 123	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? I seem to remember reading somewhere long in the past that the V8 Tornado Head pkg. was designed and developed by someone other than Lee Chappel. (That he bought the rights, or somehow took over the production and distribution.) I may be wrong, but I find it hard to believe that Chappel could have carried out this project by himself. No doubt, like all major engineering projects ,there were one or more "Unknown Brains" that actually did the grunt work in the shaddows, and one guy got all the credit.

10-24-2007, 05:27 AM	#15
Jimmy B Alliance Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tweed Valley, NSW, Australia Posts: 2,367	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? .....& the wait is over, today I had the chance to scan the rest of the catalogue, so here it is. __________________ jimmybarter.com blog 1925 Chev roadster build

10-24-2007, 05:28 AM	#16
Jimmy B Alliance Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tweed Valley, NSW, Australia Posts: 2,367	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? __________________ jimmybarter.com blog 1925 Chev roadster build

10-24-2007, 06:47 AM	#17
Stovebolt Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 2,075	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? Ah Jimmy - you've done it again. The Tornado side cover that is currently available as a limited production number suits a 235, and is different to the one for the 216/early 235. I wonder if another one was developed??? Thanks mate. __________________ Doing all I can to keep 'em inline

10-30-2007, 07:02 PM	#19
cuznbrucie Alliance Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Jersey Shore Posts: 1,776	Re: Lee Chapel / Tornado Speed Equipment ... definitive post?? Thank you for the spectacular scans of this historic catalog!! Much appreciated...... Brucie __________________ Check out The WHEELERS! http://home.comcast.net/~cuznbrucie/WHEELERS.htm I have to grow old, .....but I don't have to grow up!

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