History Cars From Milwaukee Wisconsin, SE WI, and Northern Illinois....

Before this thread gets way off track . here is the OP's original post in 2015 to start this thread about Wisc/north Illinois cars that were around in the 50's and 60's, this is a "history" thread. Thanks is advance for keeping this thread "historical". I don't know how to change the heading to more "historically specific", maybe Centurion 9 or one of the mods can change it,
Curt R
I know this is a limited audience and subject matter, but I'd love to see some cars and comments, memories and whatever from anyone who remembers any cars from Wisconsin and Northern Illinois from the '50's and '60's.....We had a bunch of them, but little is the evidence of their History. This is a labor of love for me, but hopefully, there are enough HAMBERS from the upper MidWest who share my passion and sense of nostalgia.....Rods, Customs, faint memories, it doesn't really matter. I know there are those guys out there who have some great memories......Share what you have. Thanks! Centurion9

With a fresh start, let's see if there are new images or comments since this thread started in 2015, so here goes.
Cruisin Angels Car club model A pickup mid 60's.
Curt R

 

Like the Merc tow car too! (And the ubiquitous Rambler in the background of so many dairy state photos)



Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Hot rod built by Jim Rodell of West Bend driven a lot. Then sold to Joe Vrana who also drove it quite a bit. Joe sold it and it disappeared a long time ago. Gary

 

Lots of goodness in here.

 

Those are some cool photos! The ‘64 Mercury Marauder tow car is precious. I also noticed the big block Ford (tri power?) in the pick up, the owner must have had “Blue” blood in his veins.
Jim

 

That's actually Tom Nickerson. And the only pics of his old 57

 

Small world, helped move Tom to Butler from North Lake some 30 years ago. Lots of heavy lifting, it's a wonder my back is now junk.

 

Dave's got a photo of this car in his shop in Lannon. Assuming this car was part of the Oil Burners car club .

 

Howard Kaye's 1939 chevy. 409 powered 425 hp four speed. Ran mid 12s. Lived in Racine Wi. At the time was 20 years old. Later he worked at R and B chassis in kenosha building some of the most famous fuel altereds; funny cars and dragsters. Race pics are from the grove.

 

I did not know Howard in the 60’s, he was from “the other side of town” I grew up on the North Side where we had quite a few of our own heavy hitters. The ‘39 Chev coupe W/ a by’9 is similar to a North side car owned by “Spud” Stricklet, could it be the same car??? If we ever get back to normal Saturday lunch sessions I have to remember to ask Howard about the possibility.

 

View attachment 4634271

Dave's T Oil Burners club picnic 1966

 

Tony Ziegert T, injected sbc street driven a lot 1965

 

Ron Sickengers 57 Chevy being pulled to the track with his wife's new 1964 Chevelle tow car.
Ron was part of Manitowoc group that called themselves the Speed Specialists, you can see the name written with
shoe polish.

 

More of the Manitowoc Speed Specialists cars.

 

ebay 006 by 0NE BAD 51 MERC posted Jan 31, 2011 at 10:44 PM

This 50 Chevy was originally from the Milwaukee area and was suppose to have been built in early 60's. The only picture I ever saw of it in a finished form . It was medium blue metallic with a black vinyl top, Black diamond tuff interior and chrome superior slotted wheels. I got it over 25 years ago. At the time I built my cars to resell. With a 4 door parts car I turned it into more of a Larry Ernst / Barris style custom and sold it. Also I remember seeing one of the Ray Besasie white coupes in Milwaukee when I was a kid in the early 60's. I almost think it was the one in the snow, but the main thing I remember was the center steering set up. He pulled up beside my folks car at a stoplight and I thought it was so cool. Looked like something from the Jetson's All so does anyone remember a guy by the name of Doug Baehal? His dad owhed Wally Baehal's supper club out by Pewaukee. He was my dads brother inlaw . In 1969 or so he had a dark green 55 Chevy with a tilt front end ,327,4 speed. It was the first hot rod I ever rode in . He and my aunt Audrey live in New Berlin out by the driven theater then. I turn 16 in 71 and as soon as I could I cruised hwy 100 as well as south 27th. I finally got to have a malt at Leon's after riding past it a zillion times when I was a kid because we live in that area then. We moved to Burlington in 66. Larry

 

wasn't there a rumor that his T got painted up as a Star Wars type paint job, late 70's?

 

Not much to add, but I do have a better copy of the Racine Boys coupe picture. Not sure where I copied it from.

 

Wow. I will show it to Howard. My pic was off his original.

 

I remember at about age 14 in 1955 that the Oil Burners hung around N.27 and Wright in a garage in the alley and were doing a 1950 Olds convertible. They radius the rear wheel openings, Added 2 more clock mounts to the dash for the gauge's and were working on a Carson top chicken wire and all.The Olds was running Olds Flippers quit impressive to me.

 

Anyone remember Rick Haefer (spelling) 1964/68 Milwaukee, lived with his parents when I knew him on street south side street of McGovern Park. He had a T or A sedan with a Hemi ?, Candy Green, kustom interior, beautiful car. Milwscruffy and I had a conversation about him and car years back, this thread made me think about him, pretty talented guy, already doing kitchen cabinet work/ remodels at 18, he fit the "image" ( posterboy ) the young hoodlum, quit school, had the hair, body builder, kool guy and a nice guy from my experience. Anyone ?

 

Pretty sure it was a 1932 Coupe from the two rides I had in it, it was small inside. Was gold before it was green also.

 

Ron's new Chevy home from the dealership in 1962 a 2 x 4 409 4 speed that later became the M & M speed shop car after he sold it . I remember seeing it run at W.I.R. in the late 60s with the Gold M & M lettering, is still in the Manitowoc area restored to original condition.
Ron said the 57 was faster with a 327 built by a machine shop in Milwaukee along with deep gears and a close ratio 4 speed.

 

Ron thinks he took this pic somewhere in Illinois 1964, anyone recognize the car or the track?
Front of the hood says Ugly (something) ?

 

here is a copy of their original bumper plaque from Milwaukee. Sometime late 50's, early 60's the Oil Burners relocated to Brookfield, Wi. Curt R

 

I have heard the same rumor but haven't found any one to make the rumor true. We have the pic of Dave's car and I haven't been able to locate a pic of the Star Wars type painted car. I remember seeing the Star Wars painted car at the Milwaukee World of Wheels show, late 70's/early 80's?, and I'm almost positive it was a T. The whereabouts of either car is unknown, anybody know??
Curt R

 

I was the guy that had those made. Found an original When I had a pumpkin made for my 32 by a guy that was a former member. He loaned his original to me and I had 25 made, none left. I guess they later on moved the club to Brookfield. Thanks for your help.

 

Spud owned the car prior to Howard. Spud put the 409 in the car from a 64 impala. It was gray when Howard bought it. Howard primed it brown and put in the yellow plexiglas windows. The car was seen for sale on south memorial drive after Howard had sold it. He has lost track of it since then.

 

Somehow I knew it was the same car. Before the ‘by 9, Spud had an Old’s in the coupe he frequented the ENCO gas station that I worked at, one night I heard him coming down Douglas Ave., he pulled into the station but stopped at the end of the driveway. I then heard the engine rev, he dropped the clutch and lit up the tires across the drive past the pumps. It was cool except the idiot ripped out all the black air tubes for the driveway bell!! Not long after that his father came in the driveway “hot” and under the influence of toxic liquid and took out the oil rack next to the pumps! I had the local fuzz haul him away for that stunt.
Good times!
Jim

 

Here is another car from local Racine hero Howard Kaye. His bad ass vette. Built with a blown big block and a clutch turbo. It ran mechanical fuel injection at first later switching to carbs for better fuel mileage. Magnesium daisy wheels and zoomies completed the race car look. This car was wild and way ahead of its time. It was pro street decades before the craze. This car was a regular driver on the streets of Racine. It was also a regular on the show circuit. Appearing at shows like the car craft nationals the Milwaukee custom auto show and many others. The car was no trailer queen driving to most of the shows it attended. For those that saw it they wont ever forget it. Luckily it was captured on film for two magazine covers for all to see. Almost fifty years later guys still bring up the car in conversations.