Can't tell you that, but I can tell you the '37 delivery he built wound up in Minnesota for awhile. The pic is from the '75 (or so!) World of Wheels in St. Paul. I think Tom Vollbrecht Sr. owned it then. If I remember right, the car was later owned by upholsterer Dan Drumm who moved to Cali and took the car back there with him.
This coupe attributed to him showed up at an event last year. http://www.newage-motorsports.com/elgie.htm
Glad he's still around and active in the hobby. He has certainly been responsible for building some great cars over the years. All through the "billet" times Orv Elgie kept the resto rod vibe alive and well.
Orv and Ray brought these to West Coast Nats in Pleasanton this year. Orv's coupe and Ray's pickup were both sold, they build them in the winter, sell them in the summer. The pickup is for sale at Canepa Design, and I understand a collector who bought Orv's tudor last year bought his coupe this year. I remember Orv from Lakenoor Auto Salvage in Norwalk (long time ago).
I know you kinda have to look at it in a business-like mindset, but if I owned either of those '40's, it would break my heart to sell it and see it leaving my garage. Two absolutely beautiful vehicles.....Don.
Orv Elgie.... Lakenoor Auto Salvage ... Names from my past...... and let me tell you about that "part of town" in the 1960's & 70's...... Between Orv's home nearly beside the 605 Fwy & Lakenoor Auto Salvage were the likes of good 'Ol Dean Moon's place (just up the Blvd from Lakenoor) The TORCO oil Co, Gary Densham's Funny Car operating from his garage (also next to the 605) Ever hear of a "Wayne Rainey"? He and his Family, Dad Sandy (2 stroke builder tuner EXTRAORDINAIRE!) Lee Taylor (Boat Speed Records) and "me" LOL! all were in that same area AT THE SAME TIME! I was aquainted with or socail with them all as I grew up there from 1958 to 1978.....
From 1958 to 1967 I lived 1/2 block off of Norwalk Blvd, just 2 blocks down the blvd from Lakenoor Auto Salvage... "Late Model" GM Parts only as I recall... About 6 blocks further down from Dean Moon's "Moon Equipment Company".... I was a pest at times as a kid to good 'ol Dean..... Got my first ride in a Straight axle Hot Rod in that neighborhood.... right between Norwalk Blvd & the Little Lake Elementary School, A Root beer Brown 1956 Chevy, 327/4spd (WHAT ELSE in 1965?) from my much older GOOD FRIEND "Steve Norsworthy"........
I last saw the delivery in Memphis at the second NSRA nats. Beautiful car that was absolute state of the art for the day.
In between the '67 & '68 school years (for zero interruption in our education! thanx Mom) we moved from the Norwalk to just the other side of the 605 Fwy, in Downey. Right next door to the Taylors (Lee Taylor Unlimited Boat Speed Records) and about 2 blocks from a guy running a Funny Car out of his garage... Gary Densham... My friend Ron Daywalt lived next door to Orv Elgie, about 4 blocks away... I bought my first car, a '59 Chevy/348/4bbl/3spd floor shift Impala, from Ron's dad... I remember well when Orv was building that "first brown car" The one that would soon make EVERYONE know his name... as a kid I got to "time it right" only once or twice, being there just in time to "help" move something... or just think we were...
Just saw his 1931 Chevy Victoria is going through the Anaheim Mecum auction this Saturday S122.1 Totally state of the art for it's time. Car was in a sea container 40 years and is impeccable. Check it out.
Bobwop - a friend of mine owned Orv's Chevy and sold it last spring. Beautiful car - THAT is a resto rod. It will be crossing the block right after a beautiful custom two door Cord resto rod - now that's an unusual and rare hot rod. Some good stuff coming up at Mecum in Anaheim this weekend....
The Jalopy Journal
