Anybody ever heard of Beach City Dodge?

[hemichuck]

I am building a 1971 Charger SE-440 HiPo car and its an original California car that was built in Los Angeles. When we took the cluster out it had written on the back of it "Beach City Dodge" and the name Maples and RO#76552. I'm assuming this car was probably ordered by someone named Maples at Beach city dodge and the RO# is probably a build number or something to identify it on the assembly line. So I was wondering if any of you California guys remember a Beach City Dodge and can tell me where it was located or I can go way out on a limb and ask if anybody knows an old guy named Maples who owned a White 71 SE......Hey,you dont know till you ask,Right?

 

[FridayGt]

Just from searching a bit, it looks like they file for their Incorporated status with the State of California in 1964.
http://www.corporationwiki.com/Unknown/Unknown/beach-city-dodge/42301975.aspx

Looks like it was located in Huntington Beach, CA. It also looks like Royce Ann Young purchased this Dodge Challenger from them in 1971.
http://cloud9classics.com/1971-dodge-challenger-31900/

It looks like the building may have been renovated by Harris Architects somewhere between 1985 to now.
http://pettettarchitects.wordpress.com/category/projects/

It also appears as though Jim Meyer from Jim Meyer Enterprises worked there. Here's a profile on Hotrodhotline.
http://www.hotrodhotline.com/feature/shoptour/08jimmeyer/

Here's an article in the LA Times that mentions them. Apparently you could buy a '71 Dodge Van conversion from them for $3,988!
http://articles.latimes.com/1985-11-24/magazine/tm-1337_1_jazz-festival

Whew, apparently there was a motion carried to strike bids received on 10 police cruisers at Beach City Dodge, initiated by Police Chief Cibbarelli on October 4th, 1974. Apparently the city council also passed the expenditure of $1,000 for the carpooling project there that day... lol.
http://pubrec.ci.seal-beach.ca.us/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=10157&page=5&dbid=0

Looks like you could buy some publications that feature Bob Thompson and his Beach City Dodge Charger from here;
http://www.dragworldusa.com/dragstri.txt

If you give me more time I can check to see if they were involved with Jimmy Hoffa in any way... lol. Sometimes, you gotta love technology. ;o) Really though, let me know if I can help.

 

[hemichuck]

FridayGt,Your a dangerous guy. Remind me not to tick you off. Lots of good info. Thanks

 

[MoparMikey]

I remember the dealers name from years ago, I don't think they are in business any longer, maybe changed name??
I would guess your cluster was either a replacement or sent out for repair

 

[Budnicks]

FridayGT you have way too much time on your hands...LOL... very thorough

 

[FridayGt]

FridayGt,Your a dangerous guy. Remind me not to tick you off. Lots of good info. Thanks

Lol, thanks. You should see what I did to the guy who tried to scam me online on a '71 six pack RR when I was looking to buy. Before I turned him over to eBay, the person's account he stole and his local authorities (I might have placed courtesie calls to inform his neighbors of who lived next door as well), I sent him pictures of his house, his actual cars, his 9 yr old daughter and her school, his wife and her job and a picture of him from his high school yearbook. You'd be amazed at what's out there on the internet. lol. Did I mention that I hate scammers? lol.

 

[hemichuck]

My daughters the same way. I can give her a name and she can dig enough dirt to fill the grand canyon. My wife was in politics and she got a couple of threats on her e-mail, My daughter dug up a name and address and a bunch of other dirt on this guy in about 10 minutes. I'm more of a show up on your porch with a baseball bat type guy but I'm getting to old to do that stuff(makes my back hurt).

 

[FridayGt]

My daughters the same way. I can give her a name and she can dig enough dirt to fill the grand canyon. My wife was in politics and she got a couple of threats on her e-mail, My daughter dug up a name and address and a bunch of other dirt on this guy in about 10 minutes. I'm more of a show up on your porch with a baseball bat type guy but I'm getting to old to do that stuff(makes my back hurt).

LOL, and we all know it's not worth the discomfort! lol. I tend to be a little hot tempered and extremely vindictive. Given the option, I'm all over the baseball bat. But, when it's an internet scammer several states away being able to show them their life that you're about to ruin is as rewarding as it gets without catching a flight. Sigh. lol.

But, I digress. With the location and time frame as well as some former employee's and people that have purchased from there now, I bet you can get pretty far! Heck, maybe even a picture of the dealership back in the day! Wouldn't that be something.

 

[696pack]

I remember the dealers name from years ago, I don't think they are in business any longer, maybe changed name??
I would guess your cluster was either a replacement or sent out for repair

I agree. The number on the cluster is likely the repair order number (RO.)

 

[Ron 73]

That 71 R/T Challenger is nothing short of awesome!

 

[hemichuck]

Thanks guys.At least that places the car in Ca in its early years. I had it for sale at the Carlile show a couple of years ago and a couple of guys were all over it and they pointed out that it was a Ca emmisions car which explains why it didnt have cutouts and tips(not available in Ca) and the SE with 440 HiPo was already a pretty low production number(like 768) so the fact it was a Ca. car just makes it better. It has P/W,Air,Cruise,AM/FM, with the 440 and the funny part was it was a 3.23 single track rear.Can we say freeway cruiser ? It's about 3/4 done,painted,engine installed,new brakes/suspension/lines/fuel tank...etc.

 

[Cranky]

A LOT of Dodge dealers got shut down in this last go around of bail outs by 'our' gooberment. It's not to hard to find out what dealers supported the present administration vs ones that didn't by the ones who got shut down and the ones that didn't.

I hate spammers too and also like to turn the tables on them. Had one crying uncle after turning his name over to the local police. Ended up with pics of him buying the 5 dollar money order so he could wash it and make it a 5000 dollar check. The only give away was the color of it and it took the bank a pretty good while to figure that out. One of the flags was the cost of a money order from this particular bank cost more than 5 bucks and who in their right mind would buy one like that not to mention someone sending more than the item costs etc etc etc. Morons.