I spent the day walking around the convention center in Rosemont, Ill., checking out Chevrolets, Corvettes and Camaros. I had an interesting discusion with Tom Dietz of St. Charles, Ill., who collects Chevrolet dealership memorabilia. He had some great pieces dating back to an owl with blinking eyes that dates from 1929.
Tom has been collecting this type of stuff since the ’70s and says he really has a lot of it. Judging only from the stuff he dragged to the show, anyone would agree. He said he got started when he went to look at a ’63 Chevy that was for sale and the owner had a poster for the ’64 Chevys. He had talked the dealer out of it by saying he’d buy the car if the salesman threw in the poster.
Tom only collects Chevy stuff and says he never uses the Internet to find it. “I don’t have a computer and that’s the lazy man’s way to collect,” he said. So if you have anything Tom might be interested in, you will have to call him. His number is 377-3125. You’ll have to check the area code. Tom says they changed it since his card was printed.
"Gunner" is one of of the most prolific authors and most visible characters in the old car hobby. He has written dozens of books about old cars for Krause Publications and is the former editor and publisher of Old Cars Weekly. His collecting pursuits range from old Pontiacs, to MGs, to retired police cruisers, to Indian motorcycles. He remains a frequent contributor to Old Cars Weekly and owns and operates Gunner’s Great Garage, a classic car restoration and gift shop in Manawa, Wis.
