the grocery store magazine rack doesn't even carry a single car magazine anymore

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=27402540732709719&set=gm.3406377062869207&idorvanity=132380976935515

Con Ferr, of Burbank, built/customized two vehicles for Steve McQueen, a Jeep, and his Thomas Crown Affair Manx.... realizing this makes it a very significant company, I had to learn about it

and the Super Jeep https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2018/08/con-ferr-incorporated-in-burbank-made.html which I haven't figured out, did they build it for Steve, or, did he do them the favor of posing with it for publicity photos, as they sure were in business together, they sold the seats Steve patented, that Solar Productions made (see below)

This only JUST connected for me today, that Con Ferr, did two vehicles for Steve McQueen, and got me wondering, what WAS Con Ferr? Did they have a name for making customs? Or just working for the very rich? 

So, here's what I found out:

Con-Ferr was a company known for manufacturing off-road accessories and equipment, particularly for Jeeps and other 4x4 vehicles. founded in 1961 by Pete Condos & Frank Ferro though eventually Pete bought out Frank to become sole owner.

Pete Condos was an innovator in accessories for Land Cruisers, he coined the term Off-Road

Pete had a background in Scouts, while Frank had a background in Jeeps. Their goal was to provide specialty off-road products for both types of vehicles. To that end, not only did they run their parts shop in Burbank, California, they also built custom jeeps like the Super Jeep.

Pete’s driver, Bill Haddad, drove Condo’s race jeeps to 18 victories in the 21 races in which he entered.

Pete would go on to co-found the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) in 1966, which produced races like the Baja 1000 and Mint 500. During that time, Condos also produced racing vehicles for other folks, such as off-road racers for Steve McQueen and James Garner.

In 1970, Con-Ferr billed itself as America’s largest Off-Road vehicle accessory provider and had more than 44,000 square feet of storage, work, and retail space. It was an authorized dealer of Kaiser Jeep, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Manx.

https://www.ewillys.com/2019/07/30/early-1970s-con-ferr-catalog-pages/

I translate "by Solar Plastics" as meaning this is the Steve McQueen patented seat I posted about

https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/steve-mcqueen.html

This is the Scout, that Pete Condos owned

Con-Ferr stuff was available at IH dealers. Many accessory parts were 'tied in' by corporate and made available for direct order by dealerships. Offerings were commonly noticed to dealers using the Parts Mike bulletins, and included specialized dealership tools. A lot of the accessories were also issued as addenda to the MT-87 Necessaries catalog.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/pete-condos-frank-ferro-con-ferr.351433/

Wow, imagine being at that Hall Of Fame ceremony... Garner, McQueen, Hickey, Stroppe? That's the Who's Who of celebs in off roading

Born on May 8th, 1925, Condos grew up in the suburbs to the north of Chicago. He spent many hours of his young years at a local speed shop learning the skills needed to customize cars making them into hot rods. He helped to hop up Model A’s and B’s, but his time spent at the garage came to a quick end with the beginning of World War II.

In 1942 he joined the United States Navy. He served on the U.S.S. Nevada as a seaman. After the war he returned to Chicago and completed his high school education and resumed his interest in hot rods. 

He began building and racing roadsters and coupes. His first Roadster was a 1934 Ford that he completed in 1948, and he became a charter member of Andy Granatelli's Hurricane Hot Rod Racing Association.

In 1948 he moved to So Cal and joined the Throttler Car Club, (dry lakes racing). 

In 1950 Earl “Madman” Muntz hired him to assist with the fabrication of the Muntz Road Jet car. Condos worked for Muntz building the high-end custom cars which were purchased by Hollywood’s elite. 

In 1961 he purchased his first I.H. Scout so that his hunting trips to Nevada, Montana, and Idaho would be easier, while on the trips, he realized the need for different accessories for the Scout and he began making accessories for the Scout. He worked with Frank Ferro and the two would discuss accessories that would be useful for both Jeeps and Scouts. The two men started their own company, Con-Ferr in 1961.

https://ormhof.org/pete-condos

How crazy of a coincidence is that, I just posted on the Dec 7th Pearl Harbor attack yesterday and Pete was crew on the USS Nevada, the only ship that got underway that morning. 

Amazing... he was in WW2, in the Throttlers CC, worked for Muntz, co founded NORRA, pioneered Baja racing, coined the term Off Roading, made the Manx for Steve McQueen in the Thomas Crown Affair, and made cars for James Garner... which I'll guess was the Olds or the SC/Rambler Baja racers... I'll see if I can verify that

72 Norton that Barry Weiss has added his personal touch to

 

what a cool way to memorialize going to a race!

 https://motorsportmemorabilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image1-3.jpeg

ever heard of the Richard W. Erickson Antique & Classic Museum in Utah? It's a 50 year collection that fills 24 buildings, has 120 antique tractors, and a 60s vintage service station

Richard grew up in a farming family in Minnesota and was drafted into the military during the Korean War. When he reported for duty in San Diego, he drove through Utah and fell in love with it.

When his service was up Erickson "went back home, packed his flathead Ford car, strapped his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on the back of it, and he drove to Utah.”

the museum collection includes a 1938 Lincoln Zephyr that was used in the 1991 film “Bugsy,” 

a 1913 Pierce Arrow 48-B Runabout Motorcar, 

a 1931 Packard Model 833, 

a 1936 Cadillac Phaeton Fleetwood that belonged to an English baron, 

and Steve McQueen’s 1946 Indian Motorcycle — one of his personal riders.

https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2024/08/19/classic-car-museum-wasatch-county/

https://richardericksonfoundation.org/

Steve McQueen's last ride was in this camper truck

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10225675781581523&set=a.1617402035143

Steve reading Drag World (thanks George!)

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2361013287422582&set=gm.1130011954972506&idorvanity=300103187963391

1917 Harley-Davidson Messenger Pigeon Carrier was used in the movie "The Spirit of St. Louis" after its use in WWI. Subsequently, it was bought by Steve McQueen without the Pigeon Carrier attachment.

Dale's Wheels Through Time found the machine in 1984 and then in 2003, found the pigeon carrier attachment. 

When put them together, everything fit perfect, and there were actually parts from the exact motorcycle hidden inside the carrier wagon.

https://www.facebook.com/wheelsthroughtime/photos/a.10152090524542901/10158610410587901/

Why did Steve McQueen buy a Mini Cooper?

 He was hanging out with racing legend John Cooper on the set of The War Lover in 1967

https://www.hotcars.com/18-pictures-of-steve-mcqueens-incredible-car-collection/

Used by Steve McQueen on the set of LeMans, this Solex just sold at auction for $66,000... thanks Phil M!

 

https://www.caradisiac.com/un-solex-3800-de-1970-vendu-66-000-191536.htm

Phil learned of three 18mm home movies made during the making of the Le Mans movie! Thanks Phil !

 

https://www.intensemans.fr/2021/07/30/un-making-of-inedit-en-8mm-du-film-le-mans-de-steve-mcqueen/

Steve & Ken

https://www.facebook.com/groups/505973489414476/permalink/4392524800759306

Why was Steve McQueen's visit to Shelby's a photo op, and for who? I'm guessing Shelby wanted the publicity, as McQueen shunned publicity

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/vintage-shots-from-days-gone-by-part-2.1154030/page-207#post-13263251 

Alex Oxley was an animator, cartoonist, and illustrator from 1920-1950. With a huge passion for motorcycles, he worked for Triumph to design advertising posters for the British brand.

https://www.facebook.com/lnspltblvd/posts/vintage-moto-art-by-alex-oxley-alex-oxley-was-an-animator-cartoonist-and-illustr/700717786954163/

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/vintage-shots-from-days-gone-by.428585/page-5372#post-12681151

http://motoringart.info/motoring-artist-listings/motoring-artist-information.asp?ArtistName=Oxley%20Alex

https://artuk.org/discover/artists/oxley-alex

http://www.geekbobber.com/2013/08/its-easy.html

by the way, I came across a site that may be the most complete collection of Triumph advertising online https://triumphbonneville120.co.uk/brochures-pressadverts.php

and here is the one Steve McQueen owned, sold at auction for an unreal $257.00 

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR ALL GOOD MOTORCYCLISTS', signed pen and ink illustration for MotorCycling Magazine, issue 22nd December 1955, page 293

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/14037/lot/370/

these kids must have been pretty darn excited to meet Steve

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/vintage-shots-from-days-gone-by.428585/page-6121#post-12947878

not looking happy to be stuck in traffic with the paparazzi

https://www.mopar-forum.eu/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=9064&start=2820

Steve McQueen's father, William McQueen (1907–1958), might have been a stunt pilot for a barnstorming flying circus, its possible, but it's certain he was in the merchant marines

The Life Steve McQueen By Dwight Jon Zimmerman

I bring up that it's possible, because once someone wrote that, EVERYTHING on line about him repeats it. Well, what if they made it up because it was sensational? Then that lie is spread, and the truth is never known

https://medium.com/@jeremylr/how-a-military-brat-got-hooked-on-the-razor-sharp-mystique-of-quintessential-hollywood-outsider-2cc632f95bc1

I was able to determine what his occupation was — Merchant Marine, not a barnstorming pilot — his last known address — Long Beach, California — the cause of death — cirrhosis of the liver — and his social security number.

The social security number allowed me access to his military file, which contained his photos, his various tours of duty, and where he traveled in the years after he left Jullian and Steve. And then it made sense how William was able to stay under the radar and evade Steve all those years — he was constantly out to sea.

both of Steve's parents were dead by the time he turned 35

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_McQueen

Here's a photo of Steve's grandfather, Lewis

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/57614136/person/42024180696/gallery