Randy Ayers' Nascar Modeling Forum

JEEIII · Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Posts: 408 Location: Stratford, CT.

(Not Race Photo)
Amongst the factory supported Ford Talladega's and Dodge Charger's (and later Daytona's) in 1969 was a '69 White Malibu W/Black 'Vinyl top' (more of a sprayed-on pebble finish) , driven by a mostly career non-Top 40 North Carolinian, that for (4) months had one of the most impressive runs of Top 10 short track finishes!
By 1969, Deep Gap, N.C.'s E.J. Trivette (not sure what initials stand for?) was a 33 yr-old NASCAR driver who had limited success since becoming a regular in 1959

His best year had been in 1965 (driving the #52 '63 Jess Potter Chevrolet), finishing 15th in the drivers points.
In 1969, after an 11th place finish at Augusta, GA ('Cracker 200'), the run began in March (NOT in-a-row); 9th ('Hickory 250'-N.C.), 10th ('Greenville 200'-S.C.), 8th ('Richmond 500'-VA), 10th ('North Wilkesboro'-N.C.), 10th ('Virginia 500'), 8th ('Beltsville'-MD), 9th ('Maryville 300'-TN), ST.9 ('Kingsport'-TN), 8th ('Greenville 200 2nd Race-SC), 8th ('North State 200-NC), & 9th ('Thompson 200'-CT)

(4) more Top 10's and a ST.9 would finish his amazing (15) short track Top 10's year! E.J. Trivette's final winnings for the year were over $35,000 ($220,000 in today's value)!
With his 1969 winnings, E.J. began a Chassis fabricating business and would only start (9) more GN races (his most interesting car after the #08 may have been in the 1970 Talladega race when his ride was a #96 '68 Ford that has no owner/sponsor listed?-any guess on who's car it was!)
E.J.'s impressive Top 10 short track run was amazing, when you think of all the factory supported teams he was up against. From March-July, you could have signed his race check prior to the start!...........John

Wedge · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 12:35 am Post subject:

Last I spoke with EJ he was still building race chassis' in florida...very nice guy! Very helpful.

Keep em coming! thumbsup

JEEIII · Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Posts: 408 Location: Stratford, CT.

Looks like his story got lost in the exciting 'Aero Wars'! I kept seeing his name show up in the '69 season results almost out of nowhere. It was a story I'd never known about. Really amazing what he did!!!

John

Firefly · Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 2345 Location: New Jersey

That wasn't real vinyl, was it?
_________________
On the bench: Dean Dalton Laguna,
Pearson '76 D500 Victory Lane version,
'72 Bud Moore Torino.

JEEIII · Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Posts: 408 Location: Stratford, CT.

From the race photo, I assumed it was Vinyl, thinking of RP's Road Runner? If it wasn't, I'll definitely correct it! The black surface seems dull in both real photos? Maybe a phone call to the shop!

John

Tom M. · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 1:21 pm Post subject:

Petty's RoadRunner wasn't real vinyl, it was one of the sprayed on roofs that was textured like truck bed liner paint is now so that it simulated vinyl. Those were popular for a while as aftermarket items people added to cars that weren't sold with vinyl roofs originally. I saw E.J.'s car and the other team car in person but not up close, I can't honestly say one way or the other which type of roof it had.
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JEEIII · Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Posts: 408 Location: Stratford, CT.

Tom, interesting that you saw it in person but still couldn't tell! That makes me think it was not a typical Black paint. I remember how popular Vinyl tops were in the 1968-70 era. Used to have to buy special Vinyl top cleaner and polish. His Chevrolet Dealer sponsor might have wanted to show off how nice the Vinyl tops looked plus being E.J. made his money on the Short tracks, aerodynamics wouldn't have been important? That was a nice $option for dealers then.......I'm thinking if it was normal Black paint, why would it not really shine? Look forward to hopefully getting a definite answer!!!!

In the 1980's, worked at a company that made Pressure Gauges and they used to spray the housing with a pebble-like flat Black paint. I thought it would be perfect for Buddy's Daytona-took some home and tested it on plastic and did not eat thru but never got to finish the model.
Like Tom said, on RP's Road Runner, for E.J.'s #08, my guess is it was probably like today's bedliner paint, that was used to create the illusion of a real Vinyl top for sales purposes?

John

Firefly · Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 2345 Location: New Jersey

Probably paint. The vinyl could blow off if air got underneath. Also painting the roof number would be a challenge.

I recall that around that time vinyl tops added a touch of class. By the early '70s it seemed low-rent to not have one.
_________________
On the bench: Dean Dalton Laguna,
Pearson '76 D500 Victory Lane version,
'72 Bud Moore Torino.

JEEIII · Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Posts: 408 Location: Stratford, CT.

I was a teenager during the Vinyl top peak years and really was a BIG deal!
The first thing you'd ask when somebody ordered a new car was "Did you get a Vinyl top"? Looking back, it was kind of silly but in the 1968-73 era, it was like amazing technology!!!! What I'll do is put quotes around the phrase 'Vinyl top' in the Ol'e Days to show it was a 'pebble-like' paint to push Vinyl top sales!

John

Firefly · Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 2345 Location: New Jersey

The first vinyl top I took notice of the really impressed me was on the '65 Ford LTD that was on display at the '64- World's air in NY. The car was a maroon color and I thought it looked absolutely regal. I was 5 or 6 years old.

Later I would realize Ford was following GMs lead, especially Pontiac, with the Maroon/Burgundy colors, vinyl top, squared off sculpting, stacked headlamps.

Sorry to move off topic!
_________________
On the bench: Dean Dalton Laguna,
Pearson '76 D500 Victory Lane version,
'72 Bud Moore Torino.

JEEIII · Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Posts: 408 Location: Stratford, CT.

It went from full Vinyl, then it was the Landau fad with just the rear 1/4. Can't recall what year it really died out. The luxury cars held on the longest. I remember the Olds Cutlass, almost (1/2) million in '85, seemed like 99% had some sort of Vinyl top. The sun really faded the Black ones! Then they had matching colors- it really was BIG! A HUGE money maker on the Option list!!!!

John

pulln4dejr · Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 1013 Location: Chesterfield, Va.

Sweet car wedge....who did the decals? popcorn

Tom M. · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 11:46 pm Post subject:

George Andrews · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 582

Billy Kingsley · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 10358 Location: NY

I believe that is the only car to run with a real vinyl roof, not painted on vinyl. One of my favorites for years!
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JEEIII · Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Posts: 408 Location: Stratford, CT.

I just found a color photo of his '67 #08 and it also had a Vinyl top (real or fake?)

John