This was my beginning in the auto parts industry.  Photo dates to July, 1970 and is in the area of the first company Champion Auto Store, located at 827 W. Broadway in North Minneapolis.  The actual first store was a slightly smaller location several doors down.  Photo shows my rare 1970 Ford Torino Formal Roof equipped with a 429, 4 speed.  Car would probably bring in the vicinity of $60K today if in nice condition.  The parent company for Champion Auto Stores back then was known as Top Value Auto Supply (owned and operated by Robert "Bud" Rose) and spun off such Minneapolis based chains  as 10,000 Auto Parts and Crown Auto.  Bud Rose personally hired me in June of 1970 after responding to a newspaper ad.
 

Northside Mercury 1970 Cyclone 429 drag car.  Ran at Minnesota Dragways on weekends.  Northside Mercury was across the street from Champion Auto on West Broadway.  Being very similar to my car, it always got my attention.   Another memorable vehicle from the North Minneapolis area was an often seen 1968 Hemi Dart, however, I never got a photo.  This photo is from summer of 1970.

 

1972 brought me to a brand new corporate store in Hopkins (a Twin City suburb), after some short experience in the Central Avenue and Lake Street stores.  This was a new concept store which used 8 foot warehouse racks with a window at the 5 foot level.  It was determined not to work, mainly because of theft.   I was assistant manager in this store for roughly six months before I was transfered to corporate's Richfield store as manager.  This was a large volume store and I remained there until March of 1973, when I set out to start up my own franchise store in Austin, Minnesota, roughly 100 miles south of the Twin City Metro.  Pictured here is that new Hopkins store during grand opening in June 1972.
 

 

The time is 1973 and after working three years for corporate, now managing the Richfield store, I was able to put together enough money to start my first franchise store in Austin, Minnesota.  Pictured here is that location shortly after opening with a total of 2400 square feet.  It was started with a grand total of $35,000 for the entire package.  With the help of my childhood friend, Steve Grobe, we beat the odds and the store became very successful.  I still remember the truckloads of Valvoline oil we moved out the front door at 50 cents a quart.  Champion Auto was a retail operation that catered to the walk in public.  Auto parts was fun back in those days and we carried everything from wheels and tires to car stereo.  This store was replaced by a larger store in 1980 and now houses Autozone.

 

The year was now 1974 and the gas crunch was on. I purchased a new Z28 in 1973 and remember trying to find a gas station open that had fuel.  Finally found one but was only able to get eight gallons.  I immediately installed a set of headers, Schaefer 4.56 gears, B&M shift kit and a set of Keystone Klassic wheels with bigger rubber.  The car was fast with the 4.56 gears and consistently trophied at Minnesota Dragways.  I can't believe I ran 4.56 gears on the street.  Pictured here is that car, in the fall of 1974, at Minnesota Dragways.
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More to follow.