Acknowledgements
The history of this vehicle would not have been possible without the contributions of many people. Each of the living owners , or their surviving family members, provided information and details that proved to be invaluable and should not be overlooked. Detailed profiles on each are contained in the full report on this vehicle, and includes:
Mrs. Terry McElfresh, whose husband co-owned & worked with Harold Badger on the car’s final restoration.
Mrs. Helen Omalia: Her husband was the first owner to attempt serious restoration of the vehicle after acquiring it from the Six family. Her contributions were invaluable in tracing the original ownership.
Mr. Jim McMullen, for providing information on the car’s previous ownership.
It is also necessary to give special thanks to one individual whose contributions went above and beyond the call of duty, and continually provided extensive information.
Our Special Thanks To
Mr. Harold Badger: As one of the co-owners, with Terry McElfresh, responsible for final restoration of the vehicle Mr. Badger provided many original documents and historical leads:
- An original newspaper (new condition) of the Indianapolis News dated 1994 describing the vehicle.
- Photos of the vehicle during its restoration.
- Photos of the McElfresh and Omailia families with the vehicle.
- Leads and information on prior ownership as well as documentation regarding the vehicle.
- Hand written letters describing events in the vehicle’s history.
Mr. Badger retained some of the original items removed from the Chevy during restoration, such as the oil, upholstery from one of the seats, and has pictures of the vehicle during restoration.
From The Author:
The 1928 Chevrolet was a milestone in automotive history, and this vehicle represents a small glimpse into that history. As such it represents more than an antique vehicle. From a purely collector value standpoint the 1928 Chevrolet is neither the most valued or desirable in comparison to Cords, Auburns and Duesenbergs of this era. However, from the view of mass transportation the 1928 Chevrolet was an automotive icon. At a cost of $585 it provided affordable transportation, and was the foundation for future cars.
Many people do not know that it was lengthened by 6 inches over the 1927 model to make way for the new 6 cylinder engine that was soon to be introduced. It was also the first year that Chevrolet outsold Ford with over 1 million vehicles sold.
Considering the depression of 1932 when vehicles were often sold to raise money, it is beyond comprehension as to why this one vehicle was not driven or sold. The fact that it survived largely intact over several owners with all original owner documents is also amazing. Few cars of any type or variety have a history comparable to this vehicle.
It is a privilege to own this vehicle, but it is also a sacred trust to ensure that it is preserved for future generations. There are many other 1928 Chevrolets in existence. There are many low mileage 1928 Chevrolets in existence. There are many fully restored 1928 Chevrolets that are better than the original. But there are none to our knowledge with this degree of originality, low mileage and documentation of this vehicle. This alone makes it unique in the annals of antique car collecting, and gives this Chevrolet a value that is beyond estimation.
It has been a truly interesting and joyful experience to have performed the research on this vehicle to determine its history of ownership.
