RIP Bob (8/17/1936 to 9/15/2019)

[bertfam]

If you don't know the name Bob Wingate, you must be new!

Bob died of heart complications on September 15th, 2019, but left behind a legacy that could very well live forever.

You can read more about Bob HERE and his relationship with Clippinger Chevrolet, and in particular, James Garner HERE.

Ed

[william]

Well I'm definitely not new to the hobby and remember Bob Wingate well. He was one of the first to recognize the collectability of '50s-'60s Chevs and started one of the first classic car dealerships. I made my first trip to CA in 1977 and paid a visit. Cars were stuffed in a commercial building but I was able to get few pics.

[69Z28-RS]

While I didn't know Bob Wingate personally, I've known of him and his proclivity for collecting collector Chevys for it seems 50 yrs...  Hopefully someone will pick up his mantle and keep on keeping on... 

[ZLP955]

RIP Bob.
A member of another forum I participate in had a lead that Bob retained sales records for many of the more interesting cars that he sold new at Clippinger, but AFAIK didn't manage to acquire any of them (I was interested in case he had sold Fiasco).

[MO]

Sad to hear. RIP

[BULLITT65]

RIP Bob.
A member of another forum I participate in had a lead that Bob retained sales records for many of the more interesting cars that he sold new at Clippinger, but AFAIK didn't manage to acquire any of them (I was interested in case he had sold Fiasco).

R.I.P.  Bob, from what I have read he played a big part on the west coast and Clippinger Chevrolet really moving towards racing.
Tim that would have been interesting to see what was retained from back then. Its too bad the dealerships paperwork was not held onto.

[ZLP955]

Its too bad the dealerships paperwork was not held onto.

The lead was that the paperwork was retained by the salesman (in the interest of full disclosure I can't recall if it was confirmed without doubt that the salesman was indeed Bob W) for many years, but he was persuaded to sell it all around 10-15 years ago.
I would think that at least some paperwork would have emerged by now if that were true, particularly in the Corvette world, so it may just be an urban myth.

[BULLITT65]

interesting. Well maybe someone is still sitting on it. OR maybe it will surface with Bobs passing. Clippinger was shut down before I got my white 69Z, or I would have made a run up there, and tried to get some answers. Paperwork is still found and posted, who knows what will happen in time. We can hope right?