Lowe's Petty Blue Superbird Give-away ~ 1970

[PettyMower]

During the "Richard Petty Special" riding mower promotion, John Meniefield won a NEW 1970 Petty Blue Superbird from Lowe's.

[odcics2]

Petty Blue perhaps?

and, where is it today??   

[Homerr]

Petty blue riding mower...

[Someday70]

If nobody definitely knows where this car is, I think I might.

[bannedbird]

Someday: what can you tell us? You may save me the cost of some title searches.

[odcics2]

If nobody definitely knows where this car is, I think I might.

[PettyMower]

I think Someday70 was joking. Saying if no one knows where that Petty Blue 'Bird is today.....well....it's his.  LOL

Actually any of the 999 'Birds could be the Lowe's give-away car. Title searches will eventually lead us to the REAL Petty Blue machine.

[bannedbird]

Would have to be a 999 car, or a repaint of one that sat on a lot?

[bannedbird]

PettyMower: from your newspaper "winner" shot, can you tell if the car has:
1. bucket seats,
2. "by Petty",
3. nose decal,
4. nose rub strip,
5. road or rallye rims,
6. vinyl top

I'm seriously thinking of tracking this car down.  Would be a neat story.

thx

[nascarxx29]

The Circleville Herald from Circleville, Ohio · Page 17 - Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/72781238/

Aug 26, 1970 - Br¡ -fç John Meniefield of Charlottesville, N. C. was the winner of a new Superbird automobile presented by Lowe's Companies as part of their ...

[PettyMower]

The Circleville Herald from Circleville, Ohio · Page 17 - Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/72781238/

Aug 26, 1970 - Br¡ -fç John Meniefield of Charlottesville, N. C. was the winner of a new Superbird automobile presented by Lowe's Companies as part of their ...

Typo.....John Meniefield was from Charlottesville, Virginia.

[bannedbird]

Also, The Robesonian from Lumberton 11-sep-1970 page 2 and 3 has a write up and picture of winner, Lowe's guy, and RLP.

[bannedbird]

Doesn't look Petty Blue.  But, could be a "stock" Plymouth advertising photo of Petty and a stock Superbird.

[nascarxx29]

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=34&uidh=000&rank=1&new=1&msT=1&gsln=MENIEFIELD&gss=angs-d&MS_AdvCB=1&MSAV=2&gsfn_x=XO&gsln_x=XO&cp=0&cpxt=0&catBucket=rstp&_81004031=2001&noredir=true

[PettyMower]

Steve,

I've never seen that advertisement you posted. Very cool. Where did you find the color ad?

I agree, that 'Bird appears to be EB5 "Blue Fire Metallic". I don't know if that's the actual give-away car or a stock photo.

Today I reached out to a few ex-Lowe's employees from the early 70's, hoping to find pics of the REAL give-away car. One had no pics and could not remember any detail about the car, another I was unable to reach by the number I last used years ago, and a third has not gotten back with me, yet. Hopefully I'll be able to share some more information. Previously my correspondences with these people has been about the mowers, and I never thought to ask about the car.

I'll post when I know more.

[bannedbird]

xx29: thanks, I found a few other things, such as his 50th wedding anniversary in 1975 - based on same area church where he was listed as living in VA.  We need a better "3-shot winner" pix to see his age: and the car.
P-mower: You mean you don't have that color image? lol. I figured a company that sponsors a big name like Richard would want to advertise that as much as possible.  Such as a 1970 annual report?  I need to find 1971 report - maybe they have some mower images I can tease you with 
That B5 bird photo is a mystery.  I have been searching for hours on web and nothing with Richard by any stock factory bird (except after the 1970's).  Other than the 2 page advertisement in his shop of course (appears to be a production car with vinyl top, but roll cage, headlight door, and windshield clips? What is up with that?  A show car for Plymouth to tour with? Is there a thread on this car?).

[nascarxx29]

older post same car  http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=94776.0

[PettyMower]

Also, The Robesonian from Lumberton 11-sep-1970 page 2 and 3 has a write up and picture of winner, Lowe's guy, and RLP.

Scroll up on theis post and you'll see the newspaper article about John Meniefield winning the 'Bird. The car is in the background and there's not much detail that can be made out.

[PettyMower]

P-mower: You mean you don't have that color image? lol. I figured a company that sponsors a big name like Richard would want to advertise that as much as possible.  Such as a 1970 annual report?  I need to find 1971 report - maybe they have some mower images I can tease you with 
That B5 bird photo is a mystery.  I have been searching for hours on web and nothing with Richard by any stock factory bird (except after the 1970's).  Other than the 2 page advertisement in his shop of course (appears to be a production car with vinyl top, but roll cage, headlight door, and windshield clips? What is up with that?  A show car for Plymouth to tour with? Is there a thread on this car?).

I have some color ads in my collection. What I didn't have was your post from the Lowe's Annual Report. Not only do I not have a copy, I've never seen it before. Very cool, and thanks for finding.

And thanks Dave, for the link to where it's located on the web. I've gone through all the pages and there's no other photos of the give-away Superbird.

That's a good question about the 2-page advertisement. I've never heard what the deal was with that car either.

There were other Superbirds given away when new. There was the "What-A-Burger" car, the Detroit Auto Show car, and I believe there was one more. Has anyone tracked down any of them?

[nascarxx29]

Was any of the giveaways a true 999 there was several posts.might narrow down the possibles left over  http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,71402.75.html

http://www.brcook.com/id17.html

[bannedbird]

I scrolled 1971 and 1972 report and no Superbird or mower references.  Mower: I sent you the 1970 report - let me know if you want 71, 72.  They are larger file size (6 & 7MB).

[PettyMower]

I scrolled 1971 and 1972 report and no Superbird or mower references.  Mower: I sent you the 1970 report - let me know if you want 71, 72.  They are larger file size (6 & 7MB).

Steve,

Thanks for the offer. Yesterday, Dave send me links to all the Annual Reports. I've flipped though every page from 1968 - 1978. There were some images of mowers, some were the Petty Blue Dynamark riders that were sold at Lowe's. (Other than the paint color, there were no other markings to distinguish them as being "special".)

Where did you send the 1970 Annual Report? I remember you sending me something, but I could not find it today.

Thanks,
Jay

[bannedbird]

Just want to say that it does not need to be a factory 999 color car.  Contest was announced 31-March-1970 (earliest known record I have is The Morning Herald, Hagerstown MD). Drawing held 01-June-1970.  Winner was flown to Petty shop and awarded the car.

I see these scenarios.

1. A 999 car was bought by Lowe's before the contest announced and sent to Petty's shop for the winner to pick up.

2. A dealership with a non-999 Superbird was willing to paint a car they had sitting on the lot Petty Blue to secure a sale to Lowe's.

3. Lowe's bought a non-999 car (anywhere in the timeline), sent it to Petty, and it was painted Petty Blue.

4. It never was Petty Blue.  A dealer sold Lowe's a B5 blue car cheaper than they could get a Petty Blue car.  So they gave away a B5 'Bird and not Petty Blue.

I also see potential for some decals to be added that would say "Lowe's" or "winner".  Possibly Lowe's gave Petty some cash and said "take care of this". Maybe he bought or was given one from Plymouth and used it for Lowe's.  Possibly the car from the old 2-page shop publicity photo.

[Speaking of this, has anyone talked about the 'Bird that Petty bought and was second owner on?]

To discredit scenario #1: why does the 1970 annual report from Lowe's have a B5 'Bird in the picture?  If they did a photo shoot, wouldn't it be of the 999 car they bought? Or that Petty bought?  The B5 car with a person in a driver suit next to it (assumed to be Petty) has not surfaced as a canned Plymouth marketing picture.  So assume it was shot for Lowe's.  So why B5?

Maybe a Mopar magazine should by the rights to this story now! lol.

[PettyMower]

If you're referring to Richard's Alpine White Superbird, that sat in his Museum for many years, it was sold a couple of years ago. It's now here in Maryland and owned by Larry Cate. It's been restored, and has signature decals "From Petty" under the rear quarter "Plymouth" decals.

Larry recently was at a car show in Ridgely, MD with the car. He picked Richard up at a local airport in the car, and drove him to the show. There were (4) Superbirds, and the lone Daytona (also owned by Larry) at the show.

[nascarxx29]

  :Twocents

:been looking at older club records theres a white superbird nc owner mr beinefield maybe club typo on last name  Dillsboro nc rm23uoa166205.  3 1/2 hrs from Randleman nc

[nascarxx29]

Petty Ent Superbird  V2 RM23VOA162297

[bannedbird]

Was a female owner. I think lime (the car, not the owner).
I stopped keeping records 1991 or so. Not sure where I got the info from. I always figured it was used to make a 43 show car in later years.

[bannedbird]

RM23VOA162297? used for ads?

[Someday70]

Hello, I am sorry I haven't followed up on my previous post.
I have an original Petty Blue Superbird. The original owner in 1970 wanted a Petty blue Superbird but could not find one. He purchased an orange one   (6 barrel)from Brinkley Chrysler in N.C. After owning and driving the orange car for a year the dealer contacted him and said they had located a Petty blue one (4bbl)with VERY low miles.. The dealer offered the Petty blue car in even trade for the orange one. The owner agreed to the trade. Upon receiving the Petty blue car he noticed it had "by Petty" below the Plymouth quarter decals and it came from Southern Chrysler. He does not know who the original owner was. I have more details and photos.
Might this be the Lowe's Superbird?
I have some more explanation, details and photos, I will post when I can.

[nascarxx29]

[bannedbird]

XX29 - link does not work (edit 12/31/16: link replaced by image, so all good now). I'd love to see what you found.
I also found out that Lowe's gave away at least 3 chargers in 1966. Looks like it was to their sales people that won a contest.

[bannedbird]

Someday: very interesting. Is your 999 car white buckets factory (it looks like that in your pix)? Auto or 4-speed?

[nascarxx29]

[bannedbird]

xx29: nice ad! Not sure where you found that one - lol! Any idea what part of country? 
We should recap the contest cars we know of sometime - is there a thread for that?

[nascarxx29]

Ad maybe Virgina area

[Someday70]

Hello bannedbird,my 999 car is factory buckets, 4 speed.
Do we know if Lowes giveaway car was 4 speed?

[PettyMower]

Hello bannedbird,my 999 car is factory buckets, 4 speed.
Do we know if Lowes giveaway car was 4 speed?

The only thing we really know about the Lowe's Superbird, is that it was a Superbird. We thought it was a given that it was a 999 car, then someone found a photo used in the Lowe's Annual Report of a B5 car.  All of the ads I remember seeing mentioned "Petty Blue".....so, I truly believe it would have been painted that color. But, as Stave (Banned Bird) pointed out, it could have been a re-paint by either Petty's shop or anywhere else.

We know who won the car, John Meniefield. And we know he lived in Charlottesville, Virginia at the time of the contest drawing. Now it's a matter of who wants to spend the money for title searches. Or maybe we'll luck into tracing this car forward, from 1970.

[bannedbird]

Someday: as P-mower said, there is not a lot of info on the car. Pretty much all we know is that it was a Superbird, the winners name, and home town.  Lowe's annual report for 1970 talks about the giveaway and shows a photo of (what looks like) Richard in driving suit in front of a obvious B5 bird that appears factory stock.  So that conflicts with the contest advertising a "Petty Blue" Superbird.  No telling what that was advertised is actually true.  I've got some emails out to car shops and clubs in central Virginia in hopes to find more information.

I'll be the first to say it: "Maybe they slapped a nose and wing on one of the left over Fords from 1969" - lol.

[bannedbird]

 :Twocents

:been looking at older club records theres a white superbird nc owner mr beinefield maybe club typo on last name  Dillsboro nc rm23uoa166205.  3 1/2 hrs from Randleman nc

Good info. Thx. I'll PM or email you for more details and putting this info into my Lowe's log. I'm gathering evidence to find this darn car! lol.

Update: I local person to the area of the Lowe's winner reports seeing the car on occasion back in the day.  He recalls it as B5 blue.  The original Lowe's add states "Petty" blue but the photo Lowe's published shows a B5 'Bird.  However, I need to ask my source if it was possible that the B5 car he saw was only assumed to be the Lowe's car (i.e. 2 Superbirds in the area).

Again - looking for any information on the Lowe's 1970 Superbird giveaway car or any blue Superbirds in the central Virginia area between 1970 and 1978. THX!

[bannedbird]

I just talked to the daughter of the Lowe's car winner.
Car was sold in 1990's to a person that was going to restore it.
I am sending her photos of Petty blue vs B5 blue to confirm the color.
She will look for photos of the car.

[PettyMower]

Awesome Steve!  Great work locating the family. I've tried in the past, but didn't spend much time on it. The unique name, and having the area made it simple. I left messages, but never received a reply.

[PettyMower]

John receiving the keys from Richard Petty.
The Superbird actually ended up being a B5 car and not 999 as advertised.

[A13]

Have you folks seen the full page?

[bannedbird]

Good stuff

[ACUDANUT]

 Looks like he just robbed.