Jack Loftus Ford Info

Vern, my former 67 GT500 #3115 was a Jack Loftus car. it was a left over sold in February of 1968 if I recall correctly. the car lived it's entire existence in the Chicago area until I pirated it away to Pennsylvania where a finishing up of minor details (Engine and Trans Rebuild stock exhaust etc.) made it too pretty to keep so I traded it to Bill Collins and got a nice 67 GT350 and a couple Dollars and some old Hub Caps from a 63 Rambler. Bill is some Used Car salesman!!

 

Jack Loftus Ford, 300 east Ogden, Hinsdale.
They closed and moved to Bollingbrook IL on route 83 in the very early 1970's and opened up under "Village Ford".
The former dealership at 300 E is now a place that sells Maseratis and expensive imports.
Hinsdale IL is noted for folks buying a $500,000-$750,000 homes, and TEARING THEM DOWN to build bigger nicer homes!
Jack was selling Chevrolets for "Team Chevrolet" near Oakbrook IL in the middle 1980's. I wrote a letter to him asking him about his JLF dealership. He remembered selling Cobras, said something about selling "King Cobras" (I think he meant 427 Cobras). He mentioned that his Shelby saleman had a Shelby for a Demo. This was one of 2 dealers in the Chicago region that sold Shelbys up until 1967, after that, more Ford dealers could. They also handled the dealer prep and warranty work for the Hertz cars from O'hare airport.
I later found out that he had a son involved in the dealership, but no details about his cars, or what he did.

If possible, could you post a scan of that dealer report folder cover? I'd love to see that.

Last year on Ebay, I bought a letter from JLF (1964) about how the Fords were winning, and come see the new selections. (slightly before Shelbys hit the market.)
And, this is the rust belt, I have yet to bump into an old car with JLF license frames, I've even searched a couple of antique shops.
I also had made up a Jack Loftus Ford - Hinsdale Il bumper dealer sticker. No it's not exactly like they were but I have sold a couple. Email me if interested.

 

My 65, SFM 5 017 is from Loftus. It was sent to Chicago via TWA Air Freight.
(How many people can say their car was on a plane?)
I would LOVE any info that I can get, buy, beg, borrow or (Steal? )

PM me with ANYTHING!

Thanks.

Mike

 

Vern, last year I would have been on the ohone with you horn swaggling a trade out of my collection for that Item!! try and contact Bill Collins and find out where my old 67 GT500 #3115 is now. that car was well documented but this I bet you could get $500 Dollars from whoever owns that Car.- Dave

 

www.bcfords.com

 

As Roddster said, the site is now occupied by Continental Classics, selling high end sports cars. It's been there quite a while; there's a whole chain of Continental dealerships is run by John Weinberger and family. You might trying writing a letter to them, attn: John Weinberger, and see what response you might get. John's been into sports cars and racing for a loooong time and might have something helpful for you. Good luck.

 

I ran across this forum while searching Jack Loftus Ford. Jack is my father and is alive and well. Feel free to forward any specific questions to me and I will pass them on to him. He loves to talk about the days when he was selling Shelbys. I vividly remember running around the salesroom floor in the 60s and 70s with all those great cars. My father's first dealership was a partnership called Haggerty-Loftus Ford in Oak Lawn, Ill on the NW corner of 95th & Central. The second one was in Hinsdale, Ill on Ogden, which was referrred to as the "House of Ford" in Hinsdale. He later moved it to Route 83 (Kingery Hwy) in Willowbrook, Ill. The Shelby was and still is my favorite. He had a convertible GT 500. As kids we used to sit up in the back seat and hang on to the roll bar as we cruised. Not very safe but tons of fun.

 

TJ- Can you contact me? I would like to email you and get some more information on your dad and his dealerships. Thanks Pete email: Coralsnake68@hotmail.com

 

I'm glad you're back. I was talking to you last year about meeting your dad and having him autograph my 67 Gt 350's dash. I lost the note with your phone number on it. Contact me at rtremb@juno.com if you please.