Looking for INFO: special HERTZ 1966 GT350H PROMO for the National Ski Patrol

[jjaustin1966]

I have a 1966 Shelby GT350H that was involved in a special Hertz early-1966 promotion for the National Ski Patrol, who were having their annual convention in Denver that year. It has a special National Ski Patrol badge that Hertz put on the rear panel of the car to designate it as one of the rentals they had in Denver for that promo.

A guy I talked with some time back told me that, years ago, he had seen a short article about the promo with a small picture of a couple of skiers (at Vail?) and a GT350H. He thought he'd seen it in one of the Marque or Shelby American issues. Unfortunately, a guy who contacted me thru SAAC has a complete collection of both of those magazines and had no luck locating the article. He did say that it frustrated him, though, because he swears he remembers seeing an article like that SOMEWHERE. Makes me wonder if it could even have been in an early '66 Hot Rod or Rod & Custom magazine or something like that.

But actually, I'm looking for anyone with ANY kind of information. People who may have taken pictures of any of those cars at Vail, Keystone, etc., at the time? Or people who remember seeing those cars or remember hearing about that promotion. I'd definitely appreciate any information anyone might have.
Thanks!

[Bill]

I have a 1966 Shelby GT350H that was involved in a special Hertz early-1966 promotion for the National Ski Patrol, who were having their annual convention in Denver that year. It has a special National Ski Patrol badge that Hertz put on the rear panel of the car to designate it as one of the rentals they had in Denver for that promo.

A guy I talked with some time back told me that, years ago, he had seen a short article about the promo with a small picture of a couple of skiers (at Vail?) and a GT350H. He thought he'd seen it in one of the Marque or Shelby American issues. Unfortunately, a guy who contacted me thru SAAC has a complete collection of both of those magazines and had no luck locating the article. He did say that it frustrated him, though, because he swears he remembers seeing an article like that SOMEWHERE. Makes me wonder if it could even have been in an early '66 Hot Rod or Rod & Custom magazine or something like that.

But actually, I'm looking for anyone with ANY kind of information. People who may have taken pictures of any of those cars at Vail, Keystone, etc., at the time? Or people who remember seeing those cars or remember hearing about that promotion. I'd definitely appreciate any information anyone might have.
Thanks!

What is your SFM number?

[FL SAAC]

Hi jjaustin1966

You should go directly to the source :


1965-'66 Shelby Registrar


Howard Pardee65registrar@saac.com

Have a wonderful weekend

[jjaustin1966]

Hi FL SAAC,

Actually, some time back, I did contact Howard about the Hertz National Ski Patrol promotion. Also Greg, who has quite a lot of info on Hertz and the Hertz cars. Unfortunately, this promo was one of those little known episodes that nobody seems to have heard of. That's why I've continued to scratch around to find another person who might have some additional information.

The guy I originally met, back in the 1990's, saw the NSP badge on the back panel and knew all about it. He described how Hertz had outfitted the GT350H's with Barrecrafters ski racks, snow tires, and a special NSP badge. (Evidently, some sort of special NSP rate, too, I guess.) I've got articles from the Denver Post that discussed the NSP convention in Denver, 1966, but could find no mention of the Hertz promo. I'm just trying to hopefully collect some more information from other people who were aware of it.

[Bill Collins]

This may be a red herring, I have in my file a digital copy of an October 28,1966 date stamped Denver Post press photo of a '66 Hertz car.

According to the newspaper article clip attached to the back, this GT350H was the focus of a promotional contest at the Mountain Sales Business Exhibit And Industrial Conference, which offered free use of the car for a weekend. The contest was apparently sponsored by Hertz, as  their Denver sales representative Priscilla Berry is pictured with the car.

The poster does not mention when the National Ski Patrol convention took place, but being as the Denver Hertz office did this promotion with the Mountain Sales Conference, perhaps this car may have been part of the Ski Patrol promotion as well.

It is also noteworthy that this event occurred late in 1966, at the time the Hertz disposition program was either pending or underway. That may be part of why Hertz was still promoting the '66 GT350H.

[jjaustin1966]

This is interesting information. I'm going to copy/paste all this into a document and put it with all the other info I have. The actual NSP convention was in the early part of 1966, but this is some cool Hertz/ GT350H information. Thanks!

[Bill]

This may be a red herring, I have in my file a digital copy of an October 28,1966 date stamped Denver Post press photo of a '66 Hertz car.

According to the newspaper article clip attached to the back, this GT350H was the focus of a promotional contest at the Mountain Sales Business Exhibit And Industrial Conference, which offered free use of the car for a weekend. The contest was apparently sponsored by Hertz, as  their Denver sales representative Priscilla Berry is pictured with the car.

The poster does not mention when the National Ski Patrol convention took place, but being as the Denver Hertz office did this promotion with the Mountain Sales Conference, perhaps this car may have been part of the Ski Patrol promotion as well.

It is also noteworthy that this event occurred late in 1966, at the time the Hertz disposition program was either pending or underway. That may be part of why Hertz was still promoting the '66 GT350H.

That was were I was going with this, having had a similar conversation of such a car back in the late 80's or early 90's. Might have even been with Mr Collins

Bill

[Steve McDonald Formally known as Mcdonas]

Hertz had a promo in 1963 with white Corvette coupes with Red interiors with ski racks and snow tires

[jjaustin1966]

Steve,
That is interesting - and absolutely WILD! Good to know! 

[FL SAAC]

Steve,
That is interesting - and absolutely WILD! Good to know! 

Your wish has been granted by the Hertz Genie

1963 Corvette Ultimate Ski Rental Car
https://www.motortrend.com/features/1902-1963-corvette-ultimate-ski-rental-car/

[98SVT - was 06GT]

https://www.skiinghistory.org/resources/ski-magazine-back-issues-and-index-1941-1993

[jjaustin1966]

Wow, thanks, FL SAAC. Very cool!

And thanks to you, too, 98SVT. I'll check out the link.