The collection documents Granatelli's lifelong involvement with automobiles, from his youth through his career as an auto industry executive, and as a racing car owner, designer and promoter. The collection consists primarily of files, photographs, scrapbooks, and drawings. Some of the earliest files relate to Grancor, a company founded by Granatelli and his two brothers in 1945, which customized cars for clients. Other things contained in the files include meeting minutes, articles of association, business and financial records, legal records and profit and loss statements. Also included are papers relating to an organization he started called the Hurricane Hot Rod Association.
A large portion of the files relate to Granatelli's term as President of STP, a division of the Studebaker Corporation, from 1961-1974. These files detail the internal workings of the company during this period, and include papers relating to such things as strategic planning, sales, marketing, advertising and competitors' products. Additionally, this portion contains STP's Board of Directors' minutes, documents on policies and procedures, papers documenting advertising campaigns, comparative sales figures, sales manuals, and Granatelli's business correspondence. The largest part of the files relate to the Indianapolis 500 race. There are detailed files on the drivers and race teams he assembled for the annual race, but these files also include design drawings, specifications, test data, lap logs, performance statistics, and reports documenting the implementation of design changes. The scrapbooks in the collection contain clippings, biographical materials, and other documents relating to auto racing in America and especially the Indianapolis 500. Finally, the collection contains a large number of photographs covering all aspects of Granatelli's career.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged into nine series.
Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1946-2006
Series 2: Granatelli Corporation, 1943-1975
Series 3: Studebaker Corporation, 1935-1991
Series 4: United States Auto Club (USAC)
Series 5: Novi Engine, 1949-1971
Series 6: Product Literature, 1949-1972
Series 7: Racing Programs, Publications, and Ephermera, 1940s-2007
Series 8: Photographs, 1932-2008
Series 9: Audiovisual Materials, 1960-2001
Biographical / Historical:
Andy Granatelli (1923-2013) was an automobile racing promoter, a race car engine designer and an automotive innovator. Two of his cars, a 1967 turbine engine race car and the 1969 Indianapolis 500 winner, are in National Museum of American History's Division of Work & Industry collection. More than any other racing figure, Granatelli bridged the realms of garage tinkerers and professional motorsports, and he stimulated public interest in auto racing on a national level. His STP Corporation became a high-profile sponsor of Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR race cars, with Granatelli appearing in ads and commercials. His larger-than-life personality and flair for the dramatic made him an American cultural phenomenon. His career is well summed up in the profile written for his 2003 induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Racer, entrepreneur, engineer, promoter, business executive. This is how one begins to describe the career of Andy Granatelli. But the title Mister 500 is the one that befits him most, for it describes a lifelong dream to conquer the famous 500-mile race in Indianapolis.
It was a preposterous dream for the scrappy kid growing up in the slums of Chicago, whose mother had died when he was twelve, and two years later, at the age of fourteen, dropped out of school to help his father feed the family. Andy Granatelli began his quest for Indy 500 fame at the age of 20 in 1943, when he and his brother pooled their meager, hard-earned money and purchased a Texaco gas station on the north side of Chicago, which he called Andy's Super Service. Andy, always the promoter, needed a gimmick to set himself apart from other service stations. His gimmick? Granatelli initiated the first pit stop service station, utilizing four or five mechanics to work on a car at one time.
Customers appreciated the true super service experience and would often wait in line for this unique treatment. With this unique service and Andy's P.T. Barnum style it was no wonder that the station was prosperous, and just two years later, in 1945, he formed the Granatelli Corporation, known as Grancor Automotive Specialists. As the head of Grancor, Andy Granatelli pioneered the concept of mass merchandising performance products and power and speed equipment to a generation of Americans who were discovering the joys of hot rodding.
Andy quickly learned that if you give the customer what he needs, you can make a living; give him what he wants, and you can make a fortune! Granatelli's racing career began in 1946, when he built the first rocket-powered car to race on an oval track. That same year, he took his first car to the Indianapolis 500--a pre-war Harry Miller--designed Ford.
When Andy Granatelli wasn't burning up tracks, he was tearing up the business world. In 1958, Andy and his brother Joe purchased Paxton Products, a failing engineering firm that made superchargers. With Andy at the helm, Paxton Products became profitable in seven months. In 1961, Andy sold Paxton Products to Studebaker Corporation and stayed on as Paxton's CEO. Two years later, Studebaker management wanted Granatelli to work his magic on an under-performing division called Chemical Compounds Corporation. Chemical Compounds had only one, little known product . . . STP Oil Treatment. With virtually no advertising budget, Andy created a four-pronged approach to turn the company around: a recognizable corporate logo (the STP oval), a product (oil treatment), a product spokesman (himself) and a reason for existence (racing). The STP logo became one of the best recognized in history. STP could be found in virtually every venue of speed: on land, on the water or in the air. Andy Granatelli once said that in the 1960s, virtually every kid in America had an STP sticker on his bedroom door, his notebook or his lunchbox, and he was probably right!
Back at Indianapolis, Granatelli entered a revolutionary race car of his own design - one with a turbine engine in 1967 and 1968. Even though the car failed to finish both years due to mechanical failure, the cars demonstrated superior speed and performance. At the end of the 1968 season, the U.S. Auto Club revised engine specifications, effectively outlawing Granatelli's turbine car. Undeterred, Granatelli returned to Indy the following year with a conventional car and proceeded to win his first Indianapolis 500 with Mario Andretti at the wheel. Four years later, in 1973, Andy won his second and last Indy 500 with a car driven by Gordon Johncock. Andy Granatelli's childhood dream of conquering Indy was fulfilled, not once, but twice.
Source
Andy Granatelli Biography, Automotive Hall of Fame (last accessed January 29, 2020 https://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/andy-granatelli/)
Related Materials:
Materials in the Archives Center
Warshaw Collection of Business American, Series: Automobile Industry (NMAH.AC.0060)
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 1: Transportation (NMAH.AC.0300)
Evan Rangeloff Collection of Punchboards and Liggett & Myers Tobacco Sales Materials (NMAH.AC.0716)
Materials at the National Museum of American History, Division of Work and Industry
The Divison holds artifacts related to STP and the STP-Paxton Turbo Car. Included are key chains, trophies, STP stickers, TuneUp Masters stickers, belt buckle, and patch. See accession 2017.3043.
STP-Paxton Turbocar, 1967. See accession 1978.0418.
Materials at the National Museum of American History, Division of Cultural and Community Life
Division holds artifacts related to Andy Grantelli's racing career such as helmets, goggles, trophies, and coveralls and vests with the STP logo. See accession 2017.0092.
Provenance:
Collection donated by Vincent J. Granatelli, 2017.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
1 Film reel (color, silent, original reversal, 16mm, 300 feet, total running time: 8 minutes, 30 seconds)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1968
Scope and Contents:
Shot list:
1. Pike's Peak Hill Climb race atmosphere including candid footage of Paula Murphy and Dolly Granatelli in conversation, Judy Jones, and Parnelli Jones, child (probably Vinny Granatelli) taking a photograph of the camera person, aerial view of road, mountains
2. Cars racing at Pike's Peak, including Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Ted Foltz, and Mario Andretti
3. Granatelli family site-seeing in and around Pike's Peak, Colorado
4. Granatelli family skeet shooting
5. Old Homestead House Museum, Cripple Creek, Colorado (with Paula Murphy)
6. Fishing - Parnelli Jones, Andy Granatelli and family, Judy Jones
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1270
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Janice Lowry papers, 1957-2009. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Goodman, Benny (Benjamin David), 1909-1986 Search this
Container:
Box 5, Folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The collection is open for research use. Some materials restricted; but most are available for unrestricted research access on site by appointment.
Several items of personal correspondence contained private medical information about living individuals. The originals were removed and will remain sealed until 2030. Copies with the sensitive information redacted are available for research use in the collection.
Access to audio recordings for which no reference copy exists requires special arrangements with Archives Center staff. Please ask the reference archivist for additional information.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Milt Gabler Papers, 1927-2001, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Includes: Signs of the Times; Seat Belts; Mirrors; and Tires
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (16mm, 16mm, 420 feet, total running time: 11 minutes, 55 seconds)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1974
Scope and Contents:
Gold Cup racing boats, filmed on the Columbia River course in Pasco, Washington.
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1248
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (color, composite optical soundtrack, print, 16mm, 900 feet, total running time: 25 minutes 37 seconds)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1974
Scope and Contents:
Richard Petty and Buddy Baker racing on high-banked NASCAR super-tracks. Winner of the silver medal at the New York Film Festival.
Andy at Indy Film Series #9
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1209
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (color, color optical soundtrack, print, 16mm, 850 feet)
1 Film reel (color, color optical soundtrack, print, 16mm, 960 feet)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1973
Scope and Contents:
Documentary of Gordon Hancock's win in a rain-shortened Indianapolis "500" in 1973.
The first copy was in a canister marked "Andy at Indy Film Series #13" and has an "Andy at Indy" title card preceding the film.
Number on original housing of copy 1: AGM 4.1235.
The second copy is not an exact duplicate. It is about 100 feet longer and does not have the "Andy at Indy" introduction, but appears to be a different version of the same film.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (color, composite optical soundtrack, print, 16mm, 780 feet, total running time: 21 minutes, 40 seconds)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1968
Scope and Contents:
STP "flying wedges" at the Indianapolis 500 in 1968. Joe Leonard in an STP-turbocar in a fight to the finish with Bobby Unser. Unser Wins.
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1210
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (color, composite optical soundtrack, print, 16mm, 950 feet, total running time: 28 minutes)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1970
Scope and Contents:
Gripping story of 1970 Indy "500" as STP racing team fights to win.
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1221
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (16mm, optical soundtrack, print , 16mm, 200 feet, total running time: 6 minutes, 5 seconds (copy 1))
1 Film reel (16mm, optical soundtrack, print , 16mm, 200 feet, total running time: 6 minutes, 5 seconds (copy 2))
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1963
Scope and Contents:
Andy Granatelli smashing stock car records on desolate Bonneville Salt Flats in 1963.
Number on original housing of copy 1: AGM.4.1270
Number on original housing of copy 2: AGM.4.1373
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (color, composite optical soundtrack, print, 16mm, 800 feet, total running time: 26 minutes 30 seconds)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1970
Scope and Contents:
First "500" race at Ontario Motor Speedway in 1970. Jim McElreath wins.
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1222
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Inscription on can reads "stock factory Avanti promotion film"
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1375
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Films in this sub-series are completed film prints related to racing produced by a variety of sources.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (color, composite optical soundtrack, print, 16mm, 590 feet, total running time: 16 minutes)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1964
Scope and Contents:
Produced by Championship Racefilm Productions.
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1260
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (black and white, composite optical sountrack, print, 16mm, 1000 feet)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
undated
Scope and Contents:
Produced by Championship Racefilm Productions in cooperation with MobilOil.
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1233
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel ( color, composite optical soundtrack, print, 16mm, 950 feet, total running time: 26 minutes)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1967
Scope and Contents:
Produced by Championship Racefilm productions in cooperation with Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1269
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
1 Film reel (black and white, composite optical soundtrack, print, 16mm, 950 feet)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1962
Scope and Contents:
1962 Indianapolis 500.
Produced by Championship Racefilm Productions in cooperation with Indianapolis Motor Speedway and The United States Auto Club. Presented by Mobil Oil.
Number on original housing: AGM 4.1262
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Viewing film and audio portion of collection requires special appointment. See repository for details.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Andy Granatelli Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
