6 replies to this topic

[tampaguy]

I am a long time friend of Joe Sheppard from Tampa, I bought a AH 3000 from a man named Jack Sheppard no relation who was a professor at USF in the early 70's. He bought the car from Sheppards and auto crossed the car from 1960 thru 66 than parked the car under a carport in Tampa untill 73 when I bought from him, when i went to move it mr sheppard told me he had some spare parts for it in a outside shed, it came with a new long block still in it's original crate from the factory in England. A few years later I bought a Sunbeam Alpine MK V from Joe that was returned for repairs to the engine. The original owner ran it low on oil and burned up the engine. The factory refused to repair it under warranty so the car sat for many years in joes shop a few blocks south of Gandy Blvd on the east side of the road. During the time it sat at Sheppards original location it was robbed of parts to repair other Alpines, when I got it it had no seats, many of the instruments where gone and the engine was shot and most underhood parts where missing. After much work Joe and I rebuilt the car to running condition. It was one good looking MK V, triple black with factory hardtop & tonneau cover. I sold it after I got married and had two children. If anyone is interested in the history of Sheppards Imports I have photos from that era gone past. One is a photo of the 2nd floor storage aera, quite a shot showing some of the inventory they sold at the time, MG,s Jags, Triumph, Porsche, Roots Group and an unusual VW conv. Joe was a great guy and never bragged about his racing success. If asked he would tell the stories about his racing days but what he loved the most at the time was his radio controlled model airplanes he flew when not working at his repair shop Sheppards Imports. I would go and sit for hours and just watch as he worked on the most outlandish vehicles owned by the wealthy people of Tampa, I thought I had died and went to heaven. To this day I am still interested in sports cars and have owned some of the finest cars built. I owe it all to Joe for teaching me that some of finer things in life do come in small packages.

[hatrat]

Joe raced a Gemini Mk2 Formula Junior at the support race to the USGP at Sebring in December 1959. The car was owned by Duncan Forlong who had just bought it from the US importer Bill Tannehauser. Duncan was down to drive the car at Sebring but had an accident in his Saab in the compact race and suffered concussion - Joe had to step in at the last moment and drive the Gemini. Here is a photo of the Gemini and Joe (in the white overalls?) at Sebring on 11 December 1959. The car was the first Gemini race car made and it is now in New Zealand.

[Lotus11Register]

Joe is the subject of, or is mentioned in, several threads on this forum and you should try a search on TNF using his name. Some of those who have added comments here were also customers that came away with a lasting fondness for the man. He's an easy guy to like.

[tampaguy]

Hi Jay,
Thanks for the reply about Joe, one small correction about the photo above, Joe is the seen looking into the car from the left side in the light jacket. FYI I have a few interesting photos of Joe & Colin at Sebring prepping the 11's in one of the old Army Airfield Hangers located at the track. I used to ride my bike to Mr Sheppards repair shop south of gandy Blvd in the late 60's after the main dealership was sold to Dave Heinz. I would pull up a tall chair he had and would sit for hours and just watch what he was doing at the time. it was always a thrill to see what was in the shop that day. I do hope more people would chime in about this special man......Jack

[Lotus11Register]

FYI I have a few interesting photos of Joe & Colin at Sebring prepping the 11's in one of the old Army Airfield Hangers located at the track.

These would be of great interest here. If you can scan them please either post them here yourself or email me through www.lotuseleven.org and I will post them. Thanks.

[URY914]

Tampaguy,

I grew up in south Tampa and remember Sheppard. While you were riding your bike to Sheppard's I was riding mine to Dave Hienz' on South Howard. Do you have pics of the building on Howard?

It would be great to meet in person and talk about this old Tampa stuff.

I'm in Temple Terrace now.

Paul

[tampaguy]

Paul,
Thanks for your reply about Joe, I spent all my free time at Joe's shop south of Gandy Blvd. Once the original location was sold to Dave Heinz Joe never had anything to do with the place, it must have been hard on him because he never spoke about it at all. I do have photos of the original location, one is a unique photo of the 2nd floor storage location. It shows many cars lined up side by side along the south wall. I do believe it is the only photo that remains of the upstairs.
I would love to meet you and remember the good old day's of Tampa past but I now live in Oregon, I just spent a few days in Tampa during the Indy 500 weekend, I still have family in the Johns Pass area over in St Pete. Looked at your pictures ,looks like you are a real racer, I did all mine on the streets around Lutz when it was mostly horse pasture. Joe started me on the path to sports cars and I had some of the best! I wish I still had a few of the ones he sold me or helped me locate, Alfa , AH 3000, Jag 120, TR4, TR3B, TR6, MGC, MGBGT (7) 356, 190SL, Hilman Husky, Sunbeam Alpine MKV, you could find some nice cars in those days around the bay area. I have a photo of my 3000 in front of the howard location, it's was being used to shoot a photo that ran in the Tampa Tribune sports section. My wife's parents owned the Silver Coach Cafe in downtown next to the Trib building and knew Salty Sal Flashmen the sports director at channel 8, what a guy. He got a lot written about Joe. PM me and we can talk further about Tampa and Joe.....Thanks Jack