In Loving Memory of my Father, Bill Williams, an Unforgettable Maybelline Car Guy, who's memory still lives on today!

Born to be Car Guys!

In honor of the 8th year anniversary of my father, Bill Williams passing... 

Some guys are just born with that car-gene and some are not.  Over the past 100 years the romance of owing a hot car has grown to the point, where people pay a million dollars to own one, vintage or not.  My father, Bill Williams and his cousin, Bill Stroh, had a love for wheels right from the start.

The two little cousins were the children of Evelyn Williams, and her sister Verona Stroh.

The two Bills grew up together in Chicago, and loved anything that they could push, ride or burn rubber in.

Best of buddy's, The young Bill's lived together during some rough times in the 1920's, when Evelyn and Preston were working out their differences. 

The boy's were practically twins.  Born a few weeks a part, handsome little chaps with truck loads of enthusiasm, especially for cars.

Even when Bill Williams moved away from Chicago, to California, Bill Stroh visited during the Summer months and their devotion for anything fast continued to grow.

Bill Williams in his first car.

Car Guy's Gone Wild.

Bill Williams and his cousin, Bill Stroh, continued their car crazy love, until the draft temporally stopped the obsession for a couple of years.

Bill Williams in his Army uniform, before being shipped to the Philippians, poses with Bill Stroh, who would soon enlist into the Navy.  However that didn't stop them from spending every available minute working on their cars.

Both Bill's learned how to rebuild an engine as teenagers, and could talk the talk with any mechanic, while their girl's sat patiently and waited.

Bill Stroh in the center with his cousin Bill Williams to his right, with the 
4-F Club Guys.

As Teenagers the cousin's formed a Car Club, called the 4-F Club and cruised for pretty girls.  It didn't take long before both guys had THE ONE.

Bill and Pauline Williams, with Baby Sharrie, sitting on the grass, and Mary and Bill Stroh.

After the War, the boy's returned home, married, had kids and built careers, however, when they reached their prime, the first thing they did was return to their first love.  Beautiful cars.

Car Guy's Gone Wild.

Bill Williams collected beautiful automobiles for the pleasure of being seen in them.  Bill Stroh raced fast cars for the pleasure of driving them. 

Ladies man, Bill Williams, became an avid car collector, in his late 40's, after the Maybelline Company sold in 1967. He bought Casa Guillermo, in Palm Springs in 1973, for it's 4 garages, and two acres of land, where stored several more cars.                                     

Man's man, Bill Stroh on the other hand, became a hands-on, race car driver for Porsche, in the 1960's, making quite a name for himself in Chicago's racing world.  

Mama drove a Hot Rod - Thanks to my cousin, race-car driver, Bill Stroh.

Bill Stroh's 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 350, was the catalyst that inspired Bill Williams to build his car collection.

The 1965 GT350 had one purpose in life and that was to put the Ford Mustang in the winner’s circle in SCCA road racing.  Bill Stroh on the left, with his son and brother in law, raced this Cobra and I have to say, it made my dad, Bill Williams a little jealous.  In fact three years later my dad  trumped his cousin and bought a 1968 Ford Mustang

Shelby GT500 Convertible.

Here I am with Bill Strohs son, standing next to Bill's GT 350 Cobra.  It was the Summer of 1966, while I was in Chicago, getting to know my father's family.  I had no idea that five years later, I'd be the owner of a 1968 Shelby Mustang, GT 500 Cobra convertible when my father gave his car to me in 1971, for my 24th Birthday.

Here I am admiring Bill Stroh's racing Cobra.  I'm sure it was this car, that planted the seed in my father's mind, to begin his car collection, after theMaybelline Company sold, in December of 1967.  

                                                   

1965–66 GT 350s were very successful racers, and had many production-class victories.

So I drove a Hot Rod with a baby seat, until I sold my Shelby GT 500 Mustang convertible in 1983. 

 My next Hot Rod, was a 1969 Completion Orange Camero, with white racing stripes, which I drove my daughter around in until she was 10 years old.  I have to give credit to Bill Stroh, for bringing racing stripes into our lives and spurring my dad on to collect 12 classic cars.  Today we still have his 1977 Clenet, Series 1, number 13. 

My dad's Shelby GT 500, crashed and was rebuilt, for my 24th Birthday. The front of the car actually lifted when I hit the gas and was the most fun car I ever drove.

Bill Stroh died unexpectedly from a heart attack in 1974.  He was only 50 years old.  Bill Williams lived to be 82 and grieved the loss of his cousin for 32 years.  It was like losing a brother he said.  My dad bought Bill's Porsche from his widow Mary Stroh and gave it to his son, William Preston Williams years later.

Bill Williams memory lives on through his Clenet Automobile.

 Alain Clenet, refers to his American, coach-made, Clenet, as Driving Art. 

Alain Clenet was recognized for his contribution to Santa Barbara history, at the Concours d'Elegance.

Tom Pierpoint, President of The Clenet Cluster, with Alain Clenet.

These wonderful, limited edition automobiles were built in the late 70's and early 80's by Clenet Coachworks of Santa Barbara, CA. There has been a recent strong interest in these vehicles most probably due to the fact that they are becoming "classic neo-classics" as they all approach 30 years of age. We are probably a bit biased, but we think they are the most elegant automobiles ever produced. 

The William P. Williams family, showed Bill's Classic Clenet, Series 1, number 13 at the Santa Barbara Concours, Oct 30th, as well as The La Quinta Concours d'Elegance, this year, where it won 2 place in the Neo-Classic, category.

Bill Williams Clenet, showed with 20 other Classic Clenet, owners, at Alain Clenet's, Coachworks, 35 Anniversary.

Steve Kourocas, (Clenet Coachworks original fabricator,) Alain Clenet, (designer and owner of Clenet Coachworks,) with Bill Williams daughter, Donna Williams.

Alain Clenet, sharing some memories of Bill Williams,  with his daughter, Donna Williams.

Steve Kourocas with Donna Williams.  Kourocas has many good stories about her father, Bill Williams during the fabricating, of number 13. 

Donna Williams with her cousin Ann Louise Williams-Corbett, enjoying the Concours.


Clénet is an automobile series with old retro styling, mixed with modern technology.  Each limited-production model was conceived, designed, and produced by a small team of men and women in Santa Barbara County, California in the 1970s and 1980s. The automobile's distinctive styling was based on the high-end automobiles of the 1930s. Despite their retro looks, Clénets used modern drive trains and suspension systems.    

My father, Bill Williams, the ultimate Gatsby...

Along with love of beautiful cars, comes the love of beautiful women.  A man's car is like a beautiful women to him according to actor Hugh Grant.   

Be sure to visit my hilarious 1964 High School Diary Blog at http://saffronsrule.com/

THE ULTRA GATSBY IMAGE ... MAYBELLINE HEIR, BILL WILLIAMS' "CLENET"... 1977 SERIES 1 number 13

I received this email March 11th

Dear Sharrie Williams,

My name is Brandon Dickson and I am a film student at California State University, Northridge. Currently, a group of us are in the preproduction stages of a documentary on Clenet automobiles as our senior thesis. We heard about your family's history with the #13 car and saw a video of you speaking about it and its' involvement in your life. We are really interested in speaking with you and perhaps interviewing you as a subject for our project. Please contact us as we look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,
Brandon Dickson (Executive Producer)
Jennifer Fernandes (Director) --

I agreed to meet with Brandon and Jennifer with their film crew four days later on March 15th, and we shot clips for this mini-documentary.  The thesis being, "Why do Clenet owners still have such passion for their car 35 years later."  Here is the result of our collaboration.

After graduation, this Summer, Brandon and Jennifer plan to expand their film into a full length Documentary and enter in Film Festivals around the Country.

Producers...

Brandon Dickson's childhood fascination with cameras and movies has blossomed into college with honors and a career in film and TV production. He began producing shorts and YouTube videos in 7th grade and hasn't stopped since. His dedication to high production values and interesting subject matter is evident in his work as he continues to produce documentaries, narratives, and photography for all occasions.

Jennifer Fernandes is a self-motivated and hardworking television production student who strives to outdo her expectations for every project she becomes involved in. After spending a year and a half studying biology she realized that her true passion lies in the creative world of television and film. As she eagerly progresses through her courses and gains valuable knowledge, her passion grows. Jennifer continues to work hard with determination towards advancing her career in the professional world ahead.

Steve Kouracos, Clenet's original Fabricator, featured driving the Clenet, 

Trailer...Gatsby will be released May 10, 2013 at theatres everywhere. 

A screen grab of a Buick chasing a Duesenberg from THE GREAT GATSBY (Warner Bros.)

Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan lead the cast. 
The soundtrack for the film was produced by Jay-Z and features his wife Beyonce’

Bill Williams

Want to  know more about Bill Williams and his 1977, Series 1, Gatsby-Clenet, number 13  click on past posts I have done. Click link below.

http://www.maybellinebook.com/2011/10/maybelline-heir-bill-williams-classic.html



THE GREAT GATSBY (1974): Robert Redford was and still is the ultimate best Gatsby in my book.  The class, the sophistication, the looks and the style. This new Gatsby is nothing more than a carnival ride with a beautiful background behind it. 

Maybelline Heir, Bill Williams 1977 Clenet # 13 is ready for its close up

CLENET TV .....click to see the original clip of 1977, Series 1 Clenet owners. 

After a year and half, Bill Williams, 1977 Clenet, seemed to glow as it sped out of storage, excited to be filmed for a new Documentary.

  Friday was a long day for  # 13's original fabricator,
Steve Kouracos and my sister Donna and me.   We were all interviewed for a Documentary, asking the question... "Why are Clenet owners still so passionate about their car after  35 years."

Alain Clenet's, neo-classic product of the Clenet Coachworks of Santa Barbara, Calif., was meant to be America's answer to the Rolls-Royce.  Some of the original owners included, Rod Stewart, Wayne Newton and Ken Norton.  The rock group Kiss wanted theirs in shocking pink but were turned down. My father, Bill Williams bought #13 for $28,000 and added some custom features including his initials painted on both doors and Gatsby etched glass. for more information about the Alain Clenet and his Car click here.

  I will post more as the producer sends snippets to me.

Happy Saint Patricks Day, May the wind always be at your back.

Clenet, the most elegant coach-built automobile ever produced.

The party's over, and Bill Williams classic # 13, Clenet, goes back home until next year!

Bill and Gloria at Casa Guillermo. This picture was used for advertising Clenet Coachworks in 1980.

click on video.

Sharrie Williams and Steve Kouracos, tuck Bill's Clenet back in it's spot, in the garage, until next year.

This particular Clenet is very rare because it was the last car built on a Lincoln Continental running gear and chassis.  After 1977 the running gear on the first series cars changed to a Mercury Cougar chassis with a smaller motor, transmission and suspension.  This particular Clenet has the 400 cubic inch engine with the C6 transmission, large breaks and suspension.  There were many Series 1 cars that were purchased by celebrities and used in filming movies and TV Shows.

After the Series 1 was completed, Clenet then designed and produced the Series ll - a four passenger - and went into production on his Series lll, The ASHA.

This car has 26,000 original miles and has been in storage for the past 6 years.  Recently it went through a preservation by Steve Kouracos.  Kouracos was one of the original craftsmen at Clenet Coachworks.  He set up and managed the body and paint division.  The car is 100% original, including the 35 year old lacquer paint job.  We hope you enjoy viewing this piece
 of automotive history as much as we love showing it.   

Specs:
400 cubic inch 2v v-8 engine
Select shift automatic transmission C6
Four-wheel power disc brakes
2.75 rear axle ratio

Questions, please call:
 Steve Kouracos
949-922-3013 

Read more about Bill Williams and the Maybelline family, in The Maybelline Story and the Spirited Family Dynasty Behind it! 

Buy a signed copy from his daughter, and author, Sharrie Williams at http://www.maybellinestory.com/.   

Bill Williams memory lives on through his Clenet Automobile.

 Alain Clenet, refers to his American, coach-made, Clenet, as Driving Art. 

Alain Clenet was recognized for his contribution to Santa Barbara history, at the Concours d'Elegance.

Tom Pierpoint, President of The Clenet Cluster, with Alain Clenet.

These wonderful, limited edition automobiles were built in the late 70's and early 80's by Clenet Coachworks of Santa Barbara, CA. There has been a recent strong interest in these vehicles most probably due to the fact that they are becoming "classic neo-classics" as they all approach 30 years of age. We are probably a bit biased, but we think they are the most elegant automobiles ever produced.

The William P. Williams family, showed Bill's Classic Clenet, Series 1, number 13 at the Santa Barbara Concours, Oct 30th, as well as The La Quinta Concours d'Elegance, this year, where it won 2 place in the Neo-Classic, category.

Bill Williams Clenet, showed with 20 other Classic Clenet, owners, at Alain Clenet's, Coachworks, 35 Anniversary.

Steve Kourocas, (Clenet Coachworks original fabricator,) Alain Clenet, (designer and owner of Clenet Coachworks,) with Bill Williams daughter, Donna Williams.

Alain Clenet, sharing some memories of Bill Williams,  with his daughter, Donna Williams.

Steve Kourocas with Donna Williams.  Kourocas has many good stories about her father, Bill Williams during the fabricating, of number 13. 

Donna Williams with her cousin Ann Louise Williams-Corbett, enjoying the Concours.


Clénet is an automobile series with old retro styling, mixed with modern technology.  Each limited-production model was conceived, designed, and produced by a small team of men and women in Santa Barbara County, California in the 1970s and 1980s. The automobile's distinctive styling was based on the high-end automobiles of the 1930s. Despite their retro looks, Clénets used modern drive trains and suspension systems.   

My father, Bill Williams, the ultimate Gatsby...