Edelbrock, LLC is an American manufacturer of specialty automotive and motorcycle parts. The company is headquartered in the Memphis area (specifically Olive Branch, Mississippi), with a Southern California R&D Tech Center located in Cerritos, CA. The Edelbrock Sand Cast and Permanent Mold Manufacturing foundries are located in San Jacinto, CA. Edelbrock has two facilities in North Carolina: the Edelbrock Carburetor Division in Sanford, and the Edelbrock Race Center in Mooresville.
Vic Edelbrock founded the corporation in 1938 when his desire to increase the performance of his 1932 FordRoadster led him to design a new intake manifold,[3] friends and fellow drivers soon wanted one as well. This transformed his repair garage into a parts manufacturing enterprise, making one-of-a-kind equipment for automobiles.
History
Origins
Edelbrock's garage on the corner of Hancock and Avalon in Los Angeles. ca. 1930's
Vic Edelbrock Sr. was born in a small farming community of Eudora, Kansas in 1913. After the family grocery store burned down in 1927, he left school at the age of 14 to help support the family by ferrying Model T Fords from Wichita to the many outlying farms in the area. The frequent stops to replace parts that shook loose on the region's dirt roads made him an expert at impromptu repair work.[4][5] Soon after, he found work in a local repair shop, working as an auto mechanic.[6]
When the Great Depression hit in 1931, Edelbrock went to California to live with his brother, Carl. Initially, he moved in with his brother and took a job as an auto mechanic. In order to earn some extra money to open his own repair shop, Edelbrock took an evening job in downtown Los Angeles parking cars at a large apartment complex. It was a chance encounter at this parking complex where he bumped into the 19-year-old Irish woman, Katherine (Katie) Collins, who was working as a day maid. Despite the fact that Katie was engaged, Edelbrock convinced her to give him a chance and not marry her fiancé. Vic and Katie married in June 1933, just eight weeks after meeting.[4]
As a 22-year-old, Edelbrock teamed up with his new brother-in-law to open his first automobile repair shop on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.[5] Business flourished and in 1934 Edelbrock moved into his own shop on the corner of Venice Blvd and Hoover in Los Angeles.[4] Business continued to grow rapidly and he moved his shop three more times in the 1930s.[7] In 1936, Katie Edelbrock gave birth to Vic, Jr., the couple's only child.[4]
The Slingshot
Edelbrock's first commercial product: The Slingshot manifold
In 1938 Vic Edelbrock bought his first project car, a 1932 Ford Roadster. In his desire to increase the performance, he joined with Tommy Thickstun to design a new intake manifold for the roadster's flathead engine.[3] Unhappy with the performance of that manifold, Edelbrock designed his own, nicknamed The Slingshot.[8] Most importantly, the new manifold allowed two Stromberg 97 carburetors to be used, eliminating a bottleneck that limited the engine's horsepower.[9] The manifold was tested for quality at the Murocdry lake (occupied today by Edwards Air Force Base), which was a testing ground for Edelbrock and many other car clubs and racing associations.[5] On November 16, 1941, after stripping off the fenders and hubcaps, Edelbrock set a national speed record in the flying quarter mile with a speed of 121.45mph (195.45km/h).[10][11] Originally, he had no intention of producing any additional manifolds, but the overwhelming response following his phenomenal speed in a 1932 Ford prompted Edelbrock to make more. This was the first product that he sold commercially and marked the beginning of the company as it is known today. Edelbrock ultimately manufactured 100 of the Slingshot manifolds.[4]
Early years
Edelbrock's first catalog (1946)
During World War II, Edelbrock's machinist skills were put to work in the Todd Shipyards in Long Beach, hand fabricating and weldingaircraft parts. The Office of Defense Transportation placed a ban on auto racing during the war, but Edelbrock discreetly designed and developed a new line of products.[4] After the war, he produced aluminumracing cylinder heads, in addition to manifolds, which quickly gained him notability among hot rodding hobbyists. Parts to increase an engine's performance were not readily available, so racers built their own. Soon Edelbrock found himself building pieces first for his friends and then for customers.[12]
To deal with the enormous amount of mail he was receiving by 1946 Edelbrock created the company's first catalog, Edelbrock Power and Speed Equipment, with the help of Robert E. "Pete" Petersen. This hastened the transformation of the Edelbrock company from a repair garage into a performance parts manufacturer. Then, in 1947, Edelbrock produced the first cylinder heads for the Ford flathead.
One of the first companies to use an enginedynamometer, Edelbrock moved to a 5,000 sq ft shop in 1949 to develop more manifolds, cylinder heads and racing pistons. In the early 1950s, he continued to dominate the dry lakes and expanded his racing to the Bonneville Speedway.[4]
A major claim to fame for Edelbrock was beating all the Offenhauser-powered midget cars that had dominated midget car racing for several years; a remarkable feat because Offenhausers had a significant power advantage over all the other engines.[17] Using his Kurtis Kraft V8-60 "shaker" midget car powered by a secret blend of 20% nitromethane (disguised with the scent of orange oil),[10] Rodger Ward made history on August 10, 1950, when his Edelbrock-powered #27 car broke the winning streak of the "Offy"-equipped midget cars at Gilmore Stadium, the track that originated midget car racing.[17] This was the only V8-60 to ever beat the Offys in the Gilmore 386-Race history.[18] The same car raced at the Orange Show Stadium in San Bernardino the following night, again beating the Offenhauser cars.[19] This feat was never duplicated in the history of midget racing.[12] Edelbrock was not the only racer in that era to experiment with nitromethane; fellow racers Joaquin Arnett and Tony Capanna had tried it in their hot rods, as well. Edelbrock, however, is generally considered to be the one who pulled it all together and made the volatile fuel work.[20]
Turning points
Edelbrock's best selling product: The Chevy small-block intake manifoldEdelbrock carburetor
Until 1955, Edelbrock made parts only for the Ford Motor Company..[8] Few things affected the company (as well as the development of the hot rod market) more than the development of the Chevrolet small-block engine (now referenced by the retronym Gen I as to distinguish between generations of the said Chevrolet engine) in 1955. Chevrolet delivered three small block engines to Edelbrock for experimentation. He used one engine for testing on a dynamometer and another to test multi-carb manifolds for magazine articles. He prepared the third engine for boat builder Henry Lauterback, who immediately set two world records in Miami, Florida.[4]
In 1958, Edelbrock managed an industry first by extracting one horsepower per cubic-inch from a 283 cid small-block Chevy that was equipped with his newly designed Cross Ram Manifold. This breakthrough led him to begin producing manifolds for Pontiac and Chrysler engines.[8]
Another critical turning point in the company's history was the 1964 decision to build a four-barrel intake manifold for the small-block Chevrolet. The C-4B manifold, developed with help from Bob Joehnck, opened the door to a new line of performance products. Although competing with the factory was a risky proposition, it turned out to be a beneficial one, as it allowed the company to expand into a new market.[21]
Growth
Edelbrock's corporate headquarters in Torrance, California
In 1962, cancer claimed the life of Victor Edelbrock, Sr. at the age of 49. At the time, the company consisted of ten employees and annual sales were $450,000.[22] Edelbrock was succeeded by his only son, 26-year-old Vic Edelbrock, Jr.[23] Vic Jr., who had graduated with a degree in business from USC in 1958, became president and chief executive officer, a position he held until 2010.[24]
When gas prices soared in the 1970s, Edelbrock produced its Streetmaster line of intake manifolds that featured improved mileage, as well as performance.[5]
In 1987, Edelbrock moved its facilities to its current location in Torrance, California. The five-building corporate facility occupies over 400,000 square feet (37,000m2).[3] In 1990, Edelbrock built a 73,000-square-foot (6,800m2) sand-cast aluminum foundry in San Jacinto, which employed 75 to 100 workers, and gave the company the ability to increase production according to market demands.[25]
In 1994, the Edelbrock corporation went public, selling shares of stock on the NASDAQ stock exchange. This initially raised $21 million, which was used mainly for construction of a new exhaust division in Torrance near its main facilities.[26]
Russell logo
In 2000, Russell Performance Plumbing, a company that manufactures fittings and hoses, was acquired by Edelbrock. The company, which had been based in Florida, was relocated to Torrance by 2001.
As of June 30, 2004, the company employed 722 persons, and achieved revenues of $125.98 million USD.[2] Since the company went private again in 2004, revenue findings have not been available to the general public.
On June 7, 2010, the Chicago-based private equity firm Industrial Opportunity Partners (IOP) acquired Edelbrock Corporation.[27][28]
In January 2021, the company was announced that its headquarters would be relocated to the Memphis, Tennessee region.[29]
Modern-day racing
The Edelbrock sticker on a NASCAR racecar
The Edelbrock logo is prevalent in NASCAR but the company does not sponsor a racing team. Instead it engages in advertising through a $250,000 per year (2004) contract with NASCAR by which the Edelbrock contingency sticker is placed on every NASCAR race car. Contingency is a common form of "after the fact" sponsorship whereby racers place stickers on their vehicles from companies that post monetary awards to racing teams for winning, in exchange for the right to use images of winning drivers and their cars in promotional literature and advertising.
Edelbrock also posts contingency awards for drag racers, including NHRA sportsman categories. Since 2002, Edelbrock has been the title sponsor of the PRO Edelbrock Drag Racing Series, which features both professional and sportsman racing classes. The racing series includes seven classes of heads-up style racing and three classes of index style racing.[30]
In 2021, Edelbrock partnered with Ilmor to build engines for the Superstar Racing Experience. Using the Ilmor 396 as a base, Edelbrock provides components such as the camshaft and ignition coils.[31]
Products
Eighty years after Vic Edelbrock Sr. manufactured the first Flathead Ford intake manifold, the Edelbrock company now designs and manufactures camshaft and lifter kits, carburetors, crate engines, cylinder heads, electronic fuel injection, engine blocks, engine dress-up, fuel pumps, intake manifolds, nitrous oxide injection, power packages, superchargers, top end kits, valvetrain, and water pumps. The company relies on online and catalog resellers along with traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. In 2018, Edelbrock launched a direct-to-consumer e-commerce website.
Timeline
1931 – Edelbrock moves to California
1934 – Edelbrock moves into a shop on Venice and Hoover in Los Angeles
1938 – Edelbrock moves to the Breawood Garage in Los Angeles
1938 – Edelbrock buys a 1932 Ford Roadster and designs the first Edelbrock product, the Slingshot manifold
1941 – Edelbrock sets land speed record in a V8 roadster September 28
1941–45 – Edelbrock contributes to the WWII war effort by fabricating parts in the Long Beach shipyard
1945 – Edelbrock designs his first aluminum racing cylinder heads for flathead Fords
1945 – Vic Sr. purchased first building with machine shop on N. Highland in Hollywood, California
1946 – First Edelbrock catalog published
1948 – Edelbrock purchases a Clayton engine dynamometer[6]
1949 — Edelbrock moves to its first purpose-built shop called Edelbrock Equipment Co. on Jefferson Blvd. in Los Angeles
1951 – The first streamliner powered by a Flathead Ford to go over 200mph (320km/h) is the Edelbrock-equipped Bachelor-XydiasSo-Cal Special[32]
1958 – Edelbrock is the first to achieve one horsepower per cubic inch[6]
1962 – Vic Edelbrock, Jr. takes control of company when Vic Sr. dies of cancer at age 49
2017 – Edelbrock awarded CAN (formerly PWA) Manufacturer of the Year
2018 – Edelbrock celebrates 80 Years in business
2018 – First Edelbrock diesel cylinder head produced
2020 – Edelbrock opens the Edelbrock Race Center in North Carolina that will focus on race-oriented cylinder head machining
2020 – Edelbrock and Competition Cams merge, creating a new platform company owned by Industrial Opportunity Partners[37]
2020 – Edelbrock divests its nitrous oxide category to Nitrous Supply[38]
2021 – The Edelbrock Group is formed, consisting of COMP Cams, Edelbrock, FAST Fuel Air Spark Technology, Russell Performance and TCI Automotive
2021 – Edelbrock corporate headquarters, manufacturing and distribution center move to new 300,000-square-foot facility in metropolitan Memphis (Olive Branch, MS)
2021 – Edelbrock expansion includes new Southern California Tech Center located in Cerritos, CA
2021 – Edelbrock introduces Pro-Flo 4+ EFI Engine Management System
Related Research Articles
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1 2 Circle Track magazine article, December 1989, Tom Madigan
↑ Hotrod & Restoration magazine article, July 2005, Bill Sessa
↑ Anderson, Stephen K. "Historical Reunion: Repeating History Through a Car and a Great American Family". American Rodder Magazine, May 2004. Retrieved 5 August 2008
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