Joseph (Joe) Herald Davis

Born October 26 1934 in Louisville, Kentucky -December 9 1999 in San Jose, CA

Bio:

Joe Davis moved out to Cupertino, CA in 1948 from Kentucky. Joe started working with Ford in El Cerrito, CA then transferred to Ford plant in Milptas, CA where he work a long line of jobs such as line assembly, paint & body, metal finisher & final job as foreman/inspector. He retired in 1998 with over 40+ years at Ford. Joe's first hot rod was around 1958 were he picked up a totaled 1956 Plymouth Fury that he fixed back up. That car was running a 303ci with 2x4 carbs & solid lifter cam. In 1959 Joe had for a short time was a 1936 Plymouth coupe running a 326ci. In 1960 Joe pulled the motor & sold the '56 Fury. He then bought a 1956 Plymouth Plaza where he put that 303ci motor into & now that car was pretty darn fast, that was told to him by Wayne Maxey. Wayne suggested to Joe to go to Fremont Drag Strip to race it & that's when Joe got the bug for competitive drag racing. He picked up a sponsored from Harry Sieman of Sieman's Garage where he raced that Plaza though out 1960 & 1961 with that sponsor painted on the doors.  In 1963 he purchased the Fiat from Mac Jameson & Dave McClellan which he ran up in till 1965 when he removed the Fiat body for the 1965 Mustang coupe body to become Colt 45 the first funny car.