Otis Chandler (1927-2006): LA Times publisher and auto collector

[dd74]

Well, actually publisher/owner of the LA Times. He also owned the Chandler Auto Museum in Oxnard.

Interesting enough, his prime income came from flipping cars, not from being one of the principle stock owners of the LA Times.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-chandler-obit,0,7195252.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[speeder]

Wow, the end of an era. They were the most powerful family in the most populous state for a looong, long time. RIP.

He also had one of the best car collections ever assembled, including the very prescient abundance of mint condition/shrink-wrapped original Detroit muscle cars long before their prices headed for the moon. Plus he was an Olympic athlete(?) One interesting son of a gun.

[singpilot]

I used to fly him many years ago. He had a place in Wick, Scotland. Look at the map to see how far north that one is. He hunted something or other there. Was a nice enough guy, sorry to see him go.

[pwd72s]

I just finished reading the obit. Wow, quite a remarkable life. This proves the accuracy of a T shirt oracle: "he who dies with the most toys...still dies."

[TRE Cup]

"Oats" as he was known to his friends was quite the Porsche guy. Besides his paper's very long time support of the Times Grand Prix at Riverside (first with the pre can am days of the chapparal , then can am, and finally imsa) , he loved his P cars. He was in the POC and with his friend John Thomas they "founded" Vintage Porsche Racing. In his collection was a 4cam Carrera powered Porsche Jadwagen, the steve mcqueen #20 917, the ex Donohue 917-30 turbo panzer, as well as a pristine (Should be - he bought them new!) 935 and 959.
He raced the 935 a couple of times in imsa and brought out the 917's to play in either vintage races or with the Porsche Owners Club (where he would raffle off rides for the club's benefit!)
He got into a little trouble with the feds when his 959 was spotted driving on local Oxnard roads near his museum. The feds showed up and went over the entire car as if it was some sort of drug bust> as the car was just supposed to be a display piece, they were rather irked at not being able to prove anything. Guess they really didn't want a "death car" cruising the highways ! (some one at Porsche had gone on record that the 959 was unfit for our highways!)

With his divorce, the big cars left for a while, then came back, but finally got sold off. Shame- his precense and support of the POC and other groups will be missed

[dd74]

Originally posted by tcar
His prime income came from his daddy. He inherited it.

He was a PRINCIPAL owner of the LAT, and inherited that, too...

Well yes, that's very true. I meant day-to-day income, as most of "daddy's money" was tied up in trusts and family infighting.

[Maltese Falcon]

Here's a snippet from the Los Angeles Grand Prix, 1973 actually a CanAm and first of the infamous IROC races. He was a huge supporter of motorsports and philanthropy.
There will be a service for him in Pasadena this Monday , March 6, 2006, 11:am at the All Saints Church--open to all.
Personal condolences can be sent to chan@mfire.com
Rest in peace Otis.
Marty, recipient of 5 laps in Otis' 917/30--changed me forever !

[Leader]

Here's the link to the OTIS CHANDLER OBIT in today's L.A. Times.
It'll straighten out some of the misinformation already posted in this thread.
He was one amazing guy...almost a real-life Citizen Kane.