Coming Out of the Closet

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Mike B in SC, Jan 31, 2019.

  1. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    I love restored cars that look like they just rolled off the showroom floor. I think these cars (to be done correctly), take more work and dedication than any other type. And I appreciate the restomod cars that have the look of an older car with the performance of a modern car.
    But the cars that really excite me are the "Day Two" cars. These are the cars that I remember seeing on the streets and riding in back in the sixties and early seventies, before I was old enough to drive. Cars my neighbors and older friends drove and, dare I say it, street raced!
    The '68 327 4 speed Nova that my best friend's older brother bought was the first muscle car I ever road in and he scared the crap out of us! He was only 17 but we were 11-12 so we figured he knew what he was doing. I remember being on my knees in the back seat looking out the rear window watching him get rubber in all four gears. His time with his Nova was short-lived. His street racing caught up with him and his parents made him sell it.
    Another friend of mine had an older brother with a '67 GTO. It was jacked up with aluminum slots, L60's and Thrush sidepipes. The 400 had headers, Edelbrock intake w/850DP and some big cam. It looked & sounded wicked! I only got to ride in it once or twice but it was a thrill.
    My sister had a boyfriend with a '68 383 Road Runner. I rode in it a lot. In fact, it was the first car, of any type, that I ever drove.
    Anyway, you can see where this is going. I like muscle cars, I have liked muscle cars since I was a kid and I like "Day Two" muscle cars the best!
    This is why I have been closely following the Motion Buick resto and will be following Ryan's GS and the '69 that Dave and Paul are working on.
    The Motion Buick really interests me because back when I was a young kid I would read all the car magazines that I could get my hands on and I thought that the Baldwin/Motion cars were the baddest of the bad. In the late 60's & early 70's the Phase III Motion Camaro was my ultimate dream car. But when I turned 15 in '73, rising insurance costs and rising gas prices put an end to those dreams.
    So if you notice my '68 GS400 starts taking on a "Day Two" look, you will know why. I have started hoarding some old, vintage speed parts and they may find their way onto my car.
    There, I am out of the closet...
     
  2. OHC JOE

    OHC JOE Mullet Mafia since 2020

    I two suffer from these same type of issues. Either original or modified or custom whatever it's called. I'm a CLASSICAROHALIC.
     
  3. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    I, too, like all the different styles of builds and like all brands of cars. Certain cars like a real GSX, Boss 429, '69 Trans Am, W-30 442, Hemi anything, etc. should be left stock, but other muscle cars and their basic forms like a Skylark or regular Mustang I like day 2 style. Big full size cars like classic Cadillacs and Rivieras I like low down and customized, but I'm also a fan of them factory stock, too. I'm just not picky, and if it's cool, it's cool haha.........
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2019
  4. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    I came of driving age in the eighties, so I never saw ‘day one’ on classic muscle, just the newer stuff. My first doses of muscle were ‘decade two’; and that’s still cool to me!
    Patrick
     
  5. Daves69

    Daves69 Too many cars too work on

    I too like the day two look. That is why I have the headers and B4B on my Blue 69 plus a few hidden mods. Makes the car more fun to drive. _HUF9286 (800x534) (1).JPG
     
  6. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    While I can appreciate all the effort it takes to do a concourse restoration, I prefer day 2 restos. I graduated high school in 1969 and I don't remember too many muscle cars that remained stock once they left the showroom.
     
    faster, rmstg2, OHC JOE and 3 others like this.
  7. steve covington

    steve covington Well-Known Member

    100 % Resto? Not for me. Granted there are a few (VERY FEW) cars that I would NOT want to see deviated from stock (1987 GNX, 1970 GSX in Saturn Yellow only, mind you). Restored with more modern paint and better 'preservatives' on metal surfaces is ok by me, but other than that, those should be left alone; Similar "specialty" cars likewise, but for a 'run-of-the-mill Stage 1, Modify it to please yourself. Hell; clones get under some people's skin, but I like them if they are not presented as genuine article. Major Party Foul; in my book. I do believe ALL of my cars are modified to some degree, in search of better drivability or performance.
     
    1972Mach1 and Mike B in SC like this.
  8. gsgnnut

    gsgnnut Well-Known Member

    X2 on day 2 muscle cars. So many memories of cruising around in them. You arent a real gear head of the 70's and 80's unless you got busted for running cherry bomb glass packs on your cruiser and frying tires. I actually got hauled into the station for excessive noise and not having my license on my person ( left it at work locker that day). My current street beasts are day 2 cars. The subtle bolt on goodies like cam, electronic distributor and performance carb, intake and vintage sun gauges from the 70's just make it better.
     
    1972Mach1, OHC JOE and Mike B in SC like this.
  9. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    I am accumulating parts to restore my '69 Z/28RS. Car is unusual in that it is Cortez Silver/Black stripes with standard dark blue interior. It does have a service replacement engine. I bought it in 1973 and it was never 'stock'. I will be doing a day 2 restoration. I do have the original rally rims but I am going with American Racing CP200s rims in polished aluminum shod with staggered size tires. It will have frame connectors and headers. The underside will be satin black. No 'paint dabs, etc. I probably will be using the correct hose clamps and date coded hoses, belts and cables.
     
  10. bignastyGS

    bignastyGS Maggot pilot

    I am also starting to swap my car back to pieces that were of day 2 origin. I am putting Cragar Supertrick wheels on as well as vintage Lakewood ladder bars.I also will be putting a Sun Tach on the column as well as Sun gauges under the dash. Planning on some other things as well..Especially on the motor. A Stinger S 4 ignition,vintage Edelbrock aluminum valve covers, and a B4B intake and a chrome GS air cleaner will be first on the list.
     
  11. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    I should Day 2 Lord Vader.

    Again. :D:D
    IMG_20190124_073504_549.jpg IMG_20190124_073504_551.jpg
     
    STAGE2PAT, ilikebmx999, gs66 and 5 others like this.
  12. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

  13. bignastyGS

    bignastyGS Maggot pilot

    My starting point... 11209623_10152795534366674_4455943047892070525_n.jpg
     
  14. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    It's kinda, sort if already there - minus the Kenne- Bell valve covers and the Stinger S-4 that's sitting in the basement.

    Missing from this picture are the collectors of the MT Super Scavengers. :D

    20180627_103632.jpg
     
    STAGE2PAT, 1972Mach1 and Mike B in SC like this.
  15. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    So what is the categorical term or classification for a vehicle that has been frame off, replace all rubber wear items from body bushings, mounts, and brake lines, weather seals, restore / clean up / refinish original parts and interior, mix between Resto Mod, vintage day 2 parts, drag race prep upgrades on suspension, drivetrain, fuel system, while using aftermarket, OEM and NOS parts, while not wanting concourse body and paint but was probably really good back in the early 80’s when it was repainted.

    I’m asking for a friend.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2019
    rmstg2 and woody1640 like this.
  16. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    Down south we’d say ‘aw, I just did a few things here’n there to fix er up’.
    Patrick
     
  17. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    I'd say.....................
    <iframe width="781" height="439" src="" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
  18. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    In the late-70's thru the late-80's, I used to see this '69 Z/28 at a convenience store near my house on a regular basis. It was a Fathom Green RS with staggered aluminum slots, loud mufflers & a wicked cam. I don't think he ever washed it. I later found out from a mutual friend that the guy had bought it new and almost 20 years later it was still his daily driver. Some time in the late 80's I stopped seeing it so I figured someone had finally talked him out of it.
    We definitely need pictures of yours during & after the resto!
     
    70skylark350 and Smokey15 like this.
  19. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    Cherry Bombs or Thrush were the mufflers to have, for sure! My sister went to take her driving test in her '68 SS396 4 speed Chevelle and the Highway Patrolman who was giving the test had her start the car to check all the lights before they started the road test. Her car was so loud (Cherry Bombs!) that he refused to take her out until she put quieter mufflers on it. She said he even looked under the car, as he said, "to see if it even had mufflers"!
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2019
    faster likes this.
  20. gs66

    gs66 Silver Level contributor

    Day two is how I remember these cars and also my favorite. Plus they are more drivable. I love to drive my cars so a trailer queen is of no use to me. I do get it that a few of each need to be preserved as original and I’m glad someone else is undertaking that.
     
    Smokey15 likes this.

Share This Page