1969 Chevelle SS 396, 4 speed - $8000

We are sitting on the edges of our respective computer chairs waiting with bated breath...Good Luck Bill!

 

I am taking JC's advice and gonna punt. I am about to embark on a great crusade... Leaving at 1000hrs tomorrow with a trailer in drag (?). Got everything straightened out. Man do they talk funny in Texas LOL... Ive got a feeling that this is gonna be competition for Fritz's Poor Mans Touring hot rod. Torn between looking nice, or a runner with good patina and blankies on the seats haha. Gonna be pretty busy until we get home Friday; Im chompn' at the bit. Pats' agitating, er I mean, navigating. Shes profoundly enthused as much as I am. Gotta love a gal like that!! A cheap 5 year note at 3.49%. I guess that 790 credit score worked again. I promised to keep on aggravating everyone here; the chevelle guys dont get it. Its not a Buick, its a chevelle. ws

 

Good luck on your adventure, Bill and Pat. I look forward to my new shift knob. I will proudly run it for a weekend as running the Pro Stick will be a little dicey on the fingers with a T handle.....but if you keep it retro ratty (I would for a while at least) you have to keep it. It wouldn't be right otherwise.

 

It does match the Mustang emblem, though......

 

As a former DORF err....ford owner (now proud Chevy owner) I resent that remark. I always wanted to own a 'Stang but never drove stick. So this car is for BILL!! I get to ride shotgun. I told him in a couple of years when he has it running (maybe next summer) we shall be side by side. Me in the Buick and him in the Chevelle. ppat

 

Good luck Bill.
To me, it looks like a good project
Hopefully it all works out for you

FYI - There is a thread on the Yenko site also about this car. Couple people stating that they have been talking to the guy.

 

Pat: You and Bill make a great team. Good luck with everything.

UticaGeoff

 

Have a safe trip, Pat & Bill.

 

Thanks everyone! Especially all the exspurts that have given valuable insight/input. RAB above ^^ pointed out a Yenko forum mentioning this... heres the link:

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=152169

No one including myself caught the hood swap. Aint that a kick in the dro's! Still isnt the end of the world. I guy local to us has a steel take off from a race car for $100.00. Theres gonna be a helluva story on this after we get back and recuperate for a few days. Gotta go. Its 0515 and we are packing up! ws

 

All this talk about Chevys here sorta warms the heart, doesn't it? Hey Bill, I want to come see that car when you get it home.

 

Hey Bill... I dont know about the heart but the ol' pucker string is at full strain today LOL Our route home is I-55 to Rt. 39 to Beloit and I-43 from there. Gimme a call Friday at 920 629 6065 (Pat) or me 630 388 8882 (driving) . We might be making a gas stop around Machesny Parkensaw or where ever. Love to meet up and grab a coffee or somethin' there. Yer welcome in TR as well but its another 200 miles for ya. ws

 

Your route will take you less than a mile from my shop, where I-39 meets bypass 20 at the south end of Rockford. You would take the Freeport ramp to the west. Alpine exit is less than a mile. There are several as stations here at 20 and S. Alpine and a nice little mom and pop restaurant right around the corner that we frequent. If you wish, give me a call when you get about an hour away and I'll meet you. 815-558-5748. And if you have a little extra time I will show you a collection of GTOs I have restored (only a block away) that will leave you speechless. Hope this works out, I'm looking forward to meeting you and Pat and seeing the Chevelle. Have a safe trip.

 

We'll try for a fuel stop there Bill... cant guarantee it tho. A shop visit would be cool and love to see old goats but that can turn into a 2 hour pit stop talking cars that we cant afford. Pat has yer number saved and we'll give you a shout for a coffee stop near you if the stars align that day LOL...Just hope this guy aint roached out! Bill

 

First and ten; do it again...Pulled a 60 yard punt as per Jasons advice and lost the winning point Got the trailer and hauled buns from TR down to Fort Worth through famine and blizzard...actually spent a night in Alton, Ill. due to a major unexpected snow event. White, black ice zero viz, the whole bit that put us behind a half a day but made in tonite. Livin' on gas station pizza. Pat and I did a 1 hour cursory inspection at dusk with a flashlite, and retired to the hotel and Olive Garden for a real meal.

The pics didn't due it justice. From the hotel here, I called the two owners and they absolutely turned down any offer under 8K. My standing offer on this guy wouldve stood tall at 3-4K. The owner told me he has 7100 into it and will not budge. I told him for me, it would be a questionable 396, Muncie 4 speed , a VIN and matching paper. That's just the way I roll.

It was a true Texas race car; probably was rolled and ended in a vat of bondo. The whole thing was solid but looked like a washboard. Almost nothing salvageable in the interior. It honestly looked like a rolled paint job with Captain American painted outa rattle cans. All the trim was either tweeked or painted over and the white paint job was checked all over from age. Seriously, it looked like a latex base coat. Anything rubber or plastic was deteriorated down to the plug wires that clip on the plugs but no wire or boots left.

We'll be northbound early in the a.m. If anyone has anything to be looked at between here and there gimme a shout. An hour either side of 44 in Mo. or I-55 in Ill can be doable. Sadly, We say good night... Gooood Nite!!! Bill and Pat And again thanks to those that told me to drop the rose colored glasses!

 

PS, we can be reached via PHONE while on the road. Lap top is at hotels only....when we can stay awake to turn them on...ppat

 

Taking chances is what gives life flavor, I congradulate you on your endeavour Sir.
I did the same as you have on a black 1970 Stage 1 car back in 2014 and picked up a beauty for my son for less than 1/2 of its true value and he turmed it into one of the prettiest, correct GS's you'll ever see driven. Keep swinging and you'll hit a dinger sooner or later Bill.

 

Thanks guys! The ones in the bleachers help the team win the game! I know somewhere theres something out there... we did a few turn arounds today to look. We got OFF the main drag (I-35) and took Rt. 75 from Dallas to almost Joplin (200 miles). Chicago traffic has NOTHING on Texas traffic. Even the backups are HUGE!!! Pat and I talked about this and others all day. BTW she's done a minimum of 80% of the driving. She led a sheltered life and I let her spread her wings. She'll drive cross country at the drop of a hat. I am blessed to have her even minus the numbers 396 Chevelle.

I forgot to mention, one of the deal breakers was the block numbers were obscured (not decked either) and all the confirmed was its a 1969 block; no more, no less. I looked at barn find Model T fords that survived better. Will carry on in a few days. Its 6 p.m. here and after a bite, its rack time.... ws

 

Glad you made it home safe, Bill and Pat. At least you got to get down into some of that Southern warmth for a bit, I suppose. The right one will come along, still got my peepers open for you.