Qtown Eds 69 Nova SS L78

[Qtown Ed]

I'm not new to the site but was mostly an observer of some of the amazing cars on this site. Figured it was time I shared something with the group [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

The Nova was ordered in late 1968 from Gutshall Chevrolet in Hellertown Pa. by Frederick “Bill” Dimmig, who originally lived in Springtown Pa. and was also a mechanic at the dealership. It’s still a Chevy dealership but is now known as Chevy 21. Bill drove the car for less than a year when he was sent to Vietnam. Once back, he moved to Quakertown Pa. and drove the car off and on for a few years but started a family, his own auto repair business and began dirt track racing at Flemington Raceway in NJ and rarely drove it. The last night he did drive it was in 1974 or so when he went to a local bar, had a few too many adult beverages and got into a fight there that led to the guy he fought showing up at his house later that night and smashing the windshield and back window out of it and pouring sugar in the gas tank. He pushed the car around back and into his barn and that’s where it sat until I bought it in 1987. I was born in 1967 and have known Bill all my life as he was my Dads best friend and lived directly across the street from us in Quakertown. He said he took me and my brother for rides in it but since I was 5 or 6 years old I’ll have to take his word for it as I don’t remember that at all lol.
I worked for him at his garage through high school and I also helped with the race car and would see the Nova sitting there for years on that stone floor in the barn collecting dust and holding old racing tires. I bugged him all through high school to sell me the car and he refused until 1987 when he called and said it was mine if I wanted it and the price was $2000. I was there with the money that night! It's all there and is a numbers matching car with 37,287 miles on it.
As you can see he made some era accepted?? modifications as in removing the rear SS emblem (he kept all the stuff he removed which was great cause it was like new) adding the spoiler on the back and hood pins and adding that lovely lace down the quarter posts and across the back. We've sat and talked about the car over the years but in a few weeks I'm headed out and over some beers he’s going to give me an even more detailed history and his experiences as well as pics of the car from back when he bought it and I'm going to capture that convo on video for nostalgic reasons. Sadly I wasn't able to save the paint as it had surface rust across the hood, top of the fenders, roof and trunk but as you can see in the pics of it on the trailer it has no rot at all. My Dad passed away in 1990 and I rushed to get the car decent for my brother Kevins wedding in 1991. Bill drove it in the wedding (which was awesome) but I didn't do the car to the detail it deserved so I am in the process of going through every nut and bolt to do it right. Any advice or recommendations are surely welcome!

Cowl:
69 11427 WRN189517
731 79 79
12B A
69 = 1969
1 = Chevrolet
14 = Nova, V8
27 = 2 door sedan
WRN = Willow Run, Mi
Sequence = 189517
713 = Black vinyl bench (Standard)
79 79 = Rallye Green exterior paint
12 = December
B = Second week


Protect-O-Plate:
H = Holley
T1205JH:
T = Tonawanda NY
12 = December
05 = 5th of December
JH = 396cid (375hp) w/manual
BT1127G: Rear Axle
BT = 3.55 Posi
11 = November
27 = 27th of November
G = Detroit Gear &amp; Axle
D = Vehicle Build: December of 1968
P9S20 = Transmission:
P = Muncie
9 = 1969
S = November
20 = 20th of November

1 = Power Brakes
3 = Came with Radio
3 = Power Disc Brakes


Build Sheet:
Sequence = 546
Month = 12 = December
Day = 9th of December
1 = Chevrolet
14 = Nova, V8
27 = 2 Door Sedan
WRN = Willow Run, Michigan
Sequence = 189517
713 = Black Vinyl Bench (Standard)
79 79 = Rallye Green
PP = 4 ??
L78 = 396cid (375hp)
20 = ??
N10 = Dual exhaust equipment
U29 = Instrument panel courtesy lights
ZJ3 = Bright Metal Trim
Right front door jam switch for dome lamp operation
Glove box lamp
Satin finish inside rear view mirror
Bright framing on instrument cluster carrier
Bright dome lamp bezel

[Qtown Ed]

Here are some pics of when I picked it up.

[Qtown Ed]

Pics of after I put it on road for my brothers wedding.

[mockingbird812]

Welcome aboard Ed. Way cool Nova and a very cool back story. Love the color! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Qtown Ed]

Thank you! Your car is incredible and I love the detailed storied history of your car. I can't wait to document some of Bills stories as it seems to bring the personality of the cars out!

[mockingbird812]

You got that right Ed. You are going about it the right way. There are some sharp Nova guys around here that can provide some good input to you as you work thru your restoration. Keep us updated!

[Xplantdad]

Really neat Nova!

[Tenney]

Cool car - sharp color! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[BJCHEV396]

X2!!

[Postsedan]

Hard to beat a 1969 Rallye Green L78 - 4 Speed - Bench Seat Nova.

Great story, Great Nova.....Thanks for sharing [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Dan