68 RS/SS396 Little Old Lady...

[427TJ]

Getting gas this morning when this '68 RS/SS396 pulled in behind me. Second owner, she bought it in 1969 from a local dealership who took it back after a lease. L35, Th-400, drums. Says she's had it repainted a couple times and a local shop does the maintenance. She says she's also "on the Classic Industries mailing list." Popped the hood for a look at the once-rebuilt 396. She said someone had stolen the air cleaner lid so she had it replaced with a cheapie repop. Vinyl top was removed during one of the repaints. I showed her a picture of my '67 RS/SS396 and she was surprised--"I never see other ones like mine." Exhaust had been replaced a long time ago and had the horizontal muffler behind the 12-bolt and it sounded just like the "deep tone" Gardner on my '67.


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-1a_zpsqlg2lwea.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/BE427TJ/media/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-1a_zpsqlg2lwea.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-2a_zps8iavzmg7.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/BE427TJ/media/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-2a_zps8iavzmg7.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-3a_zpskjynmi8t.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/BE427TJ/media/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-3a_zpskjynmi8t.jpg.html)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-4a_zps2txifann.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/BE427TJ/media/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-4a_zps2txifann.jpg.html)

She had a red carpet and headliner put in to liven up the interior.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-5a_zpsj7ffcqgz.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/BE427TJ/media/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-5a_zpsj7ffcqgz.jpg.html)

Moss in the window seals:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-6a_zps8bj7kzeo.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/BE427TJ/media/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-6a_zps8bj7kzeo.jpg.html)

And off she went!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/BE427TJ/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-7a_zpsvcmdityl.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/BE427TJ/media/More%20Misc%20Pix/68-7a_zpsvcmdityl.jpg.html)

[MosportGreen66]

Love it

[earntaz]

How sweet that is ...

[68l30]

How cool is that. ?!?! Looks like a early 68 at that...


BIG <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[budnate]

Bill what ya doing out here in the hood?.... she is fun to chat with really nice lady... she drives it everywhere and usually has a crowed around her any time she stops. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[mockingbird812]

Good stuff. Love this kind of story. Bet she is a cool lady!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[Jim Ferron]

She is probably the last of her kind left...My Mom and Dad had a 68 GTX that was just a Satellite to them. They were in their late fifties at the time...should seen the kids choose 'em at a traffic light...My Mom with her cat glasses and babushka...

[WILMASBOYL78]

Very cool...I am surprised that car will run on pump gas..the local shop must have the timing dialed back. Did you notice the 375hp sticker on the air cleaner...I had to do a double take <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

Last time I saw moss like that it was growing in Tibor's wallet <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Go Granny Go!!

wilma

[markjohnson]

That's very cool but can you even imagine how many times she gets followed home by people that think they've &quot;discovered&quot; the proverbial lil' old lady 396 Camaro?!

[SeattleCarGuy]

I live in Seattle and saw her driving up in Lynnwood several months ago and snapped some photos as well as I was alongside her. I actually wrote down her license plate number and thought I might try to track her down, but then I figured that has probably been tried by a thousand other people.

Very cool and thanks for getting all the great shots.

[427TJ]

Yeah, I asked her if she's sick of guys wanting to buy it from her. I did see the &quot;375&quot; on the chinsy repop air cleaner lid and just for a nano-second thought &quot;No way, L78.&quot; Car is very cool but kinda' rough in places. As for the gas, she did say the engine &quot;knocks&quot; going up hills on the Chevron Supreme.

[firstgenaddict]

The mechanics love to put the alternators on the wrong side of the bracket.

[CC Rider]

Very cool!

[earntaz]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: firstgenaddict</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The mechanics love to put the alternators on the wrong side of the bracket. </div></div>

Oh?

[budnate]

its been 20yrs since I was under its hood visiting with her one day I am pretty sure its a 325hp car if the old memory works, it idles like a taxi cab. she had a few vynal roofs over the years and gave up dealing with them and had the black painted on.

[cook_dw]

Absolutely badass!!!!


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: firstgenaddict</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The mechanics love to put the alternators on the wrong side of the bracket. </div></div>

I have seen them both ways.. Big and small blocks.

[chevelleheart]

That is the best car story I have seen in so long !!! That's just great! What a car,..what a Lady &quot;

[Woj]

Outstanding. That encounter would have stopped me in my tracks too.

Thanks for sharing.

What a cool gal.

Phil Woj

[169indy]

YUP that is her.
I followed her till my exit in the SNOW in 2013 over by Mukilteo a few years back.

I was trippin' cause my South Tacoma Motors (Chev) car is very similar.

Jim

[Kurt S]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jim Ferron</div><div class="ubbcode-body">She is probably the last of her kind left... </div></div>
I ran across a 69 daily driver in CT a few years back.
There's a 69 and a 56(?) T-bird in San Diego that I see driven when I visit.
All elderly women that have had the cars for years. None were hipo cars like this one though...

[jannes_z-28]

Way cool <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif

[SS427]

That is just down right cool! You go girl!

[cook_dw]

That painted roof is really growing on me.. Very cool car. Those wheel covers are sweet too!!

Its funny how what was out back in the day is now cool and desired.. Those wheels would have been pulled off, mags put on, traction bars added and who knows what else..

[427TJ]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kurt S</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jim Ferron</div><div class="ubbcode-body">She is probably the last of her kind left... </div></div>
I ran across a 69 daily driver in CT a few years back.
There's a 69 and a 56(?) T-bird in San Diego that I see driven when I visit.
All elderly women that have had the cars for years. None were hipo cars like this one though... </div></div>

I know of a Butternut Yellow '69 in the SF Bay Area, original owner, 327/PG, PO1 wheelcovers, parked in front of the same house on a quiet street since new. Yes, it gets driven.

[danachevroletfor1967]

There was a little ol' lady that lived in the town next to mine that had as her daily driver a '69 SS with a 350. It was all original as far as I know. Guys used to ask her all the time if she would sell it. The last I knew she had to go into an assisted living facility a few years ago, and I haven't seen the car since. I hope it went to a good home.

[RAIIIT/A]

Last summer I was able to purchase a 1 owner '73 Formula SD455. The car has 122,000 miles and was driven regularly. The car spent most of its life in San Bruno(SF bay area)..... and sold new in the bay area. A few years ago the original owner moved to Yreka CA. to retire. Up until his death... that was the car he drove to visit friends and family in the bay area. The car was well cared for and stored in a garage or carport most of its life.

In this day and age its very rare to see cars like this still in use by their long time owners.

[Mr70]

Very nice.
That painted roof accents the front stripe,rocker &amp; tail panel really well.
Do her headlight doors work OK,or does she manually open and close those?

[Charley Lillard]

If you look under the hood a hose if off at the valve for the headlights so I'm guessing she just leaves them open.

[RAIIIT/A]

I wonder how many times the odometer has turned over?

My '67 Grand Prix was the original owners primary driver up until the early 2000's. The original owner was in his early 90's when he quit driving it...he drove the car until the day he died... Keep in mind the car is a manual 4 speed...with manual steering and manual brakes... I bought the car from his son in 2008.

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RAIIIT/A</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Last summer I was able to purchase a 1 owner '73 Formula SD455. The car has 122,000 miles and was driven regularly. The car spent most of its life in San Bruno(SF bay area)..... and sold new in the bay area. A few years ago the original owner moved to Yreka CA. to retire. Up until his death... that was the car he drove to visit friends and family in the bay area. The car was well cared for and stored in a garage or carport most of its life.

In this day and age its very rare to see cars like this still in use by their long time owners. </div></div>

Not to get too far off of the intent of Bill's post...but I'd love to hear more about your SD <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[Damien]

Great story! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[mr 707]

great story and great pics

[RAIIIT/A]

Xplantdad - A little more info for you..


Car was on ebay last summer which is how I got it. SD455...automatic.. posi...gauges... Y-99 handling package.. A/C... standard interior... Mostly original silver paint....probably wouldn't hurt for a repaint though. Rust free no hit CA car.. Cherry mint original black interior.... I had the lower seat cushions and headliner redone with SMS material. All born with running gear including carb..etc... Nice original car that has never been abused or taken apart... it has never been in the hands of idiots.. Everything works like it should.. A/C blows cold.. Car is an excellent driver...and I do drive it. I've put about 2,000 miles on it since last summer.

[Xplantdad]

Cool...Why don't you put a few pics together and we can put in the Members Rides area of the site <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif

[427TJ]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr70</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very nice.
That painted roof accents the front stripe,rocker &amp; tail panel really well.
Do her headlight doors work OK,or does she manually open and close those? </div></div>

She said they stopped working so they are always open now.