A honest shot at 70 L78 L89 Chevelle

[Cranberry70SSL34]

One of the biggest discussions between my brothers and myself before flying to Fresno,CA to purchase the silver barn find was about the honest shot at finding one of the 18. With the probability of it being a true L78 being nearly 100% that wasnt the topic of discussion. It was mostly about the table was truly set for an honest stab at the mega rare. Also with the probability of the buildsheet being on the gas tank also being really high we knew we were going to know for sure if it was equipped with the L89 option as well. Already knowing it had the 4.10 and M21 also gave additional encouragement that the table was set for a good stab at it. 2144÷18=119. So we thought we were going in shooting at a 1 in 119 odds with the L78 being a near 100% given. Anyhody have any further info on production facts on L89 and even from Van Nuys would be really interesting to me. Anyway the car was a big success just thought I would share some of our pre purchase thoughts.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

We had the only "known" 70 L89 in our MCACN L89 Showcase two years ago, the owner posted all the docs right out front of the car:-)

A few magazines have run stories on the 70 L89:-)

Ryan

[chevyman0429]

Wow never new there was a 70 L89 Ryan is their a link to the car your speaking of!

[Postsedan]

I assume you have already dropped the gas tank and what did you find?

Dan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Here are the links.

Ryan

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthrea...9-sh#Post565097 (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/565097/re-mcacn-2014-chevrolet-l89-sh#Post565097)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/564716/1

[Cranberry70SSL34]

Sure Dan. Its no secret now that it is a L78 without the L89 option because the buildsheet has been posted all over the Internet. Just was sharing the excitement and discussion that was revolving around it before we purchased it. You couldn't deaawit up any bettertohave a real shot at unearthing another. Nonetheless the car was a very big success.

[Postsedan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chevyman0429</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow never new there was a 70 L89 Ryan is their a link to the car your speaking of!
</div></div>

Here are some pics of when Brian DeJongh owned her and restored her.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/7592

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/35-restoration-corner/268920-1970-l89-progress.html

Dan

[Postsedan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cranberry70SSL34</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sure Dan. Its no secret now that it is a L78 without the L89 option because the buildsheet has been posted all over the Internet. Just was sharing the excitement and discussion that was revolving around it before we purchased it. You couldn't deaawit up any bettertohave a real shot at unearthing another. Nonetheless the car was a very big success. </div></div>

I bet the day you went to go pull the gas tank....as ya'll say in the south.....&quot;I was as nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs&quot; <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif

Good stuff <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Dan

[Cranberry70SSL34]

Heck yea Dan. Was fun. Finding the buildsheet to the L78 without the L89 was crazy fun. Cant imagine if it said L89 under the L78 lol. Considering the lotto odds the 1 in 119 chance seemed really good. Again couldn't have drawn up a better shot at it. Has been alot of fun. 1 in 2144 is really really rare in itself as it legitimately stands.

[Postsedan]

Patrick,

Are you planning on trailering the Chevelle to the NOCC in August <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif
You`ll be certain to draw a huge crowd.

Dan

[Cranberry70SSL34]

Dont think so. I like to relax and enjoy myself and trade parts.

[92646]

What area of Fresno did you find the car in? I grew up there and I do not remember many L78 or LS6 cars when I was growing up.

[Cranberry70SSL34]

Sunnyside Ave

[the427king]

&quot;Dont think so. I like to relax and enjoy myself and trade parts.&quot;

X2 !!

[92646]

The 69 L78 El Camino that Bill Rose restored was stored a little north off of Clovis ave. and the 67 Z/28 that Charley had was stored not too far from there also. There are still good cars to be found in that area.

[Cranberry70SSL34]

Amazing. Yes there are still many to be found. Alot of chasing but more will come out.

[GMC_Typhoon]

I'm sorry but the 1 in 119 is irelavent. You looked at one car,not 119.

Just sayin'.

[Cranberry70SSL34]

No need to be sorry. But the chances dont lie. Mathematics says 1 in 119 chance it was equipped with L89 option.

[Unreal]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cranberry70SSL34</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No need to be sorry. But the chances dont lie. Mathematics says 1 in 119 chance it was equipped with L89 option. </div></div>

Maybe chances don't lie, but they can mislead. Use standard statistical analysis to determine the probable number built of a certain combination of colors and options.

Assume you are standing next to an L89, black, with red interior and AM/FM. Also assume (for purposes of illustration) the L89 is 1:119, and all the other options are 1:10. The mathematical odds that this particular combination exists is 119 X .10 X .10 X .10 = .119. The probability that the car you are staring at actually exists, is 1:0.119....essentially 1 of none. Can't be, because you are looking at one in front of you! The math didn't lie, but......

[iluv69s]

I remember the original 435 69 vette barn find I bought w wrong motor...we were sure it was a 435 car, but the original L 88 hood that was on the car for years made me very anxious until I actually pulled the tank....

I know your feeling !!! Great find and great car !!

[Cranberry70SSL34]

No doubt you start adding in colors and options it really narrows things down. There is a 70 chevelle SS396 L78 Red automatic a few miles from me. I told the owner he had a super rare car. For a statistical ballpark average. Divide the 2144 by the 17 solid color options. That is a average of 126 cran red L78. I dont know the exact percentage or if it is known the ratio of manual L78 to auto L78 but I have heard it is estimated at 3 out of every 4 were manual. So if true or a close estimate then 25% were auto. Therefore 25% of 126 is 31 cars. I know there is alot of averaging and estimating here but still nonetheless a ballpark guideline. But gives you an idea how quickly it narrows it down using just 2 factors which were color and transmission. Probably pretty safe to safe to say there were a few more than 31 assembled but also pretty safe to say probably less than 100 Cran red auto L78 ever assembled. Needless to say very rare car. If you set out looking for a true documented red L78 automatic it might take you a lifetime to run across one. Good thoughts. But still we KNOW there were 18 L89 of the FACT 2144 L78. Using only that single factor it was a 1 in 119 chance. A FAR FAR FAR FAR better chance than those powerball odds. Either way super car that fascinated many.

[SS427]

I hear what you are saying but do not think it is accurate to divide 2144 by 17 colors. First of all, there were more colors than that available (special order) and colors like Misty Turquoise, Mist Green, Daytona Yellow, Hugger Orange, etc are in that mix but far fewer were produced which means it raised the number on Cranberry Red, Black and Forrest Green, the most common colors produced. Red likely being the most common of all of those followed closely by Forrest Green. I would likely agree with your 3 out of every four being manual or at least very close to that. Regardless, any real L78 car has to be considered rare.

[Cranberry70SSL34]

I was thinking about those variables myself but makes it too washed out or confusing. Nonetheless still 17 possible solid colors. Your variables were the reason I said probably more like 100 instead of 31. Either way you would have to agree less than 100 cran red L78 auto ever existed. Nearly Impossible to find. Thanks Rick for participating bud.

[Cranberry70SSL34]

For instance. Lets over estimate for a second and say there were 500 Cran red of the 2144. Then say 25% of that were auto. That still brings you to 125 cars. Id say less than 100 is pretty spot on.