Brigance Chevy/Mr Ed 1969 Chevelle 427 Convert.

[hvychev]

Somthing very interestig happened tonight. I was talking to a group of my younger salesman and for some reason we were talking about Viet Nam. Some of the guys dads were there and they were talking about how they really didn't say much about it. For some reason when the conversation died down one of the salesman who is 21 years old told me that his dad bought a brand new 70 Chevelle 454 that he ordered while stationed in Viet Nam. Now him mentioning this knowing that I love old cars, really got my attention. I told him that mine is a 70 SS 454 which he didn't seem to notice since he doesn't care about cars. He told me that his dad would often talk about the car and told him that the car was stolen back then. He told me that his dad was from Cicero IL, and since I was born and raised around there I asked him what dealer that his dad bought the car from but he didn't have a clue. He picked up the phone and called his dad right on the spot. He was on the phone and he had asked him about the 70 Chevelle and he said "Oh it was a 69?" I was thinking in my head Oh just another dime a dozen 69 and he said "Oh a 427." Then my hart started to pound. I said "give me that phone!" I literally snatched the phone right out of the kids hand and started to drill the father about the car. I asked him where he bought the car from and he said that he could not remember the dealers exact name other than "Come see Mr. Ed!" and it was around Chicago Ave and Ridgeland. I told him for sure that it was Brigance Chevrolet in Oak Park IL. He told me that while in Viet Nam Mr. Ed actually had an ad in Stars & Stripes advertising 427 Chevelles and Camaros and that he would give a special deal to returning serviceman. He said that he ordered the car brand new while overseas and got it when he came back to the states. Now for those who don't live in Chicago Brigance was only a few minites from Cicero. I asked him what color the car was and he said it was a sky blue. The whole time I was thinking COPO, COPO, then he said that the car had a black convertable top with black interior. Then my hart really started pounding. I said "Mr. C***** are you SURE that this car was a 427?" The actual words that came right out of his mouth were "Frank I am 100% sure that the car was a 427 425 horsepower 69 Chevelle convertable." He actually gave me the horsepower rating without me even mentioning it at all! I was stunned. I told him a little about COPO's & supercars in general and believe it or not he wasn't impressed and even laughed when I told him the values of some of these cars. He isn't much of a car buff. Obviously the car is not a COPO because it being a convert and for the hell of it I even asked him about Yenko stripes and he gave me the impression that he had never heard of Yenko Chevrolet. I also know that it couldn't possiably be a COPO because I think he said that he came back from Viet Nam on Dec (He actually had the exact date but I can't remember) 1968 he picked up his BRAND NEW car shortly after. He said that one night he parked the car under the street light like he did every night and when he woke up the next morning his father asked him where he parked his car and he told him the usual place and when he went to the window it was gone. I think that the car was recovered because he told me that he could not afford to keep the car. Between the insurance and the fact that the car got between 6-7 miles per gallon it was draining his pocket book. I tried hard not to drill him to bad since he volunteered to dig up the pics that he said that he for sure has of the car and would send them to work with his son for me to see. I did not want to post this story untill I saw the pics first hand and talked to him one more time to be completely sure. Guys I am telling you this guy was TOTALLY legit and I believe he was acurate in telling the truth. I talk to people for a living and I am paid to be able to detect if I am being bull$hitted and I wasn't. I have never heard of a BRAND NEW dealer built transplant 427 convert being built nor did I know that Mr. Ed was doing transplants. Does anybody know of any others? Any other thoughts? I will post the pics as soon as I see them. I had to have reminded the kid about 100 times before the end of the night to bring the pics to work or don't come back! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[DarrenX33]

Cool story Frank. Can't wait to see the pics! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Bill Pritchard]

Frank,

A great story indeed, and I too will look forward to seeing the pictures.

It is very interesting to me about the possibility of Brigance doing transplants. Back in the early 70's, there was a guy named Dave Spencer that worked with me at Caterpillar Tractor Co. Dave had a LeMans blue/bvt 69 Nova SS that was essentially a 'street racer' type car; i.e., it had a 5.13 gear was not driven as everyday transportation. It was a Brigance car and it had a non-stock BBC engine in it. Dave always told the general populace that it was an original 375 hp 396, but he let on to a few close friends that it was a 427, and that he bought it that way. I wound up buying the car in 1976, and at that time it had 13,000 original miles on it. By then the big block had been blown and it had a bone stock 195 hp 283 installed - still with the original 4 speed and the 5.13 gear. My wife drove that car to work for quite a few months and used to get her kicks showing off to the construction workers building Fox Valley Mall as she would bang gears going by them/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif The last time I raced at Oswego Drag Strip was in that Nova, still with the 5.13 rear, where it was wound out in 4th gear long before the end of the 1/4 mile /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Eventually I swapped in another rear axle to make it a little more livable. I still have pictures of that car, with the Brigance decal on the trunk lid. Bottom line is, I guess it is a good possibility that this Nova could have been a transplant car, too.

[JoeC]

Frank good car detective work sounds interesting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
A local guy here has a 67 427 Chevelle that he bought from his original owner cousin. He has receipts from Austin Chevy in CT (who sold Yenkos) that shows his cousin blew up the 396 under warrantee and had it replaced with a 427. Austin installed the 427 for $100.00 additional fee with the rest of the repair covered by warrantee.

[Stefano]

Frank cool story. Mr. Ed handled all the fleet and special orders for Brigance, especially the High performance cars.

While I don't want to start any static for Mr. Ed. as he did say that he COPO ordered '64-'65 Chevelles with Corvette 327 Engines, 427 Camaros, Chevelles and Even Novas.

When I told him that Don Yenko couldn't even get the factory to Build a COPO Nova, He just stated that he was certain that they sold 427 Novas in 1969.

There is a Collector here in Chicago who may own Mr. Ed's 1970 L-78 Nova Demo, sold out of Fencil-Tufo Chevrolet.

It is amazing all the car stories you get to hear when you work within the retail end of the industry, isn't it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[hvychev]

Stefano it is truly amazing. I hear at least 1 good story a day. When you are selling a car and that is the topic of conversation you would be suprised what people tell you they had, have, or a friend or family member the same. This was one of the cool ones though. I really debated posting it yet untill I saw the pics but like I said before this guy IS telling the truth. I can't wait untill he can produce pics. HOPEFULLY their is an under hood shot.

[hvychev]

Guys bad news. The Mr. Ed 427 is not that. I have the pictures in my hand right now and they are as clear as day a 1969 Chevelle SS convert Le mans blue 396 375 L78 4 speed with black guts and top. I must say that the pictures are awesome anyways! Thay are in excelent shape and very clear. Their is a front shot, side view, underhood shot, and an interior shot. He got the car in very late 1968 and the pictures were taken in spring of 1969. The cool thing is the car has white wall tires, the original delco battery and the original floor mats. These pics would be great for anybody restoring one of these cars. May this be a lesson to me to not speak untill I see the pics! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I am going to make color copies and have them scanned and post them for all to see.

[DarrenX33]

Frank- If you can post them anyway. D

[SS427]

Frank,
You didn't hurt my feelings any and I can still make use of the pictures. That car sounds very familiar. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Rick

[ssl78]

Hi Frank,
I would also like to see those pictures. Strats in Villa Park is having its anual car show Sunday. If your in the area or plan on bringing your car to the show bring the pictures with. I am bring the ZL-1 and I wont even mention the other one I am bringing who knows what would happen if I did.

[hvychev]

John, I will have those pictures posted here by Friday. I will try to make it to the Strats show anyways. John I am sure the * will be fine.

[Mr70]

Frank
I feel You did the right thing,in the right way.You shared and reached out,and got a lead and followed up on it.Even if the end result was not what was hoped for,it was resolved.
We need to follow up on every lead like this,on every story like this and keep an open mind,no matter how ridiculous it sounds sometimes.
I asked Ed if he ever sold a Chevelle like this and he resounded what you just found out.
But I still think we all have alot to learn today,and this is one way how it is done,not by just what the text alone says.
Look at that Citrus Green LS6 Chevelle at VetteFest last November.I currently have 9 pages of dealer reference material that clearly says code #43 Citrus Green is one of the 4 new Spring 1970 Colors available for the Nova and Camaro only.And all pages state boldly,"Not Available on the LS6 Chevelle".
Yet one showed up with docs and trim tag to prove it's authentcity.
I guess I am saying don't ever stop asking and sharing questions and answers.
We'll stop by Strats on the Way home from Grayslake swapmeet this Sunday again....

[hvychev]

Rick thanks. I have yet to talk to Mr. C regarding the pictures. I mentioned he was in Viet Nam and he now works for the US Government Dept of Veterans Affairs and left out of town that night I talked to him to Iowa. It was weird how sure he was that the car was a 427 425 HP. I want to talk to him about that when he returns from his business trip. His son (the one who works for me) is the one who dug up the pics. I can't wait to post them they are VERY cool. I wish I had a darn scaner!

[KLONECO]

JOHN, I Believe thats the best way ..ONE GETS TIRED OF THE "MOMMY HE THROUGH A ROCK AT ME" attitude!!!!!!!!!! way too much of that here!!!!! (Well... we can just tell the teacher!!!) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif

[KLONECO]

Frank, You kinda know what I am trying to say!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[JoeC]

Even back in 1966, there was some confusion on the L78 cars. Many people would call them 425 hp cars because the 1965 Corvette L78 was rated at 425 hp and was almost the same engine as the 66-70 L78. There was such a big difference between the 350hp 396 and the 375hp 396 that many people felt the L78 was significantly under rated.

[DarrenX33]

What time is the Strats show?

[sYc]

If any Chevy engine should be billed as the "mystery" engine, it has to be the L-72 used in COPOs in '69. Very few people, including dealers, zone reps, line workers, etc really knew what was going on, because Chevrolet was so secretive about the engine. Making the situation even more confusing was how close the engine was to the L-78, using many of the same parts, including L-78 emissions stickers. Add in no reference to the engine in any Chevy literature at the time and, nothing on the engine or or cars denoting 427. It caused a tremendous amount of confusion then and is still haunting our hobby today. Does make for some interesting discussions/searches though, such as this thread.

[Mr70]

[ QUOTE ]
What time is the Strats show?

[/ QUOTE ]

Darren
It is a nice lil carhop place between Ardmore Ave. & Villa Ave. on the south side of the street.They hold a great Show & Shine there this Sunday 8-4.Spring is here! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[DarrenX33]

Great I will try and make it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[SYCIWISH]

Frank, think about what Pritchard said about the Nova he bought coming from there and the 427 disguised as an L-78. there is no way to tell an L78 from an L72 in a pic or even up close for that matter, maybe Mr. C did get what he ORDERED. maybe Mr. Ed knew the art of deception was imporatant to his customer base??? a conversion is just that not necessary an advertised swap as Motion and others did. just a thought.
I lived and (god forbid) streetraced in Pottstown, Pa. for many years in the 80's . there is still a chevy dealer there called Dames, all the guys I hung with were true motorheads and 75% Chevy. One slightly older guy said he was with his buddy when he ordered a new Chevelle 427 and he helped his buddy roll his new ,1967 427 Chevelle conversion off the carrier when it came in. Wonder if ?? and what dealer may have done that for them. DAVE

[Unreal]

SWCIWISH,
Small World. I grew up in Boyertown, in the mid 60's We used to cruise between the Treat, and Gino's. Of course, I was cruising in Daddy's LTD with the air cleaner removed!!
Marlin lives in Douglasville.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

This is too weird! I'm in Boyertown right now, working unfortunately! The Yenko is outside!

Since you guys are natives (I'm only a 2year resident), who owned the rallye green '69 Yenko Camaro in Pottstown/Boyertown? He used to own the Boyertown NAPA auto parts, now works at Advance Auto Parts in Pottstown? The car was a 4speed, and reportedly had a few sleeves in the engine - which was later removed to put into a dirt track car for those crazy nights at Grand View!

[SYCIWISH]

Marlin, not sure on that. I used the machine shop from that NAPA a few times at the time,(actually Bechtelsville right?) like most of the guys it didn't matter what it said on the car but how it ran. I may be up for the big show on SAt. it's still on right?? look for a daytona yellow 69 camaro with z28 emblems(real car) but has an aluminum headed big block in it. Friend that I may go up to visit owns that. (Ruckle).Or he may have his red Cobra replica done for this one.
sorry didn't mean to go off topic. :-). DAVE

[Unreal]

I graduated from B-town in 66 and moved to Pittsburgh. Moved back to Exton in 83 and moved to Chattanooga in 89.
BTW I actually grew up in Forgedale, outside of Bally. My school bus went by Grandview when it was being built.
Not sure what this had to do with Brigance Chevrolet, but it was fun strolling down memory lane.

[hvychev]

Allright fellas here are the pics. Mr C came back home from Viet Nam in December of 1968 and picked up his car shortly after from Mr Ed. These pics were taken in the spring of 1969.

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/May/2003523003255811692992.jpg

Orange plates in IL were from 1969. You can see them on the car. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/May/2003525580528522694927.jpg

I love to see pics of how the old neighborhood looked back in the day. For all who don't live in Chi-town this is my old neighborhood in Cicero IL. (where Al Capone hung out! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/May/2003526406507228243709.jpg

Good motor shot. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/May/2003521625091266740306.jpg

[hvychev]

I cropped out the pic of the motor so we could see a close up of the air cleaner decals.
I don't know about the scanned pics but the originals clearly state a 375 hp car.

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/May/2003527603742860757107.jpg

[hvychev]

For the hell of it I decided to post this pic as well. In the same envelope of car pics was this shot of a 1968 Mustang that belonged to Mr C's wife that she took when the car was brand new. On the back of the pic she whote how she called her car "Mrs. Robinson." She must have seen the movie The Graduate in 1967 only one year earlier! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif I just thought that was cool.

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/May/2003523239800850065722.jpg

[Chris396]

Love the old pictures. If only I was a geezer and could have lived then /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[SYCIWISH]

boy those time warp pics could be worth a bunch to someone trying to do a correct resto. I like the old suburban in the background too.DAVE

[55chevy]

You can see the back corner of a Gold 63 Impala SS too. OH to live in the days when these were the only cars on the road. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ed

[ssl78]

Cool pictures Frank, what do you think that is in the drivers side front fenderwell. Gives me the urge to dig my 69 L-78 conv Chevelle out of the corner and bring that to Strats instead of the * car.

[ssl78]

Just hit me it could be an after market alarm. I see unfactory red wiring running along the wire loom to it. Did he have any vin # on the car.

[hvychev]

Im working on it.......... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ssl78]

It would be interesting to see what is in it now, if it is still around. Cicero was the stomping grounds for my Hugger orange Yenko I had. Maybe some one you know remembers that car. His friend used to run around with a 70 Green Hemi Cuda. When I bought my Yenko I tried buying that car it had 10k miles on it. His dad wouldnt sell it because of sentimental reasons since his son had died. This was in the mid 80s, dont know if I would even remember where the car was.

[hvychev]

John don't you have a car similar to this? Is yours an L78?

[ssl78]

Yes mine is a L-78 but I have the pro-tecto-plate and mine was bought at Baston Chevy in St Cloud Minnesota.

[ssl78]

Frank, last year at Rolling meadows there was a guy there who had bought a car just like the picture you posted. He was told it was a L-78. I dont remember if it was the correct motor, but had no docs. I know there is other people on the board who go there maybe they will remember it. I will have to ask Puff daddy about it, he was trying to buy it from him.

[Belair62]

Geezers huh !!!!

[L78Impala]

John, I don't know if it's the same car but I talked with a guy who bought a blue 69 out of Dekalb. I believe he said it was an original 375hp car. It looked similar to the one in Franks photos. Yes it was at Rolling Meadows.

Bill

[ssl78]

Yes Bill thats the one, if I'm not mistaking it was a 4 speed car. Did it have buckets?

[DarrenX33]

Pictures are worth the wait. Thanks Frank. We really should have a direct /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.giflink to vintage photos.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

http://www.yenko.net/vintage/vintage.htm

[hvychev]

Marlin, I think that Darren means that we should expand the vintage pics section to add all of the recent pics other than all the Deuce pics. Could we add the pics that have been recently been in the Vintage Camaro, Chevelle, & Nova threads?. Ones like those that I added in the Brigance thread and Clints car would be neat as well.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

That sounds good to me! The more the better!

[DarrenX33]

Exactly. Would be nice to compile these great vintage shots categorically. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Mr70]

Marlin
Where was that Draggin Deuce Picture taken?
Looks sorta like Oswego Il. Dragstrip.
I am still listening around here for possible leads.
Mr.Ed thinks he may know,but don't hold him to it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Yes it was Oswego, aka the 'Gravel Bowl'!

[JoeC]

here is an ad from 1968 where Brigance had 425 hp cars for sale. Most drag racers I talk to called the COPO cars "425 hp cars" back in the day.

[hvychev]

WOW! Joe that is a cool add! Where did it come from?

[Stefano]

Very interesting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[sixtiesmuscle]

How about just plain old L72 big cars??

[hvychev]

I asked Mr C's son if he asked his father why he said that the Chevelle was a 427 car. He said that his dad told him he confused the car with a 427 425hp Impala that he had. Like we have said before it is weird how peoples memorys work after 30-35+ years.

BTW I had an offline conversation with Bill Pritchard and he said that he is going to dig up the photo's of his old Brigance Nova and send them to me so I can post them! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[JoeC]

The Mr ED ad is from Car Craft Sep 1968

[DarrenX33]

427/425 Impala. Hmmm. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Mr70]

JoeC
Thanks for that ad!
I hope to see Mr. Ed next week,and I will give him a scan of that ad. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[hvychev]

Well here are the vintage pics that I promised of Bill Pritchards Brigance Nova. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Nice hair Bill! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/May/20035193574274943827450.jpg

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/May/20035193515067729088358.jpg

Notice the Brigance dealer decal!

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/May/20035196969497285711269.jpg

From Bill.

The one with the trunk lid (and the snow) was taken in about February of 1976. You can see the Brigance sticker. The other two pictures were taken at my friend Fred's house in downstate Illinois in about early April of 1976. Fred's black 73 Z28 is shown in one of the photos. The other photo has me in the center, my wife Marilee in the pink outfit, and Fred's wife Gail in the blue denim. As I was scanning the pictures Marilee is giving me grief for ever selling that car. She is right. I should have sold my 73 Z28 and kept the Nova. When I bought it in December of 1975 it had 13,000 miles on it. I was the first one to ever drive it in the snow.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Frank, what did it have for a drivetrain?

[hvychev]

Marlin, read the second post of this thread on page 1. Bill is a member here and gave all the details. I thought I would post the pics for him.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Ok, cool pics!

[Chris396]

The Nova and Camaro look like they are staring each other down.