A reunion. Car story to share.

[DarrenX33]

Back in July of 1969 a guy walks into a small town Chevrolet dealer to buy a car right of the showroom floor. The self-proclaimed, ìFord man,î says he fell in love with the car and had to have it. This would be the only Chevy he would own in his life. His wife did most of the driving. A fan of manual shift she uses it to go to school and for an occasional street race. The gentleman also does some street racing with the car. He had a friend at work who had a brand new 69 Camaro SS 396 with 375 horsepower. They agree test out their cars. Here is the quote from the race. ìI could wind the car to 8 grand in 1st and 2nd gear. By the time I got to 3rd I did need to rev it high anymore. I could beat the 375 horse car to 120mph.î Keeping the car for just over a year, he had to sell it to fund his wifeís education. 30 some years and several owners later the car ends up in my hands. Yep, this is some of the info I got today from the first owner of my Z/28. I have finally contacted him after 10 years. I took a Sunday drive to a small town southwest of DeKalb, Illinois to reunite the car with the first owner. He was thrilled to see the car in its current state I could see it was bringing back a lot of memories. I took him for a ride and he seemed to enjoy it. He said, ìOh yeah, that 4:10 really gets you up there quick.î Here is a picture of a guy and his old friend. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[DarrenX33]

And here is a picture of the future owner on the ride back. All you 80's fans, get a load of the hair do. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[82z96ss]

The purring engine is great sleeping aid!

Awesome story. Nice to hear about reunions like that. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[hvychev]

Wow Darren that is cool!!!!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gifI am glad that the reunion went well!

You have really out done yourself! First you met up with the second owner and got a lot of info and vintage pics then you met the ORIGINAL owner! Man that must have been cool. You are truly a class act!

BTW little Gavin looks like a member from Durran Durran! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Mr70]

I always wondered why I never saw Gavin,and A Flock of Seagulls Lead singer in the same place. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Great story Darren,and now I know why you were absent Saturday.
Did he have anymore pix or Original parts for you?

[DarrenX33]

It's funny. The guy said he never took a picture of the car. In fact we were laughing about it cause when I showed up there he took a picture and said "Well I guess this is the first picture I ever took of it".
There were only 2 items that he took of the car. Care to guess the first one?? Smog! Then he replaced the heads after getting a call from the dealership. Get this. He took the car in for an charging problem check up. They called back and said they had to tow the car cause the mechanic pulled out a bunch of studs during a "road test". I imagine he was checking to see of the tach would go to 11. Anyway the parts are long gone.
And yes when I took the picture of my kid I was thinking the same thing. Mike Score Jr. (Lead Singer of the Seagulls). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

Frank- Still waiting for the 2nd owner to find the Protect o Plate in the haystack..

[Stefano]

Darren
Cool stuff, congrats. Didn't all '69 Z28s used screw in Rocker Studs /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[DarrenX33]

No they were press in. He commented that he tried to get a set that were screw in from his brother-in-law (who worked the dealer parts counter). But none were available yet.

[COPO]

Beginning in '70 the Z's got the screw-in studs w/guide plates.

[mc25t190]

nice car darren, was dad asleep at the wheel!! ha ha! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

Very nice story Darren,I bet the first owner was very proud to see that the car was in that quality of condition.I bet after you left he had dreams of the camaro that night.

Bobby

[DarrenX33]

Yes he was thrilled to see it in it's original state. The person he sold it to had made several mods to it like lace paint, torq thrusts, even painted it black with red stripes. He said he would cringe when he saw it in that condition.

Come on Kevin. You know these cars are to much fun to drive. No time for sleepin'. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif