My L78 Christmas!

[mchriscad]

Since Stefano did such a fine job selling my 69 COPO, I had to go out and treat myself to a couple of L78s.

The first is a 69 L78 Nova with 28,969 documented original miles. Original drivetrain, Origianl POP, Origianl Buildsheet and three owners. The car went through one repaint but is otherwise untouched.

The second is a 69 L78 Camaro with 9,460 documented original miles. This car was featured in John Hoopers book "The 69 Camaro Reference Book". At that time the car had 7,000 miles on it. The car possess most of its original paint, but was cleared over years ago. The car has its original untouched drivetrain, original POP, mileage state inspection tags, original and subsequent owner affadavits. The car is an endura bumper radio delete car.

Truly blessed this Christmas!

[WILMASBOYL78]

L78 Christmas....a man after my own heart!!!

Congrats..

wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Chevy454]

Chris: does that Camaro still have the headers on it? We owned it for a while, got it from a gentleman around DC...for a street car, one of the fastest SOB's I've dealt with...I had a '69 L78 Chevelle that had an L72 in it, and the Camaro would absolutely WALK the Chevelle on the big end, and make it like it.

[mchriscad]

The guy I bought it from took the headers off in 99 and put on original exhaust manifolds. I believe I am going to put the original smog back on and it also has air shocks in the rear, so I will probably address that also.

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
Chris: does that Camaro still have the headers on it? We owned it for a while, got it from a gentleman around DC...for a street car, one of the fastest SOB's I've dealt with...I had a '69 L78 Chevelle that had an L72 in it, and the Camaro would absolutely WALK the Chevelle on the big end, and make it like it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rob,

What's makes this L/78 such a thumper? Walked an L/72 !!
I'd love to get to the internals of that engine to see
exactly what it has in the way of compression, cam accuracy,
etc.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif

Steve

[PeteLeathersac]

Typical Christmas for me...I always want what someone else got! .

Good move Chris...they both sound and look like very sweet pieces! .

Is the 'Vette a '61 or '62? .

Happy Holidays!
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete

[Chevy454]

No idea, Steve...the Chevelle had a CE L72 in it, but had a hydraulic camshaft, allbeit a good one...but it also had headers, but was an automatic. I would feel comfortably saying the Chevelle was a low-13 to high 12 car on the street tires, because it was a no-nonsense "get out of the hole and get gone" car, and it would run with our Y-Camaro, which at the time was running low 13s. My guess is, the low miles (7800 when we had it) kept it all fresh, and the big tube headers tied to the factory chambered exhaust was like a fine symphony...I'm getting goose-bumps thinking about it! That thing was a MONSTER when it revved! I miss that car...and I can still remember dad giving thrill rides to the locals around here...load up 3 guys, pull out of the shop, and from a roll kick it sideways for 100' or so...

[sYc]

If I remember correctly, the original owner was from Cinci.
I tracked down his brother, who remembered the car well. They applied a light shading of black underneath, out of a spray can, to reduce the glare at night. The cowl hood and rear spoiler were dealer addons. The clear coat was added by the second owner, his name excapes me now, who I spoke with as well. He did that for show purposes. Besides being in HJ's book, the car was also featured on the very popular 1st gen Camaro poster. When we had the car, it had the same aftermarket BFG tires as in the poster.

The car was so nice that a few shows would not let me in the unrestored class, saying there was no way it was original.

As Rob said, that puppy would haul as-. Hated to part with it, but did so to buy our Yenko Camaro.

[69LM1]

Pictures!!!! We want pictures!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rich

[olredalert]

Tom and Rob,,,

------Look at the names on the poster and you will see Bill Stephenson listed as the owner. I bought it from the brother when I was working at Classic Motors in Hinsdale. Been wondering if and when this car would ever turn up on the site and here it is. All the best cars show up here eventually!!!
------The car had an 800 double-pumper on it when I bought it and couldnt get out of its own way. The original carb was in the trunk in parts and we put the original back on the car and it screamed from that day forward. 800 must have been set up way wrong.
------I was never going to sell it but used to use it to borrow money against to buy and sell other cars. The guy I used to borrow from sold the car out from underneath me and I never saw the car again. I was livid and have never talked to the jerk to this day. Car was from just into Indiana from Chicago.
------What a great arrangement of options,,,Huh??? Interior was newer than new. I seem to remember an over the counter Hurst shifter, and the car had Cragers on it when I bought it but I changed to SS wheels. Also put the Comfort-grip Black wheel on it.
------You have brought up so many good memories. I really loved that beast and never should have risked it in the manner I did or I might still have it. I have a bunch of pics of that car but no scanner. Would love for you guys to see all of them........Bill S


------Chris,,,If the car is in anywhere near the condition it was when I bought it you have one heck of a car. Congratulations!!!!! If I can answer any questions just give me a holler.

[sYc]

Bill, right after I sold the car, you saw the car listed in Hemmings and called me to see if I still had it.

I had forgot about the shifter and steering wheel, and yes, the interior was mint.

This was the first car I saw that still had the original paint markings on the firewall.

[Chevy454]

Bill: small world! We had a trio of '69 Cortez Silver L78 cars right thru there...Camaro, Chevelle, and Nova, and that Camaro would run off and hide from the other 2...whatever you did, worked! One of THE best sounding cars I've ever heard, from race cars to street cars...that thing rocked! It was mint when we had it, and IIRC all we did was keep the darn thing clean. We sold it back to the guy we bought it from, who had it sold before we delivered it...we talked to the guy we bought/sold it from, and he said he wasn't happy with the owner he sold it to, as he was a younger guy, and he was simply using the car to hot rod and horse around in and wasn't even remotely taking care of it...http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

I would like to see your pictures, Bill...either posted, or mailed, or...? I bet Chris would too...

[bruno17]

Congratulations Chris....that is a super xmas gift! I got my L78 xmas shopping all done in Nov...........I was afraid that the orig.paint L78 store would run out of inventory.

.......and Merry Xmas Rob C and hillbilly crew! you guys are a blast.......lookin forward to Martin!

[Xplantdad]

How cool is this thread? Way cool! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[L34Pace]

I might have done a no no http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I have a 68 L78 with original paint. It had no laquer cracking but it looked "foggy" and the lower quarters behind the rear wheels had some waves and bends as it looked as if it might have run over its own axel at one time. I straightend the lower quarters and used a matching laquer pack to blend the paint. I lightly sanded and buffed the entire body and then....I put a light coat of clear over it! Did I screw up a nice original paint car?

[Tenney]

[ QUOTE ]
Tom and Rob,,,

------Look at the names on the poster and you will see Bill Stephenson listed as the owner. I bought it from the brother when I was working at Classic Motors in Hinsdale. Been wondering if and when this car would ever turn up on the site and here it is. All the best cars show up here eventually!!!
------The car had an 800 double-pumper on it when I bought it and couldnt get out of its own way. The original carb was in the trunk in parts and we put the original back on the car and it screamed from that day forward. 800 must have been set up way wrong.
------I was never going to sell it but used to use it to borrow money against to buy and sell other cars. The guy I used to borrow from sold the car out from underneath me and I never saw the car again. I was livid and have never talked to the jerk to this day. Car was from just into Indiana from Chicago.
------What a great arrangement of options,,,Huh??? Interior was newer than new. I seem to remember an over the counter Hurst shifter, and the car had Cragers on it when I bought it but I changed to SS wheels. Also put the Comfort-grip Black wheel on it.
------You have brought up so many good memories. I really loved that beast and never should have risked it in the manner I did or I might still have it. I have a bunch of pics of that car but no scanner. Would love for you guys to see all of them........Bill S


------Chris,,,If the car is in anywhere near the condition it was when I bought it you have one heck of a car. Congratulations!!!!! If I can answer any questions just give me a holler.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pretty sure I saw that car in the garage at Classic Motors winter '77-8. Maybe 7K on the clock at the time?

Also, the Nova sports same paint scheme/wheels redlines as a low-miler on auction at O'Hare Expo center same time frame (summer, though).

[hvychev]

I am amazed with this thread. Is there NOT a cool car out there that Bill S did not dig up from his Hinsdale days???? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bill just a rough estimate, how many cars passed through that place? Oh, and PLEASE post some old pics! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[mchriscad]

I am sure the car is in the same condition as when you had it. It does have vintage tires and SS rims on it now. I will take some pics when the weather breaks here.

[mchriscad]

See if these pics stir up some more memories!

[Chevy454]

Bill: do you remember which brand headers the Camaro had on it?

Chris: do you know the ownership history from John B. in Leesburg up to yourself? Did the previous owner keep the headers??

[firstgenaddict]

[ QUOTE ]
Typical Christmas for me...I always want what someone else got! .

Good move Chris...they both sound and look like very sweet pieces! .

Is the 'Vette a '61 or '62? .

Happy Holidays!
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete

[/ QUOTE ]

Story of my life... LOL

[Stefano]

Very Cool cars Chris! If it is a significant Chevy, some one here is going to know about it http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Chevy454]

No doubt, Steve...I've always been on the outside looking in on these "hey, I knew that car back when" posts, but when I started reading the part in Chris' post about the silver Camaro the hairs on my neck started standing on end!

[olredalert]

Chris,

------Headers were on there when I bought the car and I dont think I ever even had to tighten a bolt or replace a gasket.......Bill S

[mchriscad]

The previous owner has an extensive drag race collection as well as parts collection. I can check to see if he has them.

[Chevy454]

Same as Bill...I can't recall ever having to turn a wrench on that engine...and those headers DID NOT leak...about the *only* set I've had that didn't...http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif