Xplantdad
07-03-2007, 07:24 AM
Bruce, I spent the day reliving the past 2 years through this story. I realize It isn’t a tale consisting of a barn find, a former racer or an old timers promise that “One day I’ll give you a call” when they finally decide to sell. This is what has brought me to where I am today.
Even though I am not experienced in auto mechanics, I only hope to continue to learn and enjoy.
Thanks again for the welcome and allowing me to again, though mentally.........relive my story
Keith Pyne
<u>My 1967 L-35 396/325 SS Camaro</u>
I figure everyone has a story or two to tell about their prizes in life, mine is my Camaro.
What some may call a lapse of judgment or someone who fell victim of our current societies increasing mindset of instant gratification, I call my story a positive result of the dreaded “Mid-Life Crisis”. A little about me…I work hard and believe in trying to make life for my children better than it was for me growing up. Not very exciting but that’s what is important to me…Give them what I didn’t have.
A child of the early seventies my heart was always drawn to the ’67 Camaro, I liked the lines, the stance, the power and everything else about it. Sure, the ’68 and ‘69’s looked good too but for me it was the ’67. My dream car. When I finally got my drivers license and began looking for a car I ended up with a red 1975 Camaro…….It’ll do. Still I considered the ’67 my dream car, One day I’ll have one. Well life has been good. Good times, fond memories and years later marriage, career, kids…you know, Life.
As mentioned earlier, I work hard for what I have. Two years ago the opportunity to pick up some extra cash working a lot of overtime arose. I began a project at work that resulted in my working 14/16 hour days for over 100 consecutive days. By the time it was over, I was shot. I had a ‘brain fart’ at work and ended up going out of work mentally and physically exhausted. I had some money put away and got to thinking…..all that hard work and for what? I started my quest. Time to get a little something for me, now if I could just convince the wife.
Surprisingly when I mentioned it to her she agreed, more than that she said “Lets go”. Thanks to this thing called the internet, I got a list of camaros that were for sale. Problem was they weren’t local, and I wasn’t gonna settle for just any car. I wanted an original, numbers matching 4 speed…..easy right? Well, I took my list to AAA and asked them to map me out a road trip. Started from home in NJ and mapped out a route that would take us through 8 states and end up back at home. I was determined to find “My” car. We ended up looking at about 24 different camaros; I wasn’t satisfied with any of them. On our way back from looking at a car in Virginia the girls were pretty grouchy (it had been 6 days of traveling) I decided we could take a night and at the Hotel let them enjoy the indoor pool and we would continue to DC in the morning. We were on our return home portion of our mapped out route with 2 more cars to look at in the DC area the following day.
While the girls are at the pool, I continued in the room looking at other cars on my laptop and finally one pops up. Fits my wants and everything, Problem was we were in Virginia and the car was in Massachusetts. We had been on the trail for seven days, the girls were cranky and Boston was a 12 hour trip. After catching a few winks, I awoke at 5am and started trying to figure what to do. Do as planned and look at the 2 cars in DC and then a 4 hour drive home, drop off the girls and continue to Boston or ???????????? I began thinking about where we were and realized we were just outside of DC and Dulles Airport. You can imagine what occurred next……Rolled the wife over and asked if she could drive home from Virginia (yes dear, straight up rte #95) as there was a 7:30am flight from Dulles to Boston/ Logan. After she assured me she could, I took a taxi from the Hotel to the airport. Arrived in Boston at 9am, another taxi ride for an hour to the car. When I landed in BOS I called the guy and told him where I was and that I was coming. The cab stopped in front and there she was…….A 1967 L-35 396/325 Bolero Red SS Coupe, running and street legal for me to take a ride. The gentleman told me to go ahead take it for a spin. No way, he was just going to stand there in the driveway and let me take this car for a spin. Well he did and after a quarter mile test run, I knew it…..It would be mine.
I brought it back, got out and said “sold”. As we were headed inside he paused and opened the trunk, Took out a box and handed it to me. Once inside I began leafing through the boxes contents and was completely awed, The paper trail started from the Protect-O-Plate, continued through oil change and service receipts, through a Resto done in 1990/91 and then a magazine “Camaro Corral” with this car/my car on the cover with an article inside about how the car started its life and the story of how this young couple believed this car should be brought back to its former glory. Once complete, the car won a Silver award at a National event and as such graced the cover of the magazine.
New problem……..I was in Boston with the car but couldn’t/wouldn’t drive the car all those miles (350+) home now knowing the pedigree and rarity of her. Also, I needed to get some more finances because this car was about 10K more than I had planned on spending (great wife, just get it!!!). OK, another taxi trip back to the airport and an evening flight home. Newark/Liberty airport is about an hour from home but the wife put the kids back in the truck and met me there.
After getting home and trying to calm down, my head started plotting how to get her home. I called a bunch of transport companies but got lengthy and far out travel dates, not acceptable. My wife seeing my dilemma said, and I quote “ You won’t trust anyone else with that car, You need to go get it yourself ”. So true, so true. OK, next step…..I have a truck but no trailer…….Silly kids, Trailer dealer a short distance from home. I brought my truck to them and told them to hook up a car hauler and I want it before closing time TODAY. No problem, done by 5pm and you guessed it…….. Road trip. Bare in mind, I never drove a truck pulling a trailer before but I’ve been driving a while………I can do it. I drove for 6 hours and finally came to Hotel in CT and decided to continue in the morning.
I awoke nice and early and back on the road I was. I pulled into the driveway at 10am and had the car on the trailer by 11am but didn’t know how to strap the car to the trailer (Never done anything akin to this), I called a local towing outfit and paid the driver to strap the car to the trailer and at about 12 noon I was headed back to NJ. I stopped every once in a while just to check on the straps and that she was secure. The thumbs up and looks the car got was a great lift to a weary traveler. It took about 9 ˝ hours to get her home but I arrived.
Next problem…….After pulling my car off the trailer and moving her into the driveway My quest was realized, My “Dream Car” was where she belonged. I spent hours gazing through all the paperwork that was included with my purchase and began realizing this truly was a rare beast, not only was she one of the 4006 396/325 cars made she also retained most of her “born with” components. Documented, numbers matching, Big Block, magazine cover car and all mine. I started thinking this car needs special arrangements…….Like a roof over her, You see I have this comfortable home but don’t have a garage. It is now the beginning of February and winter was coming on like a steam roller. Figuring I was short on time, The first thought that came to mind was to put her in a family members garage but didn’t like that idea…….Putting my car in my younger brothers garage and handing over the keys in case he needed to move it, Yeah right. Next thought was a storage unit at a local U-Store-IT, and let her sit there at some strangers place of business, nope.
OK, I came up with the fact I need a garage. I finally come up with a plan…….trade in the brand new 18’ car hauler and get an enclosed car trailer, I’ll get through the winter with the car tucked in a trailer in my yard and It’ll give me time to have a garage erected. I drew up all my own plans and did all the leg work in order to obtain my permits, I found a contractor who was between jobs and was willing to start right away (now beginning of December). We were racing the clock, If anyone else has done any design/planning/permitting chores you can understand what was going on. My contractor was the labor and I was the brains (stop laughing) and we were determined to get the car inside before 1st snow.
I can honestly say that it did happen, She was inside out of the elements prior to 1st snow.
So, if you were paying attention….My crisis ended up costing me a fortune.
+A - Time off from work
+B - 8 state/3500K road trip
+C - Dream Car
+D - Trailer
+E - 2 car detached garage
= Lucky Guy
After getting things squared away to this point, I have also recovered the few items that had been changed over the years. A prior owner installed a Weiand Aluminum intake, A Holley Carb and stainless headers. I have re-acquired most of the “born-with” items and what wasn’t born with I have located and secured original date correct components to return the car to factory specs should I ever decide to go that route. I know the way it is now I don’t want to change anything, It is everything I ever wanted and more.
Well, That is where I’m at today and will try to keep this car and her history intact.
Thanks for taking the time to allow me to relive my experiences. All of which I would not change in any way.
Keith Pyne
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_front.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_trailer.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_rear.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_interior.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_folddown.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_engine.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_frontengineshot.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_ptb.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_bigblockflags.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_magazinecover.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_article.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_vintagepics.jpg
Even though I am not experienced in auto mechanics, I only hope to continue to learn and enjoy.
Thanks again for the welcome and allowing me to again, though mentally.........relive my story
Keith Pyne
<u>My 1967 L-35 396/325 SS Camaro</u>
I figure everyone has a story or two to tell about their prizes in life, mine is my Camaro.
What some may call a lapse of judgment or someone who fell victim of our current societies increasing mindset of instant gratification, I call my story a positive result of the dreaded “Mid-Life Crisis”. A little about me…I work hard and believe in trying to make life for my children better than it was for me growing up. Not very exciting but that’s what is important to me…Give them what I didn’t have.
A child of the early seventies my heart was always drawn to the ’67 Camaro, I liked the lines, the stance, the power and everything else about it. Sure, the ’68 and ‘69’s looked good too but for me it was the ’67. My dream car. When I finally got my drivers license and began looking for a car I ended up with a red 1975 Camaro…….It’ll do. Still I considered the ’67 my dream car, One day I’ll have one. Well life has been good. Good times, fond memories and years later marriage, career, kids…you know, Life.
As mentioned earlier, I work hard for what I have. Two years ago the opportunity to pick up some extra cash working a lot of overtime arose. I began a project at work that resulted in my working 14/16 hour days for over 100 consecutive days. By the time it was over, I was shot. I had a ‘brain fart’ at work and ended up going out of work mentally and physically exhausted. I had some money put away and got to thinking…..all that hard work and for what? I started my quest. Time to get a little something for me, now if I could just convince the wife.
Surprisingly when I mentioned it to her she agreed, more than that she said “Lets go”. Thanks to this thing called the internet, I got a list of camaros that were for sale. Problem was they weren’t local, and I wasn’t gonna settle for just any car. I wanted an original, numbers matching 4 speed…..easy right? Well, I took my list to AAA and asked them to map me out a road trip. Started from home in NJ and mapped out a route that would take us through 8 states and end up back at home. I was determined to find “My” car. We ended up looking at about 24 different camaros; I wasn’t satisfied with any of them. On our way back from looking at a car in Virginia the girls were pretty grouchy (it had been 6 days of traveling) I decided we could take a night and at the Hotel let them enjoy the indoor pool and we would continue to DC in the morning. We were on our return home portion of our mapped out route with 2 more cars to look at in the DC area the following day.
While the girls are at the pool, I continued in the room looking at other cars on my laptop and finally one pops up. Fits my wants and everything, Problem was we were in Virginia and the car was in Massachusetts. We had been on the trail for seven days, the girls were cranky and Boston was a 12 hour trip. After catching a few winks, I awoke at 5am and started trying to figure what to do. Do as planned and look at the 2 cars in DC and then a 4 hour drive home, drop off the girls and continue to Boston or ???????????? I began thinking about where we were and realized we were just outside of DC and Dulles Airport. You can imagine what occurred next……Rolled the wife over and asked if she could drive home from Virginia (yes dear, straight up rte #95) as there was a 7:30am flight from Dulles to Boston/ Logan. After she assured me she could, I took a taxi from the Hotel to the airport. Arrived in Boston at 9am, another taxi ride for an hour to the car. When I landed in BOS I called the guy and told him where I was and that I was coming. The cab stopped in front and there she was…….A 1967 L-35 396/325 Bolero Red SS Coupe, running and street legal for me to take a ride. The gentleman told me to go ahead take it for a spin. No way, he was just going to stand there in the driveway and let me take this car for a spin. Well he did and after a quarter mile test run, I knew it…..It would be mine.
I brought it back, got out and said “sold”. As we were headed inside he paused and opened the trunk, Took out a box and handed it to me. Once inside I began leafing through the boxes contents and was completely awed, The paper trail started from the Protect-O-Plate, continued through oil change and service receipts, through a Resto done in 1990/91 and then a magazine “Camaro Corral” with this car/my car on the cover with an article inside about how the car started its life and the story of how this young couple believed this car should be brought back to its former glory. Once complete, the car won a Silver award at a National event and as such graced the cover of the magazine.
New problem……..I was in Boston with the car but couldn’t/wouldn’t drive the car all those miles (350+) home now knowing the pedigree and rarity of her. Also, I needed to get some more finances because this car was about 10K more than I had planned on spending (great wife, just get it!!!). OK, another taxi trip back to the airport and an evening flight home. Newark/Liberty airport is about an hour from home but the wife put the kids back in the truck and met me there.
After getting home and trying to calm down, my head started plotting how to get her home. I called a bunch of transport companies but got lengthy and far out travel dates, not acceptable. My wife seeing my dilemma said, and I quote “ You won’t trust anyone else with that car, You need to go get it yourself ”. So true, so true. OK, next step…..I have a truck but no trailer…….Silly kids, Trailer dealer a short distance from home. I brought my truck to them and told them to hook up a car hauler and I want it before closing time TODAY. No problem, done by 5pm and you guessed it…….. Road trip. Bare in mind, I never drove a truck pulling a trailer before but I’ve been driving a while………I can do it. I drove for 6 hours and finally came to Hotel in CT and decided to continue in the morning.
I awoke nice and early and back on the road I was. I pulled into the driveway at 10am and had the car on the trailer by 11am but didn’t know how to strap the car to the trailer (Never done anything akin to this), I called a local towing outfit and paid the driver to strap the car to the trailer and at about 12 noon I was headed back to NJ. I stopped every once in a while just to check on the straps and that she was secure. The thumbs up and looks the car got was a great lift to a weary traveler. It took about 9 ˝ hours to get her home but I arrived.
Next problem…….After pulling my car off the trailer and moving her into the driveway My quest was realized, My “Dream Car” was where she belonged. I spent hours gazing through all the paperwork that was included with my purchase and began realizing this truly was a rare beast, not only was she one of the 4006 396/325 cars made she also retained most of her “born with” components. Documented, numbers matching, Big Block, magazine cover car and all mine. I started thinking this car needs special arrangements…….Like a roof over her, You see I have this comfortable home but don’t have a garage. It is now the beginning of February and winter was coming on like a steam roller. Figuring I was short on time, The first thought that came to mind was to put her in a family members garage but didn’t like that idea…….Putting my car in my younger brothers garage and handing over the keys in case he needed to move it, Yeah right. Next thought was a storage unit at a local U-Store-IT, and let her sit there at some strangers place of business, nope.
OK, I came up with the fact I need a garage. I finally come up with a plan…….trade in the brand new 18’ car hauler and get an enclosed car trailer, I’ll get through the winter with the car tucked in a trailer in my yard and It’ll give me time to have a garage erected. I drew up all my own plans and did all the leg work in order to obtain my permits, I found a contractor who was between jobs and was willing to start right away (now beginning of December). We were racing the clock, If anyone else has done any design/planning/permitting chores you can understand what was going on. My contractor was the labor and I was the brains (stop laughing) and we were determined to get the car inside before 1st snow.
I can honestly say that it did happen, She was inside out of the elements prior to 1st snow.
So, if you were paying attention….My crisis ended up costing me a fortune.
+A - Time off from work
+B - 8 state/3500K road trip
+C - Dream Car
+D - Trailer
+E - 2 car detached garage
= Lucky Guy
After getting things squared away to this point, I have also recovered the few items that had been changed over the years. A prior owner installed a Weiand Aluminum intake, A Holley Carb and stainless headers. I have re-acquired most of the “born-with” items and what wasn’t born with I have located and secured original date correct components to return the car to factory specs should I ever decide to go that route. I know the way it is now I don’t want to change anything, It is everything I ever wanted and more.
Well, That is where I’m at today and will try to keep this car and her history intact.
Thanks for taking the time to allow me to relive my experiences. All of which I would not change in any way.
Keith Pyne
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_front.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_trailer.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_rear.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_interior.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_folddown.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_engine.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_frontengineshot.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_ptb.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_bigblockflags.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_magazinecover.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_article.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Members%20Rides/Keith%20Pyne/tn_vintagepics.jpg