[MarvSS396]

Well i am pretty sure you guys want to here the story on this incredible find. All I have to say is never stop looking. The stuff is still out there.

Two years ago a friend of mine John owned a 1969 Camaro SS 396 body. It needed alot of sheet metal, quarters, floor boards, etc... The car needed alot of work to save her. I suggested to him to call Jerry at Camaro Country. The car went to him. Bummed over the sale, John started looking. Through a friend of ours we had a leed. "I worked with a guy at a body shop that had a 68 convertible SS. Bob might sell it." Called him up and yes he was interested in selling the Camaro. We arrived at Bob's house. The garage door was open and inside was a car under cover. He pulled the cover off and the first thing that I noticed was the Winters intake and dimple on the heads. "It is a L78" quietly under my breath. I ran the numbers for him to see what was original. The car is solid as a rock. The paint is four years old. Everything was painted off the car, fenders, header, hood, etc... Bob never finished the restoration. The engine compartment need to be detailed and the sheetmetal installed. That is where he stopped. The short block is a CE replacment. No way to verify a correct drive train. He had no paperwork on the car. The heads are 840's, 1111170 distributor, 1100814 alternator, 163 intake all date coded with the car. "I have lots of parts to go with the car." Well a deal was struck. We loaded it up the next day. John had to go back and pick up the parts that went with the car. He filled up the back of his truck with parts. Had a hard time closing the window on his cap. Plus a utility trailer full of parts bungied down. All NOS parts for the car!!!!! Bob purchased all the parts back in 81 when he first bought the car. A few months passed. Jeff, our leed man was painting a utility trailer for a customer. Talking cars to the owner of the trailer. "That was my buddy's car, he ordered it." Apparently the car has never left the kalamazoo ares. "I have his number if you want to give it to John." I could not believe it. John eventually called the original owner. Bob's wife answered the phone. I have something that Bob use to own. Oh, you must mean the Camaro? I'll get him. " I ordered the car in my neighbors kitchen. They were the owners of Ward Chevrolet in Colon Michigan. Yes the car is a L78. I ordered the car. I wanted the coupe, but my girlfriend, now wife, wanted a convertible. I ordered the car strictly to street race. In 1969 I spun a main bearing. I had Denooyer Chevrolet perform the warrenty work. I think they were mad since I didnot buy the car from them. It took all summer of 69 to do the work. The car came with dogdish hubcaps. The second day I had the car, I installed a set of Cragar SS wheels. I sold the car in 71. I worked on my parents huge farm and we need a new manuer spreader. Kind of funny. We needed a new one that is why I sold the car. You know what, I might have the paper work on the car in my old bedroom." Amazing story.