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! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[DarrenX33]

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

[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[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img] 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 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] 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 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
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 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[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! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
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.