Summer of '69 pics

[Don_Lightfoot]

Here's a great shot from back in 1969. When I was ripping around in my 69 RS/SS, these were two cars that were always cruising as well. The Z was owned by a guy named Billy Blair who worked at our local Chevy Dealer back then. The L78 Velle was owned by Dave Kirkham and this was the car I absolutely drooled over for a couple of years until he ran it into a rock cut. Probably one of the reasons for my particular Chevelle today. Dave even dated my sister (of course almost everybody did [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]). Both are still active in the hobby today, but with different machines.

[Don_Lightfoot]

This is another side shot of the 69 Velle. Notice the correct "69 style" Firestone Wide Oval tire. Dave and Pauline have been mentioning these pictures at cruise nights all year and finally brought them out for me to see and take home to scan.

[Don_Lightfoot]

Here's an engine shot from that summer as well. Two things that pop out are the air filter and lack of A.I.R. The filter had been changed to an aftermarket one and he had the dealership remove the A.I.R. system before he took delivery which was about Mar/69. For you "over" restorers out there, notice there is no engine paint overspray on the intake, hoses, etc. (which might have been plant specific, I don't know). He didn't recall the assembly plant until I started to rhyme them all of, it was a Baltimore car.

Hopefully you enjoy these shots as much as I do [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Mr70]

Hi Don
Do you have any pix of your Sister? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif[/img]

Seriously though,good shots,and glad you posted them here.
Is that all there is?
Is that Chevelle long gone?
Interesting to see the Alternator bracket came with the Heater Hose clamp attached,as some didn't.
And the battery must have been grounded at the block.
Rick

[allcamaro]

Post deleted by allcamaro

[mmcporter]

Don, great pics. It's a shame there weren't some more all-encompassing shots of the engine bay. Interesting to see "how it was" as opposed to "how people thought it was."

[mmcporter]

Gorgeous!!

[camarojoe]

Don, those Wide Ovals on that original 69 snapshot are cool... I don't know how many arguments I've gotten into about the fact that the current reproduction white lettered "Wide O Oval" tires are "different" in appearance than the ones actually used in 1969. The current repros are styled after the 1970-up Firestones. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[hvychev]

Cool Pics Don! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[DarrenX33]

I second that. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
I just can't get enough of the vintage pics. Thanks for sharing.