Don Stowers' 66 G.T.O. Black Beauty

[Belair62]

The summer of 1999 I found myself without a nice local show and cruise night driver that I didn't have to worry about. Coincidently, I received a call from a friend in Virginia that had a client that wanted to sell a "old car". A quick call to the friend found the car to be a 66 GTO that he had purchased at an auction in Oklahoma several years prior. He had lost interest in cars and wanted to sell it. We discussed the car, price etc. and he sent the standard pictures.
Armed with the VIN I contact PHH and verified that it was in fact a 66 Goat. We agreed on a price subject to inspection and I made plans to drive through Virginia at the conclusion of an upcoming vacation.
The car was a pleasant surprise when I saw it (it was beautiful and in great condition) and after a test drive the deal was made. The sellers first question was when would I have it picked up. I handed him the certified check and said I was driving it 380 miles home to Ohio. He stuttered a little and said he couldn't guarantee that it would make it. I thought it would and a shopping trip to the nearest auto supply store equipped me with a fire extinguisher, spare tire in a can and a gas can.
380 miles and a quart of oil later we were in Toledo, not one hiccup from the "old car". Although I was at a tire dealer the first thing the next morning for a wheel balance.
A cosmetic body restoration had been performed but mechanically the car has not been touched. My plans are to pull it off the frame and do a full chassis and engine rebuild and detail. But after five years what's the hurry.
It is well equipped with PS, console, Rally gauges, wood wheel, 4 speed and best of all factory air. Rally twos, although incorrect, look great with the redlines and the red body stripe on the ultra straight factory black body.
The car was sold new to Ralph Miller of Birmingham, AL as per the protecto plate. The POP also proves the "born with" engine, transmission and rear end are still in the car