CRG Discussion Forum
Camaro Research Group Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: cook_dw on June 27, 2014, 11:43:46 PM
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I stole this idea from another forum and thought might try it here to see if any else has their first car. Here is my story on my first car.
I know I do not post on very much but I thought I would add to this thread. The car sold new at my local Chevy dealer to a guy here in town in early 1970 (late build 69). His neighbor bought it from him in '72 and she drove it until 1978 when she pulled out in front of someone and was t-boned.. The car sat until my father was talking to a guy and he was telling him about a '79 Camaro that might be for sale. We didnt think much about it but I thought that might be an OK first car. When my father talked to the guy again; he said did I say 79?? I meant 69... At that point, I was in. We went to look at it in Nov of 1989 and brought it home. After several hours on a frame machine, body work the car was repainted in Rallye Green (I hated Frost Green at the time; wish I wouldnt have been so ignorant at the time). Once the car was finished and road worthy we took it back to Mrs. Brockett (2nd owner) for her to see the car could be fixed (when she wrecked the car the insurance totaled the car and she just bought it back thinking she might get it fixed one day). When we pulled up she came out and first things out of her mouth were; "I see you put one of those "humps" on the hood.. And you added that "flip" on the trunk.." Needless to say, she was happy to see the car again on the road. When I was a senior in high school I pulled the 307, powerglide & 10 bolt out and slide in a mild built 350, Muncie M20 & a 12 Bolt with 3.55 gears. I still have the car and once I finish my other projects it will return as a LS turbo powered drag radial car one of these days.
Before:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1969%20X11%20Camaro/image_zpsb0a2e3ea.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/superslow/media/1969%20X11%20Camaro/image_zpsb0a2e3ea.jpg.html)
Yes I thought I was sooo cool with my new car..
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1969%20X11%20Camaro/image_zpsf520c00d.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/superslow/media/1969%20X11%20Camaro/image_zpsf520c00d.jpg.html)
My father doing a little bodywork.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1969%20X11%20Camaro/image_zps0ea6656d.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/superslow/media/1969%20X11%20Camaro/image_zps0ea6656d.jpg.html)
Now the finished product as of 2005.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1969%20X11%20Camaro/69inparkinglot_zpsef5edc54.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/superslow/media/1969%20X11%20Camaro/69inparkinglot_zpsef5edc54.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1969%20X11%20Camaro/DSC01008_zps4f999d85.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/superslow/media/1969%20X11%20Camaro/DSC01008_zps4f999d85.jpg.html)
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Nope--long gone. 1st car was an old 55 drag car minus motor and trans. Firewall was beat in for the big block. In today's world the body would be considered in pretty good shape. This was probably in 79 or 80. Rear side windows still had the Dragway 42 + trophy stickers. Traded a RM80 with a leaking case and a few hundred bucks saved up from mowing lawns , etc.. Picked up a 409, yup that's correct, for real cheap.( the old guys used to say they couldn't take a rev) Big plus with the car was all the trim, bumpers and glass were in wonderful shape. Being 100% Hungarian sort makes me a Gypsy by birth right ,and there was $$ to be made in rolling the body and bleeding the parts out. I sat on the 409 a few years and turned a good buck on it. Many cars in and out of the driveway through high school, mostly from bad neighborhoods. A little love ,and off they went. Helped knowing guys in the "old school" parts stores ;)
Got the Z from Dad in 89, my 1st love so to speak. Lots of not so fun jobs helping him in the garage, not always treasured moments...but great experience. This one was always pleasure, and still is.
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Not my first car (62 Austin Healey 3000) but have back our first New Car, i.e. 69 L78 Nova
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Well my story is similar to Jano's as far as working hard mowing lawns, bagging groceries at safeway, during the school year and then worked with my uncle in construction during the summer months putting away money. I was already interested in early Mustangs, but when my uncle was able to purchase his uncles 65 fastback, that kinda locked me onto looking for a 65 fastback as well. I had saved up 5k and my uncle I bought one for $1500 and by the time we drove it back to California, it had new paint, motor, and interior. I had $500 left of my savings for a set of 65(mustang) rally wheels. I had the car from the beginning of my Senior year in high school until one stormy night 5 years later. It was rainy cats and dogs my car was fishtailing just going down El Camino (main strip in the bay area) but I made it home safe, I put "THE CLUB" on the steering wheel and locked it up thinking it was safe for the night.... I woke up the next morning the sun was out and my car was GONE>>
Well as much as I hoped the Police would find it, me and a friend drove up to the sunset district, and looked with no luck. After a couple of months the insurance company said they would cut me a check for the current value, which was a decent amount. 8 months after it was stolen they found my car along with a friends 85 Grand National which got stolen the night before mine. Both cars were in Oakland, and were being driven into the ground by some thugs. I went to the auction and got to see my car I had built up with my uncle, that I had washed religiously. They had replaced the drivers door probably because they used a screwdriver to get the original open, the steering wheel was taped together and besides the paint looking terrible they had put 75,000 miles on it in that time. The car didn't run, but still bid up to 4k in the auction which surprised me. I didn't bid higher than 3 knowing it would need to be completely taken apart and would have a salvage title when it was done. Instead as luck would have it my uncle was finishing another 65 Mustang fastback, that he originally conceived would be more for him since my aunt had taken over the other car which was an automatic, power steering car. His carhe was about to finsih was a factory 4V 289 with an original 4 speed, and had the handling package with quick ratio steering. My aunt ended up talking him into selling it to me, so I bought my second car form my uncle as well, which happened to be the same color as the one that got stolen, Candy Apple Red. I bought the car and then spent another grand swapping over 4 piston caliper disc brakes from a GT parts car he had bought a few months prior.
When I look back at what happened, I miss the good times from the first car, the car races at sears point, picking up chicks, and out running the cops. BUT the car I ended up with is so much cleaner, is a factory 4 speed car and is really a polished up version of my first car:
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No, don't have it. Growing up in Atlanta my first car was a 64 GTO 4 speed at 16. Bought it off a high school friend with a spun bearing for $125.00 in 1969. Had a mechanic friend fix it while I was pumping gas at the local Chevron across from my parents house during the summer. Got it all fixed up and got into a boat load of trouble with it and my dad took the keys and had the car shredded into little tiny pieces while I watched. My dad managed an aluminum plant and this car shredding plant for Max and Bobby London Inc, some old Navy friends. After seeing that my new job was running a pedestal crane 60 feet in the air dropping cars into that shredder. I was 17 that summer. Oh, I had one car explode when someone below didn't tell me the gas tank was still in it. What a bang.
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No, don't have it. Growing up in Atlanta my first car was a 64 GTO 4 speed at 16. Bought it off a high school friend with a spun bearing for $125.00 in 1969. Had a mechanic friend fix it while I was pumping gas at the local Chevron across from my parents house during the summer. Got it all fixed up and got into a boat load of trouble with it and my dad took the keys and had the car shredded into little tiny pieces while I watched. My dad managed an aluminum plant and this car shredding plant for Max and Bobby London Inc, some old Navy friends. After seeing that my new job was running a pedestal crane 60 feet in the air dropping cars into that shredder. I was 17 that summer. Oh, I had one car explode when someone below didn't tell me the gas tank was still in it. What a bang.
Back when kid's didn't call there Dad's bluff ! Sorry, not funny...but the story does make me chuckle! good one
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No, don't have it. Growing up in Atlanta my first car was a 64 GTO 4 speed at 16. Bought it off a high school friend with a spun bearing for $125.00 in 1969. Had a mechanic friend fix it while I was pumping gas at the local Chevron across from my parents house during the summer. Got it all fixed up and got into a boat load of trouble with it and my dad took the keys and had the car shredded into little tiny pieces while I watched. My dad managed an aluminum plant and this car shredding plant for Max and Bobby London Inc, some old Navy friends. After seeing that my new job was running a pedestal crane 60 feet in the air dropping cars into that shredder. I was 17 that summer. Oh, I had one car explode when someone below didn't tell me the gas tank was still in it. What a bang.
OMG.. shredded? literally? '64 GTO was one of my favorite cars of the mid-60's... a HS classmate had one, and I will remember forever his passing the school bus (that I was riding home in) .. full bore, cutouts open... I didn't care for that fella, but I loved his car.. :)
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It would be tough for me to watch a 64 GTO get shredded, even if it wasn't mine. In fact when I look at those old photos with 50's and 60's 4 doors and 2 doors alike stacked in junkyards and think of all the cool cars that got crushed, and all the parts cars and trim that could have been utilized.
When you mentioned it getting shredded, it made me think of the scene in Gone in 60 Seconds where they pick up that nice challenger with the claws, and then you see the chunks of metal coming out the other side....
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Gary, If I had witnessed all those cars being shredded,like you, I would still be in intense psychotherapy,lol. As a teen though and without that perfect hindsight, running a crane was probably totaly fun and cool.
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I don't have my first car which was a 1965 Chevelle SS327 4 spd. I do have my 1st Camaro & the last Camaro I ever purchased. I've had 16. Maybe we should ask who still has their 1st Camaro. The z/28 was my 1st Camaro...Joe
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I don,t have mine either. It was a black with red interior 61 Impala bubbletop.348 tripower, 350 horse, 4 speed, all factory. Bought new by my cousin . His wife parked it when it would not start in a field while he was in Viet Nam. I gave him $90.00 for it and towed it home. New battery and a tune up and a 16 year old in 69 was on the loose. Put down some 396 chevelles and GTO,s. dated my 1st wife in it. Spun a bearing in it and bought a 65 SS impala. Put the 4 speed in that and actually gave the body away to a guy who wanted the interior. Later gave the 348 away. This car actually had the tripower emblems on the front fenders. Many cars later and I still look at 61 black impalas hoping it might be mine. I did however take pictures of it and still have them. For some reason I was into pictures and took some of almost every car I ever had and still have them in an album. On lazy days it is nice to look at 45 years worth of muscle cars the I owned and drove.
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No, don't have it. Growing up in Atlanta my first car was a 64 GTO 4 speed at 16. Bought it off a high school friend with a spun bearing for $125.00 in 1969. Had a mechanic friend fix it while I was pumping gas at the local Chevron across from my parents house during the summer. Got it all fixed up and got into a boat load of trouble with it and my dad took the keys and had the car shredded into little tiny pieces while I watched. My dad managed an aluminum plant and this car shredding plant for Max and Bobby London Inc, some old Navy friends. After seeing that my new job was running a pedestal crane 60 feet in the air dropping cars into that shredder. I was 17 that summer. Oh, I had one car explode when someone below didn't tell me the gas tank was still in it. What a bang.
Back when kid's didn't call there Dad's bluff ! Sorry, not funny...but the story does make me chuckle! good one
Yeah, I wasn't laughing. He was a fairly decent boxer and we, my brothers and I, were always sparing with him growing up, he was a tough cookie. Wore his bare back hand a few times.
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No, don't have it. Growing up in Atlanta my first car was a 64 GTO 4 speed at 16. Bought it off a high school friend with a spun bearing for $125.00 in 1969. Had a mechanic friend fix it while I was pumping gas at the local Chevron across from my parents house during the summer. Got it all fixed up and got into a boat load of trouble with it and my dad took the keys and had the car shredded into little tiny pieces while I watched. My dad managed an aluminum plant and this car shredding plant for Max and Bobby London Inc, some old Navy friends. After seeing that my new job was running a pedestal crane 60 feet in the air dropping cars into that shredder. I was 17 that summer. Oh, I had one car explode when someone below didn't tell me the gas tank was still in it. What a bang.
OMG.. shredded? literally? '64 GTO was one of my favorite cars of the mid-60's... a HS classmate had one, and I will remember forever his passing the school bus (that I was riding home in) .. full bore, cutouts open... I didn't care for that fella, but I loved his car.. :)
Yes sir Gary, in tiny little pieces. I went to get something out of the trunk and it was gone. I went to work with my dad that Saturday and it was sitting in front of the crane all prepped and ready to drop in the shredder. A few things have to be removed beforehand mainly the gas tank. I learned a lot about the shredding business from then on. The shredder was no joke. I just found out recently the HS buddy I bought my car from was murdered a little while back according to another HS friend. That was sad to hear.
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It would be tough for me to watch a 64 GTO get shredded, even if it wasn't mine. In fact when I look at those old photos with 50's and 60's 4 doors and 2 doors alike stacked in junkyards and think of all the cool cars that got crushed, and all the parts cars and trim that could have been utilized.
When you mentioned it getting shredded, it made me think of the scene in Gone in 60 Seconds where they pick up that nice challenger with the claws, and then you see the chunks of metal coming out the other side....
Some bodies got cubed and some got flattened. The cubed metal went directly to a smelter, I think, never had any hands on with that but the flatten cars went to a shredder. Once in the shredder, which had titanium hammers rotating horizontally, similar to the beaters on a cake mixer, one set rotated clockwise and the other set rotated counter clockwise and the flattened, and sometimes not flatten body was dropped in between the hammers and what a noise it makes. Underneath are conveyer belts that separated the magnetic and non magnetic material. The magnetic didn't need hands on but the non magnetic did, so there where workers that separated the trash material from the aluminum and S.S. It's amazing when a car goes thru with a gas tank still in it. There were welders out there every day fixing that shredder at the end of the day.
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Gary, If I had witnessed all those cars being shredded,like you, I would still be in intense psychotherapy,lol. As a teen though and without that perfect hindsight, running a crane was probably totaly fun and cool.
Hey B I was a rubber necker in the biggest sense. Always looking for possible good parts but there wasn't. One thing I didn't like was how these bodies were stacked. Aisles and aisles and rows and rows. If there was ever a strong wind I wouldn't want to be in between the aisles. There was some leaning action going on. It's been at least 45 years since I worked there, I was 16 going on 17 in 69 and working that crane was great. I wanted to stay at that job forever, but I was always getting into trouble with the law and at home and finally left home. Eventually joined the Air Force. Atlanta was great for me, lots to do, Delaware sucks, no comparison. My intense psychotherapy was getting away from home.
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My Dad and I built a VW Manx dune buggy that became my first driver in '69. But my first real car was a '68 Z/28 that I bought in '71. I had it only 2 years. When sold in '73 I bought a '56 Nomad. A few others over the years. I bought my current '69 Camaro in '2005 turning a gramdma car into a Z/28 clone. ZZ383, Autogear M22W. Moser 12 Bolt. All the good stuff.
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1970 Holden HG Belmont sedan. The only thing I still have is an emblem.
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You guys are looking tough in that thing. Looks like the police car in MAD MAX
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My first car was a 1953 Flat Head Ford. Paid the guy $75.00 and the car actually ran, or it did for a while; then it became a royal pain in the pocket book.
The guys do look cool. At first glance, I thought it was Elwood and Jake - the Blues Brothers...
TMR
Eddie
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My 68 Camaro is my first car. its been with me since I was 8. My grandfather found it in the paper and bought it. we spend the next 7 years restoring it. He only worked on it when I could after school and sports. we did all the bodywork, engine work. had a guy shoot the color on the car and then we did all the reassembly. Got it finished right before my 15th birthday. I learned how to drive a stick in the car. Im now in the process of putting original parts on the car to replace some of the cheap stuff I threw on when we put it together originally to get it on the road. My car will never got back to 100% original. I hate the factory colors (Matador Red with a black vinyl top) but I love the factory 327 ive just dressed it up like a Z/28. Kinda doing a what if chevy built a L79 Camaro.
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My 68 Camaro is my first car. its been with me since I was 8. My grandfather found it in the paper and bought it. we spend the next 7 years restoring it. He only worked on it when I could after school and sports. we did all the bodywork, engine work. had a guy shoot the color on the car and then we did all the reassembly. Got it finished right before my 15th birthday. I learned how to drive a stick in the car. Im now in the process of putting original parts on the car to replace some of the cheap stuff I threw on when we put it together originally to get it on the road. My car will never got back to 100% original. I hate the factory colors (Matador Red with a black vinyl top) but I love the factory 327 ive just dressed it up like a Z/28. Kinda doing a what if chevy built a L79 Camaro.
Lest we old timers forget, we have a young lad among us. My friend, you already have what us older guys/gals have, and that is memories! Keep up the good work and cherish the moments and friendships your car will produce.
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My 68 Camaro is my first car. its been with me since I was 8. My grandfather found it in the paper and bought it. we spend the next 7 years restoring it. He only worked on it when I could after school and sports. we did all the bodywork, engine work. had a guy shoot the color on the car and then we did all the reassembly. Got it finished right before my 15th birthday. I learned how to drive a stick in the car. Im now in the process of putting original parts on the car to replace some of the cheap stuff I threw on when we put it together originally to get it on the road. My car will never got back to 100% original. I hate the factory colors (Matador Red with a black vinyl top) but I love the factory 327 ive just dressed it up like a Z/28. Kinda doing a what if chevy built a L79 Camaro.
Great story and a experience you will remember the rest of your life.. :)
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My 1st car was a '65 Chevelle with 230 and a power glide. I bought it just before I turned 16 in July of '94 (most of my friends didn't understand why I would want an "old" car). I drove the car through the summer and fall. When winter came my father couldn't bear the thought of me driving it and offered to buy it with the option of me buying it back at anytime for the same price. I took him up on the offer as I found a '77 short bed 4X4 with a 400ci engine it for the same price. To this day my father enjoys driving the car and really likes to see people's reactions to a 6 cylinder in the engine bay at cruise night. While I currently don't own my 1st car, it's in good hands and will most likely be mine again someday.
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My 1st car was a '65 Chevelle with 230 and a power glide. I bought it just before I turned 16 in July of '94 (most of my friends didn't understand why I would want an "old" car). I drove the car through the summer and fall. When winter came my father couldn't bear the thought of me driving it and offered to buy it with the option of me buying it back at anytime for the same price. I took him up on the offer as I found a '77 short bed 4X4 with a 400ci engine it for the same price. To this day my father enjoys driving the car and really likes to see people's reactions to a 6 cylinder in the engine bay at cruise night. While I currently don't own my 1st car, it's in good hands and will most likely be mine again someday.
Good story ! Talk about win/win. Pretty smart of your Dad, all in all probably had more fun with the truck. Sort of along the same lines...winter was coming and my dad talked me into getting rid of a 68 GTO convertible I bought ( something how cheap they were back then ,think I paid around 1800.00 for it) and bought a 78 CJ5....way more fun. Great days, was going through cars like girlfriends LOL.
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I still have mine. I like to think of it as my time machine. I'm a 16 year old punk everytime I get behind the wheel. Feels good!
Steve
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My first car was a 1964 Impala--327/300 with a Slip-O-Matic (Powerglide). I drove it all through high school and cut my teeth on the art of hot rodding with it. My dad promised to buy me my first 1968 Camaro for graduating high school in 1975. The catch: Sell the '64 to help offset the cost of the Camaro. I graduated and he bought the Camaro for $900. I sold the '64 for $350 and gave him the money. To this day I'd love to have that land barge back as nostalgia.
Unfortunately, the guy I sold it to didn't know much about tuning a hot 327 and it backfired on him and burned up under the hood. The Impala wound up in the junkyard. What a waste.
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I was one of those unappreciative brats who was given a '69 Camaro for their 16th birthday. Wrecked it shortly after my 17th birthday. Funny thing is that was probably the best thing that ever happened. My dad had the space to store it until I could do it right and now I appreciate it and the connection to my dad every single day.
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I turned 16 in Dec of 76. I could not wait to take driver ed. at school because I would not get my license until the end of school year, so I went to a private driving school and got my license in Jan. of 77. Dad dictated what we could drive and bought us cars because he wanted something safe. I did not like my choices. Ist I got my older brothers car, a Mercedes 220 Diesel. A uncool slug of a car. Then, a 69 Cutlass 2dr 6 cylinder that dad got from his insurance guy. It was his son's car. It was Robin Egg blue(yuk). I worked at gas stations and tire stores because I wanted to learn how to work on cars. I bought air shocks,painted the rear axle yellow,cut off the NEW exhaust to make it loud(although a sick sounding drone) and put bald wide tires I took off a "hippie van" at the tire store on ralleyII wheels also freebies from the store. After working the second summer and now, 17, I bought my own ride, a 67 SS Chevelle 396. Dad was not happy at all! That fall, he sent me to Military School. Upon graduating in 79. I bought the 2 69 Camaro I still have and another 67 Chevelle SS (Maroon). Sold that when I married, but still have a soft spot for 67 Chevelles and would like another someday. Green P.U. in background is a 71 Chev 3/4 (still have it as well!). Cutlass in background in 1st pic. Dad got rid of it when he found out I was going to put a 389 tri-power in it that I was dealing on. Wish I had kept a set of those Cragars. :P
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I was one of those unappreciative brats who was given a '69 Camaro for their 16th birthday. Wrecked it shortly after my 17th birthday. Funny thing is that was probably the best thing that ever happened. My dad had the space to store it until I could do it right and now I appreciate it and the connection to my dad every single day.
Ouch!!! Knew a few of those guys in high school in Atlanta...always thought they were hot because their dads owned a dealership. Wreck a car today and get a new car the next...they didn't care, oh well. I always appreciated every car I bought. My parents would just laugh if we asked for them to buy. My dad always told us to buy a piece of crap $100.00 car and beat the crap out of it. We all learned on dirt back roads in Atlanta and tore some cars up. My first car is in my post up top. I didn't take care of it and I payed for it.
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I turned 16 in Dec of 76. I could not wait to take driver ed. at school because I would not get my license until the end of school year, so I went to a private driving school and got my license in Jan. of 77. Dad dictated what we could drive and bought us cars because he wanted something safe. I did not like my choices. Ist I got my older brothers car, a Mercedes 220 Diesel. A uncool slug of a car. Then, a 69 Cutlass 2dr 6 cylinder that dad got from his insurance guy. It was his son's car. It was Robin Egg blue(yuk). I worked at gas stations and tire stores because I wanted to learn how to work on cars. I bought air shocks,painted the rear axle yellow,cut off the NEW exhaust to make it loud(although a sick sounding drone) and put bald wide tires I took off a "hippie van" at the tire store on ralleyII wheels also freebies from the store. After working the second summer and now, 17, I bought my own ride, a 67 SS Chevelle 396. Dad was not happy at all! That fall, he sent me to Military School. Upon graduating in 79. I bought the 2 69 Camaro I still have and another 67 Chevelle SS (Maroon). Sold that when I married, but still have a soft spot for 67 Chevelles and would like another someday. Green P.U. in background is a 71 Chev 3/4 (still have it as well!). Cutlass in background in 1st pic. Dad got rid of it when he found out I was going to put a 389 tri-power in it that I was dealing on. Wish I had kept a set of those Cragars. :P
Hey B, now that is a car I would love to have at 16. That car would be beat for sure. A friend had a 66 SS, Green, he was chased by the Atlanta cops one night. Slammed into a pole head on and ran after that. Later somehow the car got towed and sat at another friends house in the front yard with the head lights looking at each other but he was nowhere around. Turns out he joined the Army to get away from that accident and the cops chasing him. Never did see him again. Of course this was during Nam, so he may have not made it out. THe day I turned 18 the government stopped the draft. Boy was I relieved as well as a few other friends.
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I still have my first car (my 67) and my other 2 Camaros also, but unofficially the 97 is my oldest son's car now.
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I still have my first car also. I was a 14 year old working at a car wash for 10 bucks a day. I had saved some money and bought my 68 SSRS 396 with the help of my dad. The guy I bought it from was a high school senior that going off to college and needed a truck so the car was put for sale. I gave 2500 for it in Feb 1980 & my dad & I fixed the front end where it had been wreck and had the local ford garage spray the car in 77 Corvette Yellow.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/oldCamaropics004.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/oldCamaropics001.jpg)
By October of 1980 I was finally driving the car and april 12" 1982 a lady with no insurance ran a stop sign driving a Buick wildcat and hit me broad side and wiped out the driver side quarter & door. >:(
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/oldCamaropics.jpg)
We had the car fixed by the same ford garage and now that I am older and have learned to do my own paint body work realize was very poor job but at the time I thought it was a good repair.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/camaros013.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/gr513157-1.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/100_0841_zpse2f90896.jpg)
I wrecked the car again in 1984 when an out of state driver tried to pass me on the left as I was turning into a drive way, again no insurance. My insurance wanted to total the car but we wouldn't let them and paid out of pocked to fix it. Once again the poor repairs were done at the same ford garage.
Years went by & I bought, built& sold a to many to Camaros to count many of them much nicer that this old 68 but none of them as special to me.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/camaros001.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/camaros003.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/camaros025.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/2964497370035900443WeeTGG_fs-1.jpg)
Anyway in 2006 I had the car out at the drag strip and spun a bearing, I had been wanting to restore the car for many years but just never got to it so I made my self a promise that I would not fix the engine until I had completely restore the car. In 2009 I pulled the car apart, replaced the all the rear sheet metal and started on a 1 year restoration what has turned into a 5+ years.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/100_0205.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/0429131611_0001_zps16648b1f.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/100_0925_zpseb635e38.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/100_1120_zps31afcd03.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/100_1379_zps193b6323.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/100_1948_zps59e0abc3.jpg)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o70/x77d80/68%20SSRS%20396%20Camaro/100_1966_zps8cf3840a.jpg)
anyway that is pretty much what the car looks like now, I have all the interior completely finished in 749 and I am finally getting started on rebuilding the big block. I have been documenting the build on youtube so that when I am older and can no longer go out and do this kind of stuff I can look back an enjoy the process again..
Sorry for the long winded post..
Nick
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Nick I really get a kick seeing these old vintage pictures and hearing the interesting stories. Looks like you are doing a great job on the restoration also.
My first car was a hand me down from Grama to my father to me at 15. A 1956 PINK Cadilac. What a tank, my sister took out a 4" tree trunk and it didn't even dent the bumper. Car is long gone. But I watched one on Ebay, maybe some day I'l get another one. George
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Nick your car is looking real nice. It was worth the wait. good work my friend!
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Nick-That is a real inspiring story of "keeping the faith" and never giving up. Through thick and thin, trials and tribulation, a truly encouraging long relationship with your car.
George-Love that Caddy. Is that in Florida? Guessing by the house color and style. Like you love the old pics and stories.
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Yes I still have my first car I bought back in 1988 for $750 when I was 16. My '67 was in rough shape when I bought it and it has come a long way. As far as sheetmetal goes, I had to replace the quarters, outer wheel wells, and the floorpans. Everything else on the car has also eventually been done through the years by me and my dad including the drivetrain and suspension, a complete interior, and the body and paint. The car currently has rally wheels, a 350 small block, and an M21 but I am planning in the future to re-do the paint to the original color of capri cream and install a '68 vintage 396 that I have. You can also see the rear end of my 1969 matching numbers 307 X44 car I picked up in Maryland back in 1995.
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George-Love that Caddy. Is that in Florida? Guessing by the house color and style. Like you love the old pics and stories.
That was my Grand Fathers Florida car, their winter home in Hollywood Fl. was also pink & white, but the home in the picture was on their farm in Indiana. Home is still there but no-longer pink. George
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Thank you for the kind words guys, I really wanted to let my oldest daughter use the car to take her drivers license test in it as I did, but didn't finish it in time. I still remember the look on the face of the lady @ the DMV when I showed up for the road test with a Big Block 4 speed Camaro and heck, the car was only 12 years old then. lol.. I really wanted to see her do the same thing as this car will go to her someday and I feel like it will make some great memories for the both of us. 8)
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These are the first 2 cars I bought when I first got back to the good old USA from overseas...so does this count? The 67 RS was completely apart when I found it in 83 but managed to put it back together and start on the body. I 'HAD' to get rid of this car and hated to do it but a divorce forced me to. Sad day in hell. It was a white car with gold interior 327 auto. The body was in really nice shape, just a few holes at the bottom of the quarters behind the rear wheels.
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Yes, still have my 68 RS. Bought it in 1980 gave 2k. Eventually the 327 smoked too much to pass inspection and I needed something newer for full time job, so put it away. Every time I had money up, to go thru it, something else came along...other Camaros, Vettes...and assault weapons , A man has to have hobbies. So now that same 68 is going to be my retirement gift to self...probably take 401k to finish her.....all photos of cars past,were in albums that went underwater in a flood in 2001.. gave all the albums a Viking funeral could not save them.
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I still have mine. 1969 X66. Bought it in 1988 and drove it for two years. It has been parked ever since and needs a lot of work. I am glad I found your site. The knowledge that exists here is amazing and has helped me a great deal. I have been on this site many times learning about my camaro and am glad to join this site.
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I still have mine. I bought my 67 RS in 1980 for $1750. My parents paid half and I made payments to them till it was all paid off. It had fresh paint and stripes but no wheels and tires and no alternator. We came back the next week and it had 4 baldies and a rebuilt alternator. It had 3 lugs holding on each wheel. The guy said to take it easy. My (future) brother in law proceeded to smoke the tires in the parking lot. He looked at me after and said it was ok to buy it. LOL. I drove it through High school and college. It was the party car for me and all my friends. I eventually parked it in 1991 where it has sat til this day. I had not started it for 5 years and I finally got it running again. Brakes need all new hoses and cylinders and such. It might see the road again in the next year. Ive had at least 30 cars and trucks in between but this is the one Ive kept all these years.
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great stories ( Hideawaze, X66, Carbuff) but we are all picture hounds on here, post some pics of these beauties (please)... :) :) :)
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For some reason, that I still don't know today, I was conservative when I first learned to drive in '73 so my first car was a '66 Buick sports wagon. Exciting, eh?
Anyhow...when I first felt a '67 396 Camaro under my derrière around 1978, I have since changed my car ownership habits :-)
Mike
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For some reason, that I still don't know today, I was conservative when I first learned to drive in '73 so my first car was a '66 Buick sports wagon. Exciting, eh?
Anyhow...when I first felt a '67 396 Camaro under my derrière around 1978, I have since changed my car ownership habits :-)
Mike
Good one. Mike,lol. For me, it was the seat back springs pushing into my back when I unleashed that Big Block torque! B.I.T.D.
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yes i do...
but it is in pieces :'(
69 Camaro!!
I got it cheap - ish
I had to rebuild the motor and pay all the registration fines ammounting to a little over $2500. I drove it until it wouldn't pass smog, would you know the following year the cut off date was moved to '74
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Going through again....digging your pics Daytona yellow.
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Going through again....digging your pics Daytona yellow.
Thank you.
I wish I could say I've made some progress, but I cant. My machinist has had the block, heads, & rotating assembly for over a month now. :-(
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When I figure out how to post pics I will. You guys have some great looking cars.