Author Topic: Searching for the "story"  (Read 6190 times)

bheston

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Searching for the "story"
« on: March 21, 2018, 04:55:09 PM »
I've been active on the list for the last few days (+/-) researching and enjoying the commentary.  My car came with documentation which I'm now starting to understand and appreciate the rarity.  I have the Protec-o-plate which obviously includes original owners address.  I pasted it below if anyone would like to decode :).  I blocked-out the original owner's name because I would not want that published if it were my name.  Either way, I searched the web and found credible information that suggests the original owner is alive and well living in the same house he did back in 1969  ;D.

So, what to do?  I wrote him a letter last night and included pictures of the car.  I think I would really enjoy that if someone sent me pictures of a an old car I sold back in the younger days.  I also asked him if he could share a few stories with me.  I'm hoping that I'm not being intrusive, but the "story" would be priceless.  I enclosed a self-addressed stamped envelope for him to mail me back anything that would give me a peek of perhaps a small portion of the last 49 years.  If anyone is interested in this journey, I'll post updates.  The letter was mailed today 21Mar2018.  As Tom Petty said, "the waiting is the hardest part"......

(also included a blocked pic of the car as it sits in a storage facility) 

BULLITT65

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2018, 05:53:16 PM »
Great idea. I know Gary has also had some luck in tracking down the past owners of his car. He was rewarded with some good stories, and some vintage pics of his car from back in the 70's.

Please keep the pics and updates coming.
What dealer was your car sold through? I have been locating license frames of the dealers that sold my car(s), might be cool to locate some original dealer frames for your camaro, and install them. Just ads to the originality IMO.
Good Luck!
1969 garnet red Z/28 46k mile unrestored X77
-Looking for 3192477 (front) spiral shocks 3192851 (rear)
-Looking for an original LOF soft ray windshield
-Looking for original Delco side post negative battery cable part # 6297651AV

bheston

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2018, 05:57:59 PM »
Looks like Davidson Motor Company.  Here's what the window sticker shows:

x66 714

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2018, 11:18:35 PM »
I see somebody added spoilers & they forgot to paint the grill surround. 3.31 single track rearend.....Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981

bcmiller

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2018, 12:29:16 AM »
NOT ususual to see a 3.31 open.  Many cars received that. 
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

x66 714

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2018, 01:38:44 AM »
I'm jealous. My ss396 has 3.07 open. :)
Not changing it...Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981

bcmiller

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2018, 01:53:34 AM »
I'm jealous. My ss396 has 3.07 open. :)
Not changing it...Joe

Standard ratio for the L48 in 69 was 3.31 - while 3.07 was standard for the L35 in 69.

Many SS cars did not have a posi originally.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

x66 714

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2018, 02:04:12 AM »
I'm jealous. My ss396 has 3.07 open. :)
Not changing it...Joe

Standard ratio for the L48 in 69 was 3.31 - while 3.07 was standard for the L35 in 69.

Many SS cars did not have a posi originally.
If I had to guess, I would think less SS cars came without posi than came with. There was lots of Z/28s that came without posi. If you didn't check the box for posi, you didn't get it. Sometimes you were forced to get posi, 4.10, 4.56, & 4.88...Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981

bheston

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2018, 02:41:12 AM »
What are the pros/cons of having a “3.11 open”?

x66 714

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2018, 03:45:44 AM »
It was just an observation when I was reading your POP. It showed 3.31 open rear. 300hp350 (base engine for the SS). Carter carb. Built the 3rd month.
There's more. I just ran out of time to read it...Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981

KurtS

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2018, 05:02:45 AM »
If I had to guess, I would think less SS cars came without posi than came with. There was lots of Z/28s that came without posi. If you didn't check the box for posi, you didn't get it. Sometimes you were forced to get posi, 4.10, 4.56, & 4.88...Joe
Bad guesses. :)
Slightly less than half (45% in my sampling of 500) of 69 SS's had posi (looking only at 3.07 and 3.31, else it got complicated).
Most Z's had posi, like about 97%.
Kurt S
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x66 714

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2018, 12:34:29 PM »
If I had to guess, I would think less SS cars came without posi than came with. There was lots of Z/28s that came without posi. If you didn't check the box for posi, you didn't get it. Sometimes you were forced to get posi, 4.10, 4.56, & 4.88...Joe
Bad guesses. :)
Slightly less than half (45% in my sampling of 500) of 69 SS's had posi (looking only at 3.07 and 3.31, else it got complicated).
Most Z's had posi, like about 97%.
My guesses were from purchasing Camaros, buying extra 12 bolts, & observing of other Camaros in the Tucson area since 1976. :) I wish I would of recorded all that data but I was too busy driving them 365 days out of the year :)

Thank you for posting the fact of your studies. I always enjoy when data is shared with all of us here....Joe
See America's First, Chevrolet

1968 Z/28 Corvette Bronze. Black Hounds Tooth. 02E Los Angeles born 3/13/1968 pnt OO. Purchased March 1976
1969 SS396 Yellow/Yellow 08E Norwood born 8/28/1969 pnt 76E. Purchased April 1981

JKZ27

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #12 on: March 23, 2018, 10:31:26 AM »
bheston, I did the same thing years ago when I found my 69's original owner. I sent him a short, hand written letter, apologizing in advance if it were intrusive. I got a call from him the day after I mailed it. I got the "story" and ended up eventually driving it 100 miles to his house to let him see and drive it again. It was a great day. I hope the original owner is excited to hear from you and you discover a great story.

Unless you plan to drive in the rain or snow, or enjoy leaving dual stripes on the road outside your house, probably the only disadvantage to a non-posi at this point is if you drive onto the grass at car shows.
John
69 RS/SS Cortez Silver, L48 MC1
68 RS Ash/Ivy Gold 327EFI M20

BULLITT65

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2018, 06:52:04 PM »
Good points John. I would say it may have a slight impact on value as well. I would think a factory posi would add to the value, especially since many SS cars came with an open diff.
1969 garnet red Z/28 46k mile unrestored X77
-Looking for 3192477 (front) spiral shocks 3192851 (rear)
-Looking for an original LOF soft ray windshield
-Looking for original Delco side post negative battery cable part # 6297651AV

bheston

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Re: Searching for the "story"
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2018, 12:29:12 AM »
bheston, I did the same thing years ago when I found my 69's original owner. I sent him a short, hand written letter, apologizing in advance if it were intrusive. I got a call from him the day after I mailed it. I got the "story" and ended up eventually driving it 100 miles to his house to let him see and drive it again. It was a great day. I hope the original owner is excited to hear from you and you discover a great story.

Unless you plan to drive in the rain or snow, or enjoy leaving dual stripes on the road outside your house, probably the only disadvantage to a non-posi at this point is if you drive onto the grass at car shows.

Hi John, that’s a great story 8). I hope my story is similar. Even if the gentleman does not reply, I hope seeing the pictures causes a rush of good memories for him.