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Team Chevelle member #464
The story begins.........when I was 16 (doesn't every story like this start off like that). I had an itch for this 70 Chevelle SS 402 4spd, I wanted it so bad, I could taste it. Well I couldn't afford the $1,600.00 the girl, yes I said girl, wanted for it. So life went on.......after a couple of marriages and a wonderful son, named Alex, the "itch" really needed to be scratched.My search began and it also ended on the Internet, go figure. When I started the journey toward purchasing the car of my dreams, I didn't know it would be so long and drawn out. Searching the web and looking at picture ads just made it worse. I saw all kinds of Chevelles from P.O.S.'s to truly beautiful automobiles. I wanted one of those beauties but who can afford $20k - 35k for a car that will sit in the garage most of the time? Well, the answer was to find the "right" Chevelle at a middle of the road price. Auto brokers were contacted, I talked to lots of guys selling their Chevelles, but I just didn't find the right one until I stumbled on to a website ad. Funny thing is, I wouldn't even have know that site existed, except for a guy in PA. that was trying to sell me his SS clone, and wanted me to see the pictures of his car. The ad was from a gentleman in KS. that simply had too many cars, (he was really into Z28's). He had purchased it from a man in the military - so the story goes - and apparently it had been in storage somewhere for 15 years or so. Anyway, after seeing his picture ad, I had to see it in real life. So I made an 8 hour drive to this little town north of Wichita to see this car. When I pulled up to his shop, it was in the garage with the front clip almost completely re-installed. He had just finished detailing the engine compartment AND had installed a Super T-10 4spd.
We took it out for a little "spin" and it confirmed my first thought..........I HAD to have it. We sat down and made a deal. He finished putting the car together, I put it on a trailer and hauled it home.
The return trip took almost 12 hours pulling it with a little six cylinder. Upon arriving home, my son, of course, had to take a ride, hell I did too. So out to the country roads we went. We found a nice straight stretch of blacktop and we proceeded to stretch her legs. Wow! Was this car powerful or what? There was smoke and tire marks through the first 3 gears! There is nothing like the feel of a BB Bowtie. This car has become a part of our family. My son and I love to spend our weekends working on it. It's a good thing I got divorced, because "most" wives would never put up with this kind of extravagance. On the other hand, my soul mate, is almost as excited about the car as I am. She goes to parts stores with me and surprises me with part orders from restoration shops from all over the country. This hobby is great therapy to unwind after a long day at work and it has brought my son and I closer together and that is something you can't put a price tag on.
The car is an original non numbers matching 1970 Chevelle SS. It was born March of 1970 at the Lakewood Plant in Atlanta. Originally Astro Blue, Black deck stripes, Black vinyl top, Black bench and an M-21 4spd. Also the car was built with the L34 V8 396 CI 4 bbl, and now is running a 454/450 with the T-10 4spd.
Currently, we are in the process of restoring the interior, carpet, dash, instrument cluster, etc. The seats have been changed out for buckets, so I've decided to change the seat covers/panels to Ivory White. I figure it will really set off those white stripes! I found the build sheet on this car behind the driver's side door panel. It's now safely tucked in plastic in my desk.
I could not possibly describe how it feels to drive one of these American-made, Chevrolet Muscle Machines.
It's an experience............................you have to own.
Team Chevelle would love to feature your Car on one of our future monthly articles.
To take part, send a few quality pictures to us and as much information as you can (we LOVE reading about Chevelles!)
Note: preference is given to submitted photos, unless you have access to high quality scanning equipment, we would prefer to do the image work and touch-ups.
or:
Al McKenzie, Box 231, Creston, B.C. Canada, V0B-1G0
