TC member #2166
I acquired my Chevelle in June 2003 when I traded my 1976 Nova drag car (SAAB Story shown here) for it. A former employee bought the 68 from the 2nd owner. The car had been parked in a barn in 1976 and sat for 21 years before being taken out and restored. After restoring the car, he decided he wanted to get back into drag racing. I was ready to get out of racing, so we simply traded cars. I think I got the better deal.
The SS is numbers matching with the original 396-350 HP engine, Turbo 400 transmission, and 3.07 non-posi rear end still in it. It was built at the Leeds, MO plant during the 3rd week of October, 1967. The color is Seafrost Green (a more gray than green color) and it has a black vinyl top and black bench seat interior.
When I first got the car the body, paint, interior, and most of the mechanical work had been done. The car was drivable and looked pretty good. In June 2004 we went to Chevelleabration in Nashville, and the originality bug bit me. Since then I have been making an effort to fix all of the things that were not correct. This involved pulling the engine & trans, disassembling the front end and buying lots of different colors of paint to make everything look like it did when it was built. I’m working my way from front to rear, and hopefully I’ll have it done in the next two years.
I have also done some things to the car to make it safer and more dependable. One day while out for a drive, a dog ran in front of me and I had to slam on the brakes. The original drum brakes on the car made that quite an exciting experience. The next week I ordered a disc brake kit for it, which has made quick stops a lot less stressful. I've also added electronic ignition and the factory tach and gauge package in order to keep tabs on the engine temps & pressures. I installed aftermarket 3-point seat belts in the spring of 2004, but removed them this fall and put in the original style shoulder and laps belts. It isn’t nearly as comfortable or convenient, but it’s original.
My plan is to continue to upgrade the car with NOS parts to make it look as new and original as I can, but I will never trailer it. My philosophy of restoration is to make it look and drive as good or better than it did when it was new. My front license plate sums it up!
