TC member #1380
Funny how some things work out. One day I was talking with a friend of mine whom I knew since grade school, and at the time was working with, mentions that his father had a yellow Chevelle out back in a barn that he had for a long time. Being the car nut that I am, I ask if I can see (and if it was for sale of course). One day after work we go to check it out a there it was, truly "barn fresh", complete and very original 1967 SS396 325hp 4-speed car, with 65,000 miles showing. Only original pieces missing were the wheels + hubcaps, shifter, and air cleaner. Original paint (less some minor collision work at the lower door/quarter) as well. At this point I am drooling, and would like nothing more than to take it home right there and then. One year later I get the green light to purchase the car and do so very enthusiastically and finally bring it home.
The gentlemen I purchased the car from was the second owner of the car, and had it since the spring of 1969. He drove the car occasionally up through the '70's and finally retired it out back in an open front barn where it still was subject to some weather. A variety of rodents claimed the car as there new home until there eviction in 1999 (when I purchase the car), and they did more damage than your average angry tenant. I kick myself in the rear for not taking pictures before disturbing the car, I was so anxious to get it home and start cleaning it up, that I didn't consider the cool factor those pictures would have down the road. The first pictures I took were 4 months later, and at that point I had already done a fair amount of disassembly.
You can't plan anything in life, or at least I can't, so during the course of the next 7 years, between many unexpected sidetracks and a move, with the help of my wife, we carefully restored the car from the ground up. I had intentions of farming a lot of work out, but when I got to the point where I was thinking of getting help, I just tackled it myself. This was the first car I ever restored, and painted, and I can say without a doubt (and not to sound like a sales pitch), that without the Team Chevelle Forums, the car would still be sitting in pieces. Whenever I hit a snag, or got frustrated, or needed to do research on how to do something, I was on the forums posting away and reading. The forums are an invaluable resource to say the least, so credit must be given to all the contributors from the Team Chevelle Forums... Thanks guys!
I had kept in contact with the previous owner over the years through his son, and gave him some progress pics and updates when I could. The last year or two I didn't talk to him at all about it, and when it was finally ready we had planned to give him a surprise visit (keep in mind he had no idea it was anywhere near done). Finally one spring day in 2006 we stopped by, we drove up to his house and he later recalled that when he first seen the car he thought "I used to have a car like..... wait a minute....that is my car!" That visit was a very memorable one, seeing the previous owners face light up from seeing his old muscle car brought back to life was priceless. He was so glad to see it he asked if we could take it to his parents place to show his father (who also had several stories to share about the car), and to take some pictures at the very spot he took pictures of the car back when he brought it home in the spring of '69. I of course agreed.
I was able to take the car to the Super Chevy Show at Maple Grove Raceway in July 2006, and earned an award for outstanding entry in the Chevelle/Street class. I couldn't have been happier.
To anyone considering restoring their car themselves, I say go for it. It's a slow process, so patience is a must, but in the end, you will have more than just a car, you will have an experience to go along with it!
Thanks for listening, and see you in the forums!
Steve
More photos and info on Steve's 67 are available in
the February issue of Chevy Punch Magazine - available free online.
All features copyright by the owner & Team Chevelle
