TC member #603 Gold
To be honest I have been a bit hesitant about coming out with my Chevelle. How many body off restorations of a 6 cylinder have you seen? I expected some criticism over a restored 6 cylinder and have been surprised on all the support of the final results. Not many people knew they made a 6 cylinder in 1970.
My parents bought a new 1970 Chevelle at Nickey Chevrolet in Chicago. I had grown up with the family Chevelle. I have a bunch of old photos of different 1970 Chevelles I took when I was a kid, I was addicted back then! It was heart breaking when the old Chevelle died and was sold for $50 and a new family car bought to replace it. Had I been a bit older I might have been able to salvage the rusted out, dented up, oil burning, not running family Chevelle, but for a 13 year old it was too much. 
Ever since then I had always wanted to get another Chevelle and in 1990 I found one I could afford and the time was right. It was originally a Texas dealer sold Chevelle, made its way to California and I picked it up in Chicago. I have no history of the Chevelle other than the dealer plate on the trunk lid. The only documentation I have is a small corner of the build sheet I found under the carpet, the rest had deteriorated. I used my Chevelle as a daily driver through college and after I graduated until I could afford a new car. When I did buy that new car, I made a strong effort to try and keep my Chevelle no matter what. It was a challenge, especially living in City apartments, but I did it. From car port to car port, rented garage to storage to my first houses one car garage, it made it through the transitions. I had always wanted to restore my Chevelle. So one day I just started taking it apart. Within in a month I had my Chevelle stripped down to the frame. I made a support for the body so I could fit it and the frame in my one car garage. I made a spray booth and sandblast area within the garage too. I refinished every nut and bolt and in some cases twice, three times and even more. I had rebuilt the motor while I was in college, so it was just freshened up and plus that saved some restoration costs. At 197,000 miles the 3 speed transmission and rear end were professionally rebuilt, and the body professionally painted. Other than powder coating, mounting the tires, chrome plating the bumpers and polishing the stainless steel, all work was completed by me. It took three years and a lot of patience.
My Chevelle came as a plane jane model out of the Arlington plant. The Cranberry Red exterior, black top and Ivory interior is the original color scheme. The only option installed was tinted glass and full wheel covers.
During the restoration I added factory correct power steering, dash clock, bumper guards, door edge guards and wheel opening moldings.
You can see more photos of the restoration on my website www.bolante.com.
Gene Bolante
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