On my recent trip to CB06, I was able to meet the original owner of my 68 SS-396 Chevelle. I tracked him down after a short comp. search. He still lives in Alabama, near the town where he bought the car new as a 16 year old. We had a nice visit, and I learned some more details about the car when it was under his ownership till 1991. Here is a pic of Hugh standing in front of the car in 68, and another shot of him at Chevelleabration.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/original_photo.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/Hugh_Clark_CB06.jpg

That's just tooo :cool: . What did he think of the car and CB in general?
BillL

That's just tooo :cool: . What did he think of the car and CB in general?
BillL
That is cool, Bill R. I'd be interested in what he said also...
What I hate is 38 years later and the guy hasn't gained a pound! :( Can't say that about most of us. :o

That is pretty cool. Not too many of us have or will have that opportunity.

Bet he'd like to have it back now in it's current condition.

OK.. I wasn't gonna bore the folks with details, but for those who asked. One of the more important things I learned, was other than tune-ups, tires, hoses, etc. he never had to repair the car other than the water pump which was leaking in 1979. This explains why most of the original components were still on the motor when I got it. He always had a 2nd car to drive in case there was a chance of rain. This also explains why there was no rust issues during my restoration. He did drive it to Illinois once, and was upset because it got wet and it even had some salt behind the wheels which he stopped to clean off as soon as he could.

He also courted (as he put it) his future/present wife. She didn't make the trip to CB06 b/c she felt she would be unable to deal with the emotional part of it.

He really isn't a car guy anymore, but he was blown away by the number of Chevelles at the show, all is such pristine condition. I told him I may be back down that way for another show in Tenn. in Oct, so if she changes her mine, she will have a 2nd chance to see the car they owned for so many years.

nice story.

Excellent Story Bill very hard to top that one about a car... Congrats.:thumbsup:

Wow, that is cool!!!!

Hey Bill, Was the smog stuff still on the car when he sold it?

That's really great to hear, Bill:)

Hey Bill, Was the smog stuff still on the car when he sold it?
Mark, He removed the smog system shortly after the warrantee was up (12Months) ,stuck the whole system in a box and put it in the basement. He forgot about it when selling the car in 1991. He actually still had the system till a couple years ago. His mother passed away and he found the box of smog parts while cleaning out the house. At that point, 12/13 years had passed since he sold the car, so he trashed it all. I found a system and replaced it all recently exactly as it was in 1968. He commented on the smog. He felt bad about trashing it, but of course he had no way of knowing that the current owner (me) would be looking for him and the smog....

She didn't make the trip to CB06 b/c she felt she would be unable to deal with the emotional part of it.

Interesting that you mention that fact. In a way, I am fortunate that the original owner of my car (a woman) lives only two blocks away from me. It's obvious that she still has a strong emotional attachment to the car. I have offered on several occasions for her and/or her husband to take the car out for a drive - by themselves, even - but they always politely decline. I guess it's just too much to deal with or something. One time, I was over at their house for a long time, and it got dark outside. Then she did allow me to take her out for a short drive - she rode in the passenger seat.

Great story, Bill - thanks for sharing and for the pictures :beers: :thumbsup:

Mark, He removed the smog system shortly after the warrantee was up (12Months) ,stuck the whole system in a box and put it in the basement. He forgot about it when selling the car in 1991. He actually still had the system till a couple years ago. His mother passed away and he found the box of smog parts while cleaning out the house. At that point, 12/13 years had passed since he sold the car, so he trashed it all. I found a system and replaced it all recently exactly as it was in 1968. He commented on the smog. He felt bad about trashing it, but of course he had no way of knowing that the current owner (me) would be looking for him and the smog....

.....or the current value of a complete smog set up. Bill, excellent story. Always nice to have little things like that turn up when you are working on the cars and tracing the history.

Did he want to drive the car?I would!Would you have let him if he asked?

Thats a cool story actually. Thanks for sharing the rest of it and the pictures. If he isnt a car guy anymore, after seeing the car again. That may be enough to spark intrest again.

Very cool Bill. When/why did you change your screen name??

Did he want to drive the car?I would!Would you have let him if he asked?
I told him to sit in it, and he wouldn't even do that. He was afraid to get near it. He also knows the car hasn't been driven since the restoration was complete.

Very cool Bill. When/why did you change your screen name??
My former screen nane was 71SSBB, and I changed it because the 71 was sold 2 years ago, and the name didn't fit any more. I figured if using your real name worked for Mr. Lightfoot, why not.

I told him to sit in it, and he wouldn't even do that. He was afraid to get near it. He also knows the car hasn't been driven since the restoration was complete.

Back in those days the car was as much as a family member as the family itself. I can understand his point of view. Everyone did everything in thier cars back in those days. People dont think about cars like that anymore today.