I had a conversation with a man earlier this week that I'm sure will strike close to home with many here. In the course of our conversation, two different topics came up: SS El Caminos and 2 spoke simulated wood steering wheels. With both of these topics, I was informed that I was wrong in what I believed to be true. Here is what the man told me: 1) There were SS El Caminos built in 1967 2) The two spoke wheel was an extra cost option over and above the 3 spoke wood wheel in ANY Chevrolet product through 1969!
With that said, here is what I believe to be true. The first true SS El Camino was offered in 1968. The two spoke simulated wood wheel was a RPO in 1964 through 1966 and was offered on all Chevrolet passenger models except Corvette which used a 3 spoke wheel. A real teakwood wheel was offered on the Vette in '65 and '66.
Anyone who knows me, can attest to the fact that I will usually stand firm and state my case when I believe I am correct. I started to argue my case on the above two topics but was aware that it would be a losing battle! I really don't believe that this individual could ever be convinced that he flat out didn't know what he was talking about.
How many of you have had similar encounters with these well informed individuals?

I usually just walk away from people like that while they are in mid sentence..gets the point across and they never bother you again :)

I had a conversation with a man earlier this week that I'm sure will strike close to home with many here. In the course of our conversation, two different topics came up: SS El Caminos and 2 spoke simulated wood steering wheels. With both of these topics, I was informed that I was wrong in what I believed to be true. Here is what the man told me: 1) There were SS El Caminos built in 1967 2) The two spoke wheel was an extra cost option over and above the 3 spoke wood wheel in ANY Chevrolet product through 1969!
With that said, here is what I believe to be true. The first true SS El Camino was offered in 1968. The two spoke simulated wood wheel was a RPO in 1964 through 1966 and was offered on all Chevrolet passenger models except Corvette which used a 3 spoke wheel. A real teakwood wheel was offered on the Vette in '65 and '66.
Anyone who knows me, can attest to the fact that I will usually stand firm and state my case when I believe I am correct. I started to argue my case on the above two topics but was aware that it would be a losing battle! I really don't believe that this individual could ever be convinced that he flat out didn't know what he was talking about.
How many of you have had similar encounters with these well informed individuals?

I'll bet that guy thinks the same thing.:)

yep, happens all the time. there must be more bad info spread around about old cars than anything else. what i like is the crazy claims people make about old cars they've had or knew about. for example, i pull up to a gas station in a '63 corvette, you think the guy wants to talk about my car (not that i care too)? heck no, he wants to tell me about some POS mustang he had in high school and how with just a new carb/ intake and headers how it would pull the front end off of the ground 2" and so on. anymore i just nod and say things like 'wow, really'? why bother calling them on their tall tale or misinformation?

I agree with Chris (Mr 4 Speed) and the way he deals with these type of people. I believe I will try that the next time.

Jesse

How about the guy who told me his then new 1980 Camaro Z28 would run in the 12's ? I've owned one for 27 years. :noway: The only way to get a stock one into the 12's is to push it off a cliff.

Oh yeah, I've met plenty at local cruise nights, which is pretty much why I don't go anymore.

" Hey, you know those headers aren't correct? "

Gee, tell me more, Einstein.

My whole car isn't correct. In fact, there's not a lot underneath or under the hood that was even available in 1972, but the oustide is as-is.

Be glad you don't own a bench seat SS,you get a constant barrage of experts that tell you it's not an real SS cause it don't have bucket seats!

I saw 2 67 SS El Caminos on the lot in the summer of 1967 at Key City Chevrolet in Kankakee Il. I was there with my grandpa car shopping (he didn't but a new car until 73) and they had one in the show room and one out in front on the lot. The one inside was a red with black bucket seat interion and was a 396 4 speed car. The other was a white with red bench seat interior and was a 327 4 speed car. Drew a lot of interest and sold very quickly as they said they were a limited edition. :yes:


Now the truth was our next door neighbors' son worked there and both vehicles were created by the dealer because the El Caminos were not selling well. It actually worked and the dealer made several more of these special Elkys including one with a 6 banger and three on the tree bought by an old guy that tended bar and cleaned up at the bowling alley!:p

Had a guy walk up to me in a parking lot and tell me my 69 Malibu with a 350 was a fake, because all Malibu's are 307's. I politely tried to tell him 350's were quite common in Malibu's, but he let me know quite assertively that his uncle had a 69 Malibu, he knew everything about Malibu's, and that the 350 fender badges on my car were quite obviously add-ons and my car a fake. I just nodded and said "Have a nice day!"

If someone else has it it's worth millons. If you have it's not worth 10 cents.

If you click the link in my sig you will see my Chevelle. I bought it about 9 years ago and it was in sad shape. Finally it is coming together and am proud the way it looks. The garage is a bit messy but I am cleaning that up this week.

There is allot "wrong" with my car. No its not a real SS and I wont pass it as one. There are some changed decisions and things I didnt think about which are basically flaws I just have to live with...

However...

I have been helping a life time friend who has a resto shop.

He builds cars the way he wants them and how they turn out is how they turn out...example barrettjackson --> Palm Beach 2007 --> Lot 323

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/48966/48966_Front_3-4.jpg

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/48966/48966_Side_Profile.jpg

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/48966/48966_Rear_3-4.jpg

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/48966/48966_Interior.jpg

He sometimes leaves the radios out and reworks the dash so you dont know it missing. (Until you look for it) The one above was lowered and reworked. Sweet interior...even bought the hat for it.

What I REALLY CANT STAND, HATE, DISLIKE...

Is when you take a car to a show and people walk up and say stupid comments like...

This isnt the right color paint for this car.
They didnt have that color interior.
Oh theres wax on the rear fender.
Doors not lined up.
(These are just a few but I am sure you've all heard other comments)

I do tend to get a bit nasty when this happens because I just cant stand the arrogance but I have found a simple solution...

Ask them what they drove up in.

Car shows are for enjoyment for everyone. I wont enter my car to be judged. I dont care if it wins. I have 2 boys that will love to sit in the back seat. (Once I finish covering it) Thats what it is for. Its for me and my family.

I've noticed some of you on here have a godlike abundance of knowledge with Chevelles. I just hope that everyone keeps up with sharing it because every day I come here to read to learn...and for that a big THANKS

Had a guy tell me my white vinyl seats & stripes were not correct because "true '72 SS's got only black seats and stripes".

Another guy asked me once about where I "found that cool steering wheel" Told him it was a 4 spoke Sport steering wheel, came with the car because the original owner ordered it as an option. He called BS because he "bought one of these brand new and got EVERY option available, and he never saw this". Told him it also had a factory locking gas cap too, he outright called it a "phony clone". Realized after this that you cant argue with ignorance.

I guess a lot of people don't subscribe to the Thumper philosophy (Thumper was the little rabbit in the movie Bambi): "If you ain't got nothin' nice to say, don't say nothin' at all."

It's one thing to have all your facts wrong, but to openly criticize someone's car, often times even when it is the way it is because of personal choice, just utterly astounds me.

Had an idiot at a cruise ask me about my NOS wheel trim rings on my SS wheels .Wanted to know what kind of clips on the backside held them on.I told him and he said they were wrong.He wouldn't have known if I would't have told him because you can't see them without taking the rings off.While walking around later I saw the pos Nova he had,and like the saying says,if you can't say something nice........

I think we owners and builders of Chevelles get a lot of B.S. from folks that have be "TOLD" by a friend what is correct and what is not. My Camino has a Bench,No gauges,No F-41 Suspension. This is what I ordered in Feb. 1970-- LS-6--F-41--P.S.--P.W.--AM/FM--Aux.light--R. Mirror--V-Top--T-glass--Posi--M-22--HD. batt.--Clock--Cus. D-lux belts--Z-15. I had to pay extra for the M-22 and the Alt. and 4 core rad. were N/C A few days later Sahli called and said "CANT" get A/C with an LS-6, so I got an LS-5, and F-41 Suspension is not an option on any 70 El Camino.
My SS 454 Camino has the same suspension ( I guess) as a 307 Malibu 2 Dr. Hdt. No big front sway bar, No rear sway bar & No boxed rear arms. P.S. in June of 1970, I had Sahli Chevrolet install--Boxed rear arms and a sway bar. COST in 1970 Parts & Labor at a dealership $73.85. The arms and sway bar are still on the camino today!!
Bob

Couple of things:

- If you, or someone else, says "They DIDN'T" or "They NEVER...." then you are most likely wrong. So many exceptions happened. We've seen this over and over. It's very, very hard to prove a "never".

- How many of you know what you know from personal experience? Or did it come from someone telling you? Or from factory docs? All sources can be wrong, it's very hard to know anything accurately without vast personal experience. Even if you worked at every Chevy plant (ha) from '60-'80 it's very hard to know all of what went on.

- "Correct" - now that's a very tough game to play. It's a shame so much rides on this sometimes.

I also like the reply (mister I didn't build this car for you)

Seems alot of guys know it all,I go to alot of car shows,Im always asking questions and I do learn alot.Its pretty easy to figure out when someone knows what they are talking about.Alot dont.

I really like the forum...

I read posts and it seems that they all have a general flow...
Havent seen any arguements on here yet. That makes it nice to know that you guys are great with the facts...

my one memorable "bad" experience was with my '56 Chevy 210 2 door post. It is a two tone paint. White and Nassau Blue. I was working as a game tech at a peter piper pizza here in Albuquerque about 7 years ago. I was "mad" at the car and got a wild hair up my a** and put a for sale sign in the window, parked it in a prominent spot in the parking lot at work. I figured lots of traffic......anyway, the second day, this guy in a Porshe drives up and starts checkin the '56 out real close. So I go out to the car and introduce myself as the car owner. We talk about 10 minutes, then he asks me how long ago I had the car painted. Well, it's never been painted, it is STILL in the factory 1956 paint. He says that can't be true, I'm mistakin'. (at this point "I'm mistakin"). I tell him I've owned the car for 18 years, I did all the mods and all the maintenence, myself and nobody's ever touched it but me. And I know the car has NEVER had a repaint. He gets real defensive, tells me he used to have a car just like this but it was turquiose and white and that he's never seen this shade of blue before except on repainted cars. I tell him, yes there was a turquiose, and a harbor blue, and a nassau blue. He tells me i don't know what i'm talking about. I lock up the car and start walkin' back to the store, he yells to me were are you goin' I want to talk about buyin' the car........I yell back, it's to late, it's not for sale.

Seems alot of guys know it all,I go to alot of car shows,Im always asking questions and I do learn alot.Its pretty easy to figure out when someone knows what they are talking about.Alot dont.

When you post you need 6 answers so you can take the one that the most people agree with. I have been led down the wrong road by well meaning people who talk like it's fact. Very believeable...but wrong.

I try to never post an answer unless I am sure it is correct.... but then again, I have been wrong too.

Chuck

I bring the AIM with me wherever I go now. "THERE , IT'S RIGHT THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE". Now every moron I deal with can't read either. :D

I also like the reply (mister I didn't build this car for you)

Now that just about says it all. :thumbsup:

Never argue with a moron. They will drag you down to their level and win with experience.

I heard a guy tell his friend my El Camino was a late model year build because it had fuel injection. I walked away to laugh just to be polite :D
I am looking forward to getting the Nova out to some local cruise in shows. I can't wait to hear some of the bs about it.

Amazingly no one has crossed me about us cloning the 66. Looks like it when op walk up on it but I am sure any hardcore Chevele person could pick it out a mile away. I personally like to just talk right there with them and see how stupid they really are on car stuff. Though I have had one person swear up and down he went to school with a guy that owned our car. I told him we bought the car 50 states over but he would not hear any of that. As stated, they have a degree in ignorance in most cases so let them rant all they want. Atleast you get to drive it home at the end of the day.

BEST EVER!!!!! Guy walked up to my car,,,, (( Its only a Malibu)) Then 10 min latter I seen him behind his car,,, looked at his dash and vin on his 69 clone,,, and said (( how much ya pay for her?)) he said (( 21,000 )) then I said (( afull lot to pay for yer malibu ))
and walked away!!!



http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z135/abad72/picscarszoo048.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z135/abad72/picscarszoo050.jpg

Be glad you don't own a bench seat SS,you get a constant barrage of experts that tell you it's not an real SS cause it don't have bucket seats!

Or,.......
having a SS car without gauges ie: (1966,1967) and being told it can't be an SS because ALL Super Sports came with gauges.

This best sums it up. This was taken directly from Chuck Hanson's signature line.

"Don't ever argue with an idiot... people watching may not be able to tell which one's which."


These are words to live by when talking to the car cruise experts. It's not worth your breath trying to argue with some dumb ass!


Rocky

I never argue with people like that I just let them live in their "special place" where they are always right. I figure they probably dont get much attention at home and they need to feel like they are the authority on something. I do enjoy the folks that talk about the 65 Camaro they had in highschool, I just smile and say " wow, she must have been really nice" :D

BEST EVER!!!!! Guy walked up to my car,,,, (( Its only a Malibu)) Then 10 min latter I seen him behind his car,,, looked at his dash and vin on his 69 clone,,, and said (( how much ya pay for her?)) he said (( 21,000 )) then I said (( afull lot to pay for yer malibu ))
and walked away!!!

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Now that's Funny.... :)

So you busted him from the dash and VIN on his 69?

BEST EVER!!!!! Guy walked up to my car,,,, (( Its only a Malibu)) Then 10 min latter I seen him behind his car,,, looked at his dash and vin on his 69 clone,,, and said (( how much ya pay for her?)) he said (( 21,000 )) then I said (( afull lot to pay for yer malibu ))
and walked away!!!



What does his VIN have to do with anything on a 1969 Chevelle?????

I think what he's getting at is the guys Chevelle was a clone and he paid $21,000 for it. :sad:

The "other" guy was looking at his VIN trying to see if there was a major difference (Which it would have been since the SS was an option)

???

69 vin will not tell if it's a SS or not.

LK

And the Dash?

See the irony :)

BEST EVER!!!!! Guy walked up to my car,,,, (( Its only a Malibu)) Then 10 min latter I seen him behind his car,,, looked at his dash and vin on his 69 clone,,, and said (( how much ya pay for her?)) he said (( 21,000 )) then I said (( afull lot to pay for yer malibu ))
and walked away!!!



http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z135/abad72/picscarszoo048.jpg

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z135/abad72/picscarszoo050.jpg

Now THAT is funny since looking at the dash and the VIN on a 69 don't tell you it's a clone (unless it was a 6 cylinder car)