What Pleased You Today!

[stavanzer]

I am alive, and still able to enjoy the many Blessings I have. I don't spend enough effort just being Thankful for My Life.

[Falcon Ranchero]

Pardon the very long story:

Yesterday evening. Holy smokes it was un-believable up the wazoo. SO a couple things happened. You might remember on that thread I made about how if anyone actually has good luck on facebook marketplace, I mentioned a 1969 LeMans that was posted on there here in town and has been for sale for $27,000 since last Sept., and we had my Great Uncle message the guy since we don't have facebook, but the guy never responded. Ok so yesterday a 1980 Camaro Z/28 popped up for sale here in town on marketplace (I'll expain this one shortly), and the price was $10,000 so we had to get on it right away so my dad called a co-worker to message the guy, but no answer. My dad then called one of his friends, no answer. and then called his uncle (my great uncle) but his computer's not working. Calls his friend back, and he answers and messages the Camaro guy. Calls back shortly saying the guy said someone's looking at it right now, but the guy would call if it was still availiable. So then my dad has his friend message the guy with the LeMans, though we really didn't think anyone would respond. Moments after messaging the LeMans owner, we get a call, and my dad thought it was the guy about the Camaro. No, it was the owner of the '69 LeMans! Almost a year of trying to go see the car, we finally went to see it. For the longest time I thought it was a myth. Ok, so usually we bring my great uncle along withus to see classic cars, as he usually has good opinions and can judge a car's quality better than we can. So my dad called him but he was out walking his dog. So me and my dad just went to se the LeMans. And holy c rap let me tell you seeing that thing in person, I sware you'd cry tears of actual joy; the car was mint down to the nuts and bolts. ZERO rust, originally an Arizona or Montana car, re-painted in the original blue colour, as it was bright yellow when the current owner bought it. Kept all original; engine, interior, etc. but with same colour bumpers like a GTO. Has unusual front bench seat as opposed to buckets but I like the bench. Sounded awesome. Hadn't been on the roand since 2022, but it's ready to go. It was definitely one for the books. Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, the guy offered to just show us some of his other cars, not for sale. (and these are all re-done cars, no rust whatsoever.) We got to see his first car, a blue '78 Firebird, mint condition, a yellow '67 RS Camaro, a '68 Mustang; plot twist it was a turquoise California Special! No one has those! and a green '72 Camaro. Mind you these cars have never been on the road in a very long time, and they probably never see the light of day as they were all under covers.

Ok so Now. THere's still more it was crazy. When we got back my mom informed us that the Camaro guy called and left a message saying the car was still for sale and we could come and see it. My great uncle called and said he'd come and see the Camaro and if we see the LeMans again he'd come also. So then my dad called the Camaro guy several times but the line was busy, so we ended up just heading out to see it. We picked up my great uncle and headed off. When we got there, the owner was this very nice old guy. SO he then showed us the Camaro, and holy smokes it was pretty crazy. A true Z/28, original paint, original stripes, original tires and rims, mint original red leather interior, automatic, am/fm radio and cassette player, t-tops, cowl induction hood, power windows, and all those pollution hoses underhood, owned by an old lady (the guy here only had it a couple months) bought new in 1980, driven quite a bit as it had 100,000km but get this, it was parked in a garage since 1981 or '82, and never had been on the road since, though last registered, according to the plate, in January 1999. One owner car. Solid as a rock, no bondo, essentially a Z/28 in as original condition as you'll never see anywhere. Guy already bought a new gas tank, to go along with it. It does still need work, polishing it up nice, keeping the original patina and all. The guy said he kinda had it running the other day from a jerry can, though we hadn't seen it running when we went to see it. For 10 grand holy smokes it's a steal. At this point I thought for actual sure this couldn't possibly in any way get any better. BUT THEN IT DID. This guy had a private collection as well. Showed us a pristine '66 Chevy II with the original 327 and posi-traction, plus other good options. A '66 or so Corvette convertible with the loud side pipes, and a '67 Camaro convertible, white with orange stripes, which was alledgedly his wife's daily driver. A '69 i think Chevy Cheyenne truck, customized but pristine, and a project '69 Camaro he's working on. I did take photos of the cars from both private collections, but I don't think I want to disclose them just because I'm not sure if the owners would appreciate that. But  here's a photo of the Camaro in question. No LeMans pic as I was too spellbound to remember to take a photo. But yeah WOW what an evening, and geez louise what a decision! 

[johnyrotten]

49 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

here's a photo of the Camaro in question.

Clean looking camaro, not many left in that shape in New York. Dirt track guys cut them up for racecars. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

4 hours ago, johnyrotten said:

Clean looking camaro, not many left in that shape in New York. Dirt track guys cut them up for racecars. 

Kinda sad they got cheaper than dirt for a while, and probably most of 'em, especially in places prone to rust, got driven to death or cut up one way or another.

[johnyrotten]

42 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Kinda sad they got cheaper than dirt for a while, and probably most of 'em, especially in places prone to rust, got driven to death or cut up one way or another.

Yeah,  between the dirt track guys and the rust, they aren't really around. Even a clean 3rd gen is hard to find, though they're really not my thing. 

[imarriedawitch]

So proud of my niece as she continues her journey to being a human rights attorney.

[89AKurt]

I did what I learned from building models, and blew up to full scale.  😅  Went to U-Pick-It for a wiper arm, no luck because it looks like GM made all their wiper posts bigger after '69, and nothing that old there.  But I did get a prop rod:

Which just needed some bending, and shortened a little.  The only thing I measured was the length.  If I ever put carpet in, you won't see the sign or furniture "plywood".

One of the taillights needed attention, the lens was not straight and was super loose.  Yea that's hokey with the duct tape (couldn't figure out how bailing wire could be used), and the wood wedge, but the lens is not moving!  Lucked out in having a bulb.  Just need someone who does electrical, and he knows it.

The exterior door latches did not work.  I made a wood prototype, then one aluminum part which did not work, made another with a different shape, and I can't believe it works!  Never measured anything, all by eye.  I had no idea what was in there, whatever part was not at the bottom of the door, so I observed what moved and what was modified.

I made a good excuse to test the prop rod, went shopping. 😆

Sunday drive north to Ash Fork, then to the abandoned segment of Route 66 for a selfie.   It sure likes curvy roads that are smooth. 😏  Wanted a more stylin' hat, but it wants to get sucked off my head. 🙄

So I'm pleased that despite having minimal experience at restoring cars, that I used my model building experience, which means patience and lots of trial and error.  I'm registered for the Williams car show first weekend in June, need to get it polished and waxed!

[Russell C]

40 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

...you won't see the sign or furniture "plywood" ... that's hokey with the duct tape (couldn't figure out how bailing wire could be used), and the wood wedge ...

Blasfemo! Enzo si rivolterebbe nella tomba!

[imarriedawitch]

My new vehicle is built, waiting to be shipped and did not experience any increase in price.  😍

[Falcon Ranchero]

Well, we're the proud owners of an all original, freshly restored, zero-rust 1969 Pontiac LeMans. Later today or tomorrow we should have it in our possesion. The search is over.

 

Edited Thursday at 02:12 PM by Falcon Ranchero

[Zen]

WOW, great looking Pontiac, love the color!

[ksnow]

That's a sweet looking ride, very nice!

[redscampi]

3 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

Well, we're the proud owners of an all original, freshly restored, zero-rust 1969 Pontiac LeMans. Later today or tomorrow we should have it in our possesion. The search is over.

 

Color me green with envy! I've had a number of Ponchos but this one is perfect!

[A modeler named mike]

11 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

Well, we're the proud owners of an all original, freshly restored, zero-rust 1969 Pontiac LeMans. Later today or tomorrow we should have it in our possesion. The search is over.

 

Sweet! Congratulations 

[johnyrotten]

22 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

Well, we're the proud owners of an all original, freshly restored, zero-rust 1969 Pontiac LeMans. Later today or tomorrow we should have it in our possesion. The search is over.

 

👍👍

[A modeler named mike]

Today I'm in heaven, not literally but close to it.. my little buddy Chip has returned and it's just like old times..

[89AKurt]

I'm still pleased I made the door latch work, gonna milk this out some more.

I opened the driver door to see what lurked there.  This is like an archeological dig, looks like the interior shop wrote the date, so now I know this was built in 1977.

[John M.]

It's Friday, I got paid and here's something that got it started off great. The Karma Cop pinched a lead foot who's been blowing the stop sign on my school bus for a while. Mr. KC was in an unmarked Ford Taurus that looked like others out on the road. As soon as Richard Petty raced by the sign, Mr. KC pounced on him siren, lights and all. The parents, myself and my monitor (A lady assistant) all cheered. 🙂

Edited 10 hours ago by John M.

[ksnow]

We came through the storms last night with only losing power for 10 hours. No damage to the house or yard.

Neighbors lost trees and one window.

Tornadoes and 2 inch hail to the West of us.