It’s actually pretty good story.
Back in the late 70's my dad spotted this car in Brainerd, MN. His brother always wanted a 69 (my dad had one at the time) so he told him about it. His brother bought the car for $500 with the motor in the trunk. After a few years of sitting on it, my uncle started working on the motor. Well, an impending divorce had him strapped financially and the bank came a calling and reposessed the car. Before the bank picked it up my dad wrote the VIN down and started tracking the car for the next 25 years.
For that entire duration the car saw 3 new owners, each with the plan to "fix it up". Well, that never happened. My dad's 50th was about a year away and my siblings and I thought it would be cool to see if the car was available. We had to find it first though. I remember my dad showing me the VIN scribbling’s on a piece of paper when I was much younger and on a hunch I dove into his wallet one night while he was asleep. Jackpot! He had kept dibs on the car all the way to the current owner and where it was located. I contacted the current owner who wasn’t looking to sell, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to fulfill a guy’s dream of buying the ultimate 69 one day. The birthday angle didn’t hurt either.
So, for $3,600 he parted with the Impala (each sibling chipping in $1,200). We presented it to my dad at his 50th surprise birthday party. He was shocked beyond words. The car has since undergone a frame off restoration and retains its #’s matching drivetrain. Specs are: 427/390hp, auto, console, Parchment interior, white convertible top. A partial build sheet was found in the driver’s side seatback.
The car will be in attendance at MCACN this year in the “Topless” display.
