Help Me Find "THE JENKS" 1969 L78 L89 Chevelle SS

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Dear Muscle Car Friends.

I need your help to find “THE JENKS” (1969 Chevelle SS 396 L78/L89)




I have crossed paths with a fellow Muscle Car Guy Jerry Hinton from Battle Creek Michigan. His Dad Joe Hinton bought a 1969 Chevelle SS396 375 HP L78/L89 brand new.

The L89 Chevelle was Code 76-76 Daytona Yellow with the black D96 side stripe, and no vinyl top. The interior was black with a bench seat. (Came with a Tach under the dash) The car had an M21 4 speed transmission. The rear end had a "road gear" likely 3.31's but they were quickly swapped to 4.88's, and then 5.13's.

The car was bought only to drag race and was not street driven or registered new.
The crazy part of the story is that Joe Hinton was 16 years old at the time........WOW, and
Joe's grandmother bought the car for him, so the original title was either in B. Carol Jenkins, or her husband’s name James Jenkins name.

The L89 Chevelle was sitting on the lot at DeNooyer Chevrolet with a few test miles on it; they did not special order the car. The car was purchased in spring or early summer 1969.

A fellow Muscle Car friend has a real L89 engine out of a 1969 L89 Chevelle so I am keeping him in the loop of any activity on this car as he could own the engine out of this car.

DeNooyer Chevrolet dealership is still in business at 5800 Stadium Drive Kalamazoo Michigan.
From DeNooyer website “DeNooyer Chevrolet is celebrating 70 years as a 3rd generation family-owned local business. They pride themselves on having long term relationships with their customers and employees along with Local Civic involvement. They offer new Chevrolet cars to all of Michigan, and over 12 makes and models of used cars, trucks, and SUVs.”

The salesman’s name was Carl Simonoff, and he sold cars to B. Carol Jenkins from the 60’s to the 90’s. Carl has unfortunately passed away a few years ago, RIP.

I have contacted DeNooyer several times; an extremely helpful employee has taken this request for information to the Management Team and Dealer Principle. She also reached out to one of the original salesmen at DeNooyer who still transports vehicles for them from time to time to see if he remembered anything on this vehicle. Unfortunately no one remembers the vehicle, and all those records have been purged.

The car was financed at Comerica Bank 215 N 20th Street Battle Creek Michigan. The Financing was through Clark Equipment Credit Union, now known as OMNI Family Credit Union or Security National. https://www.omnicommunitycu.org/omni....php?pageType=

I have contacted the current OMNI Community Credit Union and my request for information was looked into and they have communicated that they will not be able to provide me with information on the car.

The car was lettered up as "THE JENKS" named after Joe's step-father Jim Jenkins. The car ran 12.50's in the quarter. Joe raced it in B Stock at Martin Michigan and at US 131 Motorsports Park.
(Both racetracks could be a source of information if someone has contacts from "back in the day" that would be very helpful)

In 1970 Joe had Doug Nash (Yes that Doug Nash) bore the engine .030 rebuilt it and add a cheater Lunati cam for $1200.00




The lettering was removed from the car in 1974 and it was sold with the engine separate. Last they know the car went to Marshall Michigan and sat in a garage, just 10 miles from where it was bought new. The car sold with Cragar SS wheels, and Joe may have the original wheels in storage.




Earlier this year Joe and Jerry have retraced Joe's steps to Marshall, and poked around, but didn't find the house where the Chevelle and engine were dropped off in 74.....................

The car was sold and dropped off in the Marshall Michigan 49017 area near where Wattles Park Road and Michigan Avenue intersect.

The main piece of information missing from this search is the VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number) the Hinton's have looked for records but have yet to find any paperwork from back in the day.

I have set the Hinton’s up with information from the Secretary of State to put in a request for information, especially the VIN number but we haven’t got feedback on this step to date.
http://www.michigan.gov/sos

Please contact me if you know any information on this car. I would appreciate open communication on sYc, but if you have private information PM me here, or e-mail [email protected]

If I find this L89 Chevelle I offered first chance to buy it back to the Hinton’s. They have communicated to me that they do not wish to purchase the car back but would be very happy if I find it and purchase it myself, as they feel very confident I would take great care of her.

PS: If the moon and stars align and I find this L89 Chevelle before November I promise to take the "worst" parking spot in our MCACN 2014 Carlisle Events sponsored Chevrolet L89 Showcase:-)
(FYI read humour as our display will be a "wheel of L89 cars" so no spot is better or worse than another)

Ryan