Rydell Chevrolet in Illinois

[quick-bowtie]

My old Z16 was sold new at Rydell in Grand Forks they did sponsor a few drag cars and I believe it was one of the sons or cousins?? was heavy into cars. My Z16 was the 2nd production car made so they must have had some connections and it too is also on the Bison Raceway website.

[bigsixman]

I remember your car very well. The car was part of an advertising campaign in 65 for Rydell's new dealership. They made the original owner keep it on the showroom floor for a week before they allowed him to take it home. He kept it for about a year until he bought a 66 SS396 chevelle from Rydells that had a 427/425 put in it at Rydells service dept. The car has had 4 owners up this way until it went to Mpls. I could've bought it for $8500.00 in 1986 or 87, big mistake on my part. It ran around here for several years in the 60s with a ford teardrop hood scoop and blue rattle can window tint job. The car was well remembered at Bison and Red River Valley dragway (Interstate Dragway) in Moorhead MN.I believe the original owner changed gears,added posi, and put in the solid lifter cam and headers. I know alot more about the car if you are interested.

[PeteLeathersac]

CL Info!.
Hearing more about the '66 Chevelle w/ the Rydell added L72 would be great too!.
Do you know if the engine transplant was before the original customer delivery date or later?.


~ Pete

[bigsixman]

The 66 SS396 chevelle was ordered in the fall of 65 as a 396/360 4 speed prior to the release of the 375 HP motor. The 427/425 was ordered through Rydells and installed in the service dept. They even added the 66 full size 427 cross flag fender emblems. The car was white with red buckets.

[PeteLeathersac]

Thanks for the update on the L72 powered '66!.
Cool car either way but do you know if Rydell's service dept did the transplant before the car was delivered new to the customer or did he take delivery w/ the L34 and return for the engine swap?.


~ Pete

[bigsixman]

The swap was after delivery, but not very long as I remember the details.The original L-34 motor is something I have no memory of at all as to what was done with it after the swap. Auran Chevrolet (Jim Ryan) in Minot ND had a customer (Darrel Hadberg) that did the same swap with a madera maroon 66 SS396 chevelle. The car was lettered with the dealership on the doors and raced in 1966-7.

[PeteLeathersac]

Thanks Craig!.


~ Pete

[Outlaw68Nova]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bigsixman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The swap was after delivery, but not very long as I remember the details.The original L-34 motor is something I have no memory of at all as to what was done with it after the swap. Auran Chevrolet (Jim Ryan) in Minot ND had a customer (Darrel Hadberg) that did the same swap with a madera maroon 66 SS396 chevelle. The car was lettered with the dealership on the doors and raced in 1966-7. </div></div>

Bigsixman, I think his name was Darrel Elberg not Darrel Hadberg. He was an employee of Auran Chevrolet. He had a lot of hi performance cars!!! He loved Chevelles. He also had ordered a L78 Nova SS and many more L78's. Thx&amp;#128512;