Owner History on My Car

[bbbentley]

Many have noticed in capital red letters on my page is a comment I made almost a year ago. It states that the complete owner history was obtained on my Hugger Orange 396 Camaro. I held off sharing this story hoping to have good pictures to go with the story. Unfortunately, after a year of trying to go over to the PO's house to retake the distorted pics I am about to share, for some reason he has had an excuse every time I want to make contact and ask to come over.
with the passing of my FIL this past Sunday, I am reminded how he was the catalyst for this most improbable of circumstances that led to my discovery of the previous owner. it is crazy what happened to say the least. About a year ago, my FIL's health began to spiral down drastically. He was a great man. I could spend much time telling about this man, but I must get back to the car story though. I said he was the catalyst because without his illness, this occurrence would not have happened.
First, a little back story. I certainly did not know how to interpret my Trim Tag when I bought my car back in 79. No one cared either what this tag meant. Little by little, hot rod magazines started giving info on how to decipher these tags. Still, no one was into their car's history or origins. I cocooned the cars for 20 years and about 8 years ago, embarked on this odyssey of restoring a car that I let slip into disrepair. Soon, I found my self a fan of this site and CRG. That was the extent of my social media. I woud eagerly read about how guys obtained documentation and knew the owner history. Boy!, I thought, how I too wanted to know this mystery. How I felt left out and had missed the "dance" realizing how much time had passed since I had owned this car. Seemed futile. NCRS papers were not available, compounding the frustration. A member gave me an idea. Put a CL ad looking for info on this car. After all, it had distinctive paint, surely someone would recognize the car. About 3 years ago, I did just that and hit "pay dirt", sort of. I got a call the very next day and a voice says, I used to own that car. Great! I thought. Turns out, the caller sold the car to who I got the car from. Caller told me he bought it from a friend in his senior year. His friend got it at the beginning of his senior year. all 3 of these previous owners, including myself being number 4, all graduated in 79. I bought in the fall of 79. The 3rd owner back got te car going into his Senior year, which was 78. So it went through 4 owners in 1 year. Good to know, but the trail went cold. That furthest owner back could not remember the guy he got it from, could not remember which house. He just knew it was on Melody lane. that is all I had until last year. My FIL, now, in the hospital, I pick up my MIL to visit him. Afterwards we eat out. I see a older guy across the room with a sweat shirt on from a large annual local car show. By chance, we are leaving this restaurant at the same time as this older guy. I hold the door for him and strike up a conversation about his shirt. He tells me he owns a 57 Sedan Delivery. I comment on how iconic 57's are and then tell him I own another iconic Chevy, a '69 Camaro. He says that he used to own one...a Hugger Orange 396 4 speed. I replied, that is what my car is. He then says, I painted mine black with flames!!! As we say in Appalachia, you could have knocked me over with a feather! Could this be the break through moment I could only have dreamed of, up till now? I hastily exchange contact info noticing my MIL and wife freezing next to our locked car. Last thought, I asked him if he lived close? He replied, been on Melody lane since '64. He is the second owner. He was friends with the OP. That guy bought the car new from Central Motor in Hamilton, Ohio, a Yenko dealer. The OP was drafted in 72 and parked the car in his dad's garage with 22K on the odo. He sold it to this new found friend of mine and second owner in 74. He sold it to that kid in 78 going into his Senior year of HS.This fella has told me that he has the build sheet to my car...somewhere and he also claims to have the original heads, intake & carb in his garage attic and 2 Rally wheels under his work bench. Yet, he wont have me over. Hopefully a new chapter will be written when the weather warms? His pics:

[wheelhop]

Very cool story! Sign that guy up for a beer of the month club (or maybe root beer?) and then he'll invite you over!

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

You just knocked me over with a feather!!!!

Great history!!

Sorry about your FIL.

Ryan W31

[bbbentley]

Keen eyes may notice that the pic with the previous (2nd) owner leaning against the door there is a remote Lh mirror. When I bought the car, that mirror was replaced with aftermarket mirrors on each side. Their was evidence of that option as the bezel is still on the door panel. But I had wondered for some time what steering wheel the car had? It had a foam Superior wheel on this car when I got it. It originally had a standard black wheel. What wheels did the car originally have? Rallys, I was told. This guy was able to finally answer crucial questions I had wanted answered since this resto began. I thought I would never know. I have been in contact with the deceased original owner’s family, thanks to FB, a media I have resisted becoming part of that community, but succumbed for my car’s sake. This chance meeting has re-invigorated this car’s restoration. Is there anything I should or could do to turn all these statements from this second owner into factual documentation to not be separated from the car? Or, is it just my word that I pass along to others of what I know about this car, that may be lost once I’m gone?

[Tracker1]

That is unbelievable, wow! Yes, get a notarized statement signed by this gentleman with the details of his story. Not sure how easy that will be considering how cagey and evasive he is.
But keep trying, some people are just super-private and it takes a while to crack the ice. Best of luck!

[Rumbleguts396]

Great story. Maybe invite him to your house to see and sit in his old car. Have him bring is wife or even grandkids. Let him take pictures of his old car. Make it like he and his old car are family. Thats how we treat our cars and there history. Just a thought. Best of luck. Rob

[bbbentley]

Adding to what history I know: the second owner has shared much through texts and when we have met up at some car shows. He told me a story about how he would win bets with this Camaro by jumping it over a Little King's Cream Ale bottle when at the bowling alley after work. I envision one of those “hold my beer and watch this” moments, lol. The original owner and he were good friends that’s worked at the same factory. When the OO went in the service, he put the car in his Dad’s garage. The exhaust rusted off sitting. It sat 2 years. There is a story that the “kid” the 2nd owner, Dale, sold the car to, he put 4.88s in the car. He would drive it on the highway because Dale got into a few drag races with his old car. It was not long before the kid blew up the engine. Dale remembers a gas station that the car was sitting at waiting to get a new engine. That would have been in ‘78. This kid had the original gears put back in (3.31). Then, traded it to his high school buddy for a sb Nova and cash. That guy traded to the guy I got the car from after he graduated. The 402 that was in the car now was anemic and needing rebuilt. This 5th owner had a guy rebuild a 69 350 and install in exchange for the big block. And to quote this guy I got the car from:
According to Paul (5th owner):
It was probably 79 when I got it. I had a Honda 750 Chopper that I was tired of and wanted to sell. I saw an ad in The Tradin Post paper for a 69 Camaro for sale or trade for 750 cc motorcycle. So I called the number. The Camaro was only 4 miles from my house in Madeira. We made the deal and I soon had a Camaro. I drove the car for a bit with the 402 big block, but it just never felt good like it was under powered. I had a buddy named Warren in Covington, KY that was a mechanic and he said he could put together a screeming 350 sml blk and he would do all the labor for the 402. I preferred and small block for weight savings and handling.... so out came a big block and he started building the 350. never let a guy put on piston rings when he's been drinking a few beers...when he got it all together we tried to get it running, man did it smoke the oil....not long after that we had a falling out over the deal and thats when the car came home and was sold to you. The motor disappeared and so did Warren, so I have no idea where the 402 went.”
And there are more stories.
When I got the car, I towed it home with a tow bar. I got the 350 running, but oh, what a piece of excrement. A few buddies were there to witness this car running. I throw the truck plates off our farm truck, pile my buddies in the car and off on the car’s maiden voyage. No exhaust, no power steering or brakes, no tail lights or brake lights, no registration or correct plates. But off we went anyway. Talk about a smoking, no compression sick running car? We get to the bottom of my road which opened up onto a straight 4 lane. I lay into it. About 30 mph, the front lh tire goes sailing past the front door!! It was all I could do to get it stopped. A house nearby we were able to borrow a wrench and jack. But the homeowner called the law too. It was the Highway patrol. He did a lot of yelling and said he never wanted to see the car on the road again without proper registration and other violations fixed. Gave me a ticket for wrong plates. He followed me home and all the way up my parents long drive where I promptly pulled it into the backyard under a tree and pulled the engine right there.

[ZoomXF]

Bentley,

Good to hear your working on this car again. Always love listening to and reading your stories.

Mike

[bbbentley]

Originally Posted by ZoomXF

Bentley,

Good to hear your working on this car again. Always love listening to and reading your stories.

Mike

Kind words. What are you working on? Those Ansen bb valve covers have to be for something?

[brent396]

Very cool story keep us updated