One of the cool things about Chevy nostalgia that seldom is written about is all the past performance models oh-so-many veteran enthusiasts once owned. Hearing stories about new-car purchases and pre-owned rare finds not only bonds friendships but provides fond memories. True stories about brand-new '50s and '60s Chevys are seldom forgotten. Ditto on '50s-'70s used Chevys purchased in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The same is also true for high-performance parts and rare accessories.
The Chevrolets I have owned since age 16 (1960) were never specifically planned. Except for my new '66 L79 Chevy II, I never had the disposable income to special-order or purchase a brand-new Chevy from dealership stock. But you know what I have learned? Time indeed goes by, and the special model we liked but could not afford almost always pops up later.
That was the case for me on many of the Chevys I have owned-most recently a '70 Malibu. When they were new, my family came first. Well, I finally bought a hot 383, four-speed base Malibu from longtime Ohio friend Joe Johnson in 2004. In its first car show, it won "Best Beater." It's fast and will be fun to work on and enjoy-awards be damned!
Back in the day, for those of us with family responsibilities, low-disposable incomes or both, buying a long sought-after Chevy could often come about by luck or even destiny. Here are five true examples:
1. Honduras Maroon 1962 Corvette,#1004663 in 1973:I promised our two kids-then ages 4 and 2-that I would take them to 7-Eleven for a comic book on Saturday morning. While each was selecting one, in pulled this Corvette. It wasn't actively for sale, but I asked and then bought it the following Wednesday for $1,500. My wife was very pleased. It became "hers."
2. Venetian Red 1957 Corvette in 1973:I placed an ad in my local newspaper seeking 1962 Corvette parts. A fellow called and said he did not have any, but he did have a non-running '57 Corvette. Price: $1,000. A friend of mine and I went partners. I put together a 270hp 283, he added new paint, we added a repro Al Knoch interior for a total cash outlay of $900. We soon were offered $4,300.
3. Loaded 1965 El Camino in 1983:Its paint was oxidized badly and had major gray primer spots. It looked like it hadn't been washed in years. No one looked at it sitting in the street with a "For Sale" sign under the windshield wiper, except me. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the top of the line Custom model with bucket seats. It also had these original options: air conditioning, power steering, column-shift, tilt steering column, two-tone red Naugahyde interior, hazard flashers, AM-FM radio, tachometer and gauges, dash clock, 300hp 327 engine, Powerglide transmission, 12-bolt rear end with 3.55:1 Positraction, and original rear Delco air shock absorbers. Price: $1,200.
4. 1970 350HP 396 Nova SS in 1984:The second owner installed headers, an Offenhauser intake manifold, 800-cfm Holley carb, and Mallory ignition-then twice spun a rod bearing. He would only part with this four-speed, 350hp Nova in trade for a running car of his approval. I found a nice red Chevy Monza that he liked, and he traded for it even-up. It cost $450.
5. 1967 RS-SS Camaro in 1985:We had quietly looked for many years but could not keep up with rising early Camaro prices. Nor could we find a loaded four-speed. Then one day, a friend I worked with said his brother had a '67 Camaro, got married and parked it. It had a four-speed and "rotating headlights." Price: $1,500. Serial number 124377L126115. Butternut yellow, black vinyl top, Rally Sport, Super Sport, headrests, black deluxe interior, power steering, tach, console, console gauges, speed warning indicator, AM-FM radio, 12-bolt 3.55:1 Posi. We had it many years, refurbished it, and then had to sell it to pay for offspring college costs. It's still around somewhere (now silver with red deluxe interior).