I couldn't afford a SS 396 at 18 and 50 years later I still cant.

[LEEVON]

I'm younger than ya'll, but when I bought my '71 in 1994 we had looked at sunday classfieds cars for over a year, including countless muscle car projects that were $3-5,000 but were ruled out due to rust or drivetrain issues that I wouldn't even blink at today. I remember driving a white 1966 Chevelle SS396 listed for $4k but Dad didn't like the transmission leaks lol. I mean re-sealing a TH350 was a deal breaker and patina paint would get you laughed at. Yet somehow we landed on my '71 Cheyenne that needed all of the above and more for $4800! Dad was convinced they were the next big thing and trucks were cheaper to restore and work on. He was right, gotta love Dads.

Turn of events, Dad had a '68 Z28 that he had to sell when I was born...I am now looking to buy/surprise him with one for a retirement project.

[71blksuper4x4]

Got my 70 back in 1999 for $1500. Right before muscle cars really inflated. It was rough, but the price was right. It was my first car and still own it. I used to say I was born about 10-15 years too late to collect muscle cars, but I am glad I was able to pick up these trucks when they were a dime a dozen still in salvage yards. The last 5 years, things have really became harder to locate in my area.

[SCOTI]

I always wanted one of those 'king of the hill' muscle-cars ('70 Chevelle 454SS) but knew it would likely never happen. When I reached my twenties, the metric chassis/G-body replacements were well within my budget & they hooked me. I've had several of them since.

The G-body Malibu will never be the rock-star like a '70 model, but they're still basically the same under the exterior sheet-metal. They still have decent interior space & still easily accommodate a BBC/TH400 w/o much drama plus are slightly lighter to boot

I'm doing a 'What If' version now. I want to use some options of earlier models that were part of that appeal as well as some ideas from later GM offerings for the advanced technology.

[lil hoodlum]

When I was 16 and getting my first car I wasn't picky at all. I would have been happy with a VW bug, Fiat Spyder, Camaro, Trans Am, or would loved to have a corvette.

What did I end up with? A 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 4 door in poop brown and a beige vynail (spelling?) top with a performance producing 260 cubic inch V8 of lackluster horsepower. Oh well, I was just happy to have a set of wheels and some freedom.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lil hoodlum

When I was 16 and getting my first car I wasn't picky at all. I would have been happy with a VW bug, Fiat Spyder, Camaro, Trans Am, or would loved to have a corvette.

What did I end up with? A 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 4 door in poop brown and a beige vynail (spelling?) top with a performance producing 260 cubic inch V8 of lackluster horsepower. Oh well, I was just happy to have a set of wheels and some freedom.

As a young-gun, my siblings & I used to be watched over by the daughter of a family friend when my parents went out for a night. This young lady got a 4dr Ford Granada as her 1st car. I remember clear as yesterday telling my parents in zero uncertain terms that a car like that would be a hard NO for me. My mom said if I got anything from them, it would be the current Dodge Aspen station wagon she was driving @ the time. "If that wasn't good enough, you can use your own money & buy what you want". Task accepted.

I started mowing more yards & worked (under-age) @ a fast-food restaurant as a grunt.

I wound up buying a pretty cool '64 Chevy short-step w/a SBC/4spd Muncie combo. It wasn't that Holy-Grail '70 SS454 (I would have settled for a SS396 ) or a '69 Camaro, but I'd say I did all-right.

I'm building my current '64 like I wanted back then as a 16yr old w/o any resources. With 'Time' doing it's thing, the list has been amended .

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

As a young-gun, my siblings & I used to be watched over by the daughter of a family friend when my parents went out for a night. This young lady got a 4dr Ford Granada as her 1st car. I remember clear as yesterday telling my parents in zero uncertain terms that a car like that would be a hard NO for me. My mom said if I got anything from them, it would be the current Dodge Aspen station wagon she was driving @ the time. "If that wasn't good enough, you can use your own money & buy what you want". Task accepted.

I started mowing more yards & worked (under-age) @ a fast-food restaurant as a grunt.

I wound up buying a pretty cool '64 Chevy short-step w/a SBC/4spd Muncie combo. It wasn't that Holy-Grail '70 SS454 (I would have settled for a SS396 ) or a '69 Camaro, but I'd say I did all-right.

I'm building my current '64 like I wanted back then as a 16yr old w/o any resources. With 'Time' doing it's thing, the list has been amended .

Dodge Aspen wagons have their...uses...ahem.

[Boog]

As a kid in the 60's I was hooked early on with the Chevelles and GTOs. My Dad sold new Dodge/Plymouth/Chryslers and drove company demonstrators and of course tested Road Runners, GTXs. Lucky me got to ride in most of them. I remember in particular a '65 Coronet 426 Hemi 4 speed! When becoming of age to have a car he would not let me have a muscle car though. He was for sure I'd get hurt in one. We'll never know...

[70cst]

Good stories folks

[71blksuper4x4]

How I found my 70’ in 99. 2nd pic was 2019, 20 years later.

[GASoline71]

I bought a wrecked 1971 SS El Camino in 1988 for $500 bucks. Built it up and then turned it into a drag car before I sold it in 1998 for $7,000. After that car I bought a '67 C-10 stepside short bed for $1,000 bucks. drove it around for quite some time until I sold it to my brother in 2000 for $1,500.

I already had a 1979 GMC K25 High Sierra that I really wish I still had. I paid $2,500 bucks for that rig. Sold it for $4,000 in 2005.

Then I was without a "cool" rig for quite a while. After a divorce I needed something to keep my mind occupied and I found and bought a 1972 GMC C1500 for $1,200 bucks in 2007. That was when I joined up here. So I've never bought a rig for more than $2,500 bucks. since the 1980's. LOL

Gary

[dsy1]

My first car at age 17 was a '69 Chevelle....but not a big block, it was a 300 Deluxe 2-door model with a 230 cu.in. straight 6 and three on the tree. Paid $500 in 1973, kept it for 13 years. Now I have a different '69 Chevelle, but now it is the big block. I also have a '71 C20.

[desert-rat]

Life does work out kinda weird. I graduated high school in 2000. I was in love with the C5 corvette. But the insurance was gonna kill me. So I bought a 1998 Camaro SS 6-speed. Still had the LS1 motor. I only drove it to work on Fridays. Drove my Saturn other days..
Married my high school sweetheart. Some how kids came along. Camaro wasn't gonna work. Sold the Camaro. No way I was gonna sport a mini van. So I bought a real man van...a full size Chevy G20. Than my uncle asked me if I wanted his '69 GMC. With out a doubt. He helped raise me and had that truck before I was born. Now I have it. Miss the Camaro though. But my wife and kids enjoy the truck more than the camaro.

[89AKurt]

Love the lead-in comment. Very nice looking truck, so what is the problem?

When I was young and dumb, the cars I wanted were relatively expensive, now they cost more than an estate.

[MDFarms]

Like this thread, Although I'm not the main character in my story is my father.

In 1970 he ordered a new 1970 Chevelle SS 454, gold with black stripes and stripped down for power only and grabbing gears on the street. Being a farmers son he worked long hours to save up for his dream car. Shortly after getting his dream car about 1.5 year later I came along and so did the thing called life, wife and a little boy to take care of. Low and behold he sold his dream car to take care of his family.

Circle back about 28 years ago he was ready to find his dream car again. He ventured to the local "Muscle Car" dealership and laid his eyes on a red/white stripe Chevelle, placed deposit and came home to tell us. On the day of pick up we grabbed a local friend (body shop owner) and went to pick up his car with the enclosed trailer. Upon arriving my friend noticed that this car had been poorly restored, patched body panels and shotty work that only a good body man can see. We spoke to dad and dealership and thye agreed to refund his deposit. Bummed out we went home without his car..........

Several hours later and still bummed he got back on internet and stumbled luckily upon what would become a once in a life time purchase. Just listed and 100% Original paint 1970 Chevelle SS396 4spd, factory bench seat like his original car and beautiful. He called the man and spoke for a couple hours explained that he was a dairy farmer and ask if he would hold it for a couple days until he could get away and they set up a time to take a look at it.

Sunday morning we made the trip to Hart Mi to look at this car, with our friend the body man in back seat we headed that way with expectations that it too may not be the car of his dreams. Once we arrived and he opened the door we were in awe! Not only was it beautiful but after crawling around and looking it over it was a all original paint numbers matching car and to top the cake he had winning trophies from the Detroit Auto Show for "Most Original Muscle Car" at the show two years in a row and coincidently that was the only two years it went to the show. While there a man from Chicago was blowing up the guys phone (landline back then) in his garage offering more money and sending truck to pick up. Thankfully the seller kept his word!

The seller was switching gears and because his wife had did car shows for years it was her turn to take on a boating hobby. The seller said you take the car you take the trophies, posters on my walls, magazines on my table and car show gear, trailer and the HUGE Sun Diagnostic Center in front of car. After a hand shake and a deposit we were set to leave he said wait, I have more stuff to give you, he handed over a file with all original paperwork, bill of sale, protecto plate, build sheet, and the letter from the GM worker writing his son who was serving our Country asking him if you had a dream car in mind what would it be? Son replied a silver with black stripe SS454 Chevelle the father sent a letter back and said no to a 454 but a 396 would be possible. When his son came back from serving the car was there for him. Years later the son moved to Hawaii and left car behind at dads, it sat along a major road into town in a garage with door half up with tailights showing as the man dad bought it from drove by it daily, one day he stopped and ask if it was for sale, the dad called the son and they sold the car and its rebirth came about. Stored in a garage with a dirt floor, roof sagging and door half open the car survived an amazing life, underside is beautiful and so is body, original interior and components. In picture we has some aftermarket tires and rims on it but is now back to stock with ralleys.

Super nice car with great history. Dad is 72 years old and it sits in his garage on carpet most of the time but he will never sell. Just this summer the man dad bought the car called me out of the blue, I had set up a Caterpillar D6 dozer delivery with the company I work for and he reconized my last name and the address it was going to was in the town that he knew the car went too, he was the escort for this oversize load and ironically the dozer was coming up to a new windarm job of which we (dad and I) provided a laydown yard to use. He was around the corner from his old Chevelle! He ask if we still had car and if so could he come take a look and I said absolutely. Neither dad or myself was home when he stopped but a friend doing a remodeling job was there at dads and he called me and said " theres a guy here at your dads and he uncovered your dads car and he is sitting here in the garage staring at it". Phil said " I ask him if I he wanted me to get a hold of your dad and he said No I have spoke to him in a crackling voice" He says Chad I think he was choked up about your dads car, not knowing the story I told him. He said the guy was there for about 45 minutes staring at car while sitting in the chair not saying a word.

Dad has ask me many times If I would like to take it out for a drive with my son. I have told him repeatetly I'm afraid to drive it as I would not want to get a scratch, nick, door ding or have anything to happen to it while joy riding. To date in the years we have owned it I have NEVER driven that car! As I said its not that I dont want too its that I'm afraid too! I believe he has a plan to pass it along to my son someday and for that I'm grateful and until then he will be the only driver.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by MDFarms

Like this thread, Although I'm not the main character in my story is my father.

In 1970 he ordered a new 1970 Chevelle SS 454, gold with black stripes and stripped down for power only and grabbing gears on the street. Being a farmers son he worked long hours to save up for his dream car. Shortly after getting his dream car about 1.5 year later I came along and so did the thing called life, wife and a little boy to take care of. Low and behold he sold his dream car to take care of his family.

Circle back about 28 years ago he was ready to find his dream car again. He ventured to the local "Muscle Car" dealership and laid his eyes on a red/white stripe Chevelle, placed deposit and came home to tell us. On the day of pick up we grabbed a local friend (body shop owner) and went to pick up his car with the enclosed trailer. Upon arriving my friend noticed that this car had been poorly restored, patched body panels and shotty work that only a good body man can see. We spoke to dad and dealership and thye agreed to refund his deposit. Bummed out we went home without his car..........

Several hours later and still bummed he got back on internet and stumbled luckily upon what would become a once in a life time purchase. Just listed and 100% Original paint 1970 Chevelle SS396 4spd, factory bench seat like his original car and beautiful. He called the man and spoke for a couple hours explained that he was a dairy farmer and ask if he would hold it for a couple days until he could get away and they set up a time to take a look at it.

Sunday morning we made the trip to Hart Mi to look at this car, with our friend the body man in back seat we headed that way with expectations that it too may not be the car of his dreams. Once we arrived and he opened the door we were in awe! Not only was it beautiful but after crawling around and looking it over it was a all original paint numbers matching car and to top the cake he had winning trophies from the Detroit Auto Show for "Most Original Muscle Car" at the show two years in a row and coincidently that was the only two years it went to the show. While there a man from Chicago was blowing up the guys phone (landline back then) in his garage offering more money and sending truck to pick up. Thankfully the seller kept his word!

The seller was switching gears and because his wife had did car shows for years it was her turn to take on a boating hobby. The seller said you take the car you take the trophies, posters on my walls, magazines on my table and car show gear, trailer and the HUGE Sun Diagnostic Center in front of car. After a hand shake and a deposit we were set to leave he said wait, I have more stuff to give you, he handed over a file with all original paperwork, bill of sale, protecto plate, build sheet, and the letter from the GM worker writing his son who was serving our Country asking him if you had a dream car in mind what would it be? Son replied a silver with black stripe SS454 Chevelle the father sent a letter back and said no to a 454 but a 396 would be possible. When his son came back from serving the car was there for him. Years later the son moved to Hawaii and left car behind at dads, it sat along a major road into town in a garage with door half up with tailights showing as the man dad bought it from drove by it daily, one day he stopped and ask if it was for sale, the dad called the son and they sold the car and its rebirth came about. Stored in a garage with a dirt floor, roof sagging and door half open the car survived an amazing life, underside is beautiful and so is body, original interior and components. In picture we has some aftermarket tires and rims on it but is now back to stock with ralleys.

Super nice car with great history. Dad is 72 years old and it sits in his garage on carpet most of the time but he will never sell. Just this summer the man dad bought the car called me out of the blue, I had set up a Caterpillar D6 dozer delivery with the company I work for and he reconized my last name and the address it was going to was in the town that he knew the car went too, he was the escort for this oversize load and ironically the dozer was coming up to a new windarm job of which we (dad and I) provided a laydown yard to use. He was around the corner from his old Chevelle! He ask if we still had car and if so could he come take a look and I said absolutely. Neither dad or myself was home when he stopped but a friend doing a remodeling job was there at dads and he called me and said " theres a guy here at your dads and he uncovered your dads car and he is sitting here in the garage staring at it". Phil said " I ask him if I he wanted me to get a hold of your dad and he said No I have spoke to him in a crackling voice" He says Chad I think he was choked up about your dads car, not knowing the story I told him. He said the guy was there for about 45 minutes staring at car while sitting in the chair not saying a word.

Dad has ask me many times If I would like to take it out for a drive with my son. I have told him repeatetly I'm afraid to drive it as I would not want to get a scratch, nick, door ding or have anything to happen to it while joy riding. To date in the years we have owned it I have NEVER driven that car! As I said its not that I dont want too its that I'm afraid too! I believe he has a plan to pass it along to my son someday and for that I'm grateful and until then he will be the only driver.

Great story ...

[Overdriven]

My first car was almost the 1968 Camaro my father and I restored together. The timing was right, I was getting my license, he needed to sell to expand his business and I would’ve had the coolest car in high school. I just didn’t have enough saved for him to make it all work so it left our lives forever. Fast forward 25 years and dad was itching for something different to replace the 1967 Camaro that was currently in his garage. We didn’t do as much to this one but it still gave us memories and reminders of the first Camaro. Plus I just love these cars so I jumped on it and unlike 25 years ago, now he was in a position to make a deal that worked for me. I basically made him whole but in the time he had the car values have risen so I did get a deal. He bought a 65 Chevelle and has plenty of money left over to make it his own so he’s happy too.

I also have a story about 1967 c10’s. Dad and I always liked these trucks and decided to go look at one that was cheap. It turned out to be a deal and we both wanted it so we scooped it up. We cleaned it up and did a few things on the cheap, splitting costs, while formulating a plan. Storage then became an issue and unfortunately it had to go. We made money on it and it stayed local for years. We saw it end up permanently parked and I vowed to try and buy it back when I was able. Sadly it suddenly disappeared before that day came. A dozen years later I picked up another 1967 c10 lwb fleet 6cyl 3ott with white bumpers and grill. Funny thing is how the colors flip flop. My first c10 was the pale light blue and my current is the dark red. For the Camaro’s it’s the opposite, the first was red, the second is Marina Blue.