It's a long process and you've really been through it with your car! You are really close to the end though and your car will be a truly exceptional numbers matching car when done. Do you have any numbers on how many L30/M20's were made? How many in a convertible?

The repop rear bumper went back to Heartbeat City. I saw loads of postings where people had the same problem where repop rear bumpers don't fit at all. The original one came back from being rechromed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/100_3898.jpg

The front window is going in, and the doors and hood are going back on:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/100_3911.jpg

I still hate you!

So close David! Sweet!

Soon very soon lol

The CRG estimates 4,027 total L30/M20 cars in 1968. Very difficult to estimate the number of convertible L30/M20s. However, only 8.69% of 68 V8s were convertibles, so 4,027 x 8.69% = 350 1968 L30/M20 convertibles.

Now, throw in the F41 suspension, N31 'wood' sport steering wheel, Z21 style trim group, Z87 deluxe interior, D55 console, U17 special instruments, N10 dual exhaust, G80 12-bolt posi, and the number of identical cars probably goes WAY down - like into the single digits or perhaps even 1.

Very cool!!! Most likely 1 of a kind. He figured out how to get a perfect 1968 V8 in 1968.

What color is the interior? How did your dad know about the options? Did one of the sales guys tell him how to order it, or did he have one of the 1968 brochures?

HA! Some day Pizza, you should stop over. My wife is not the world's greatest chef, but she makes great "shake & bake" pork chops! I would take her pork chops any day of the week over any 5 star restaurant. Stop over with your wife & kid and while they are jabberin, we can cruise for a while.

My father had a heck of a time ordering the car at Walt Johnson Chevrolet in Windsor Locks. The salesperson didn't seem to know much. Basically, my Dad had to give them all the RPO numbers and say "just get me this car". The backstory is that my Mom & Dad owned several Corvairs before getting new cars in 68 . My Dad got the Camaro and my Mom got a Malibu with a 307 & automatic (both in matching Ash Gold!). Anyhow, having owned the Corvairs, my Dad ended up knowing a few people at Chevrolet. He tried to get them to build him a stripe-delete Z28 convertible, but with a 327 (he didn't like the high-revving nature of the 302). Obviously, they denied his request, but he found all the right RPOs to order to get exactly what he wanted. The only thing he couldn't get was the M22 'rock crusher' because they only made it in a close ratio and not the wide ratio my Dad wanted.

Ah, yes, the interior. My arch nemesis. The original interior was Ivy Gold, which matched the Ash Gold exterior. It turned brown & blotchy over the years from the sun. It needed to be replaced - badly. So, I tried to get interior parts to match. Not one supplier has a true match for Ivy Gold (which actually has a slight metallic finish to the soft vinyl). I tried for years (literally), working with the different upholstery manufacturers. The problem is that if the interior isn't the right color Ivy Gold, then it looks really goofy next to the exterior Ash Gold. I even looked into having a custom batch of vinyl made. What it came down to was that I was never going to get a nice looking Ivy Gold interior.

So, I made a decision. I decided to change the interior color to black with houndstooth seat inserts. I always loved the look of the black houndstooth interior with the Ash Gold exterior. Yes, I know that houndstooth was not an option for convertibles, but it looks very sharp. My Dad & I talked about it extensively before I did it. He told me, "It's your car now, and if that is the way you want it, then go for it." Both my Mom & Dad have seen the actual interior that is going in the car, and they both admit that it is very nice looking and agree it was a good decision.

Hell Yeah!!! that sounds like a Great time!!!

Do you have a street address for Walt Johnson Chevrolet? I did a few searches, but found very little info. What's there now?

Old car dealership pictures are pretty neat. The Z/28 was sold by Placke Chevrolet in St Louis MO and I was able to track down a 1954 picture of the dealership. In the picture, Don Placke is on the right.

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/...69Z/placke.jpg

Excellent choice and that will look great!

All the paperwork gives the address as "Turnpike Road Corner Elm Street".

So, that's Rt.75, where the Dunkin' Donuts or the little strip mall is now.

Here's a picture for you from The Hartford Courant; Jun 16, 1966:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...-chevrolet.jpg

^^That's awesome! I'll have to show that picture to my father and ask him exactly where it was on the corner. I'll also need to ask him where he bought the Corvairs. It may have been the same place.

Free tape recorder with any used car over $500 bucks, that is what really gets me.

Almost ready...........

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../DSCN04921.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/DSCN0496.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../DSCN04951.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../DSCN04931.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../DSCN04941.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...DSCN0496-1.jpg

Looks amazing, I'm sure pics dosn't do it any justice

mmmmmmmmm :Drool: :Drool: :Drool:

Wow just simply sexy. Is the front bumper a euro bumper? Looks good painted if not.

Are you going to drive it home when it 's done?

must suck rolling around on that creeper on that pitted ass floor!!!! hahaha car Looks AWESOME!!!! GETTING THE ITCH YET?!?

Yep, it's the VE3 Endura Bumper. It's a repro, which are notorious for fitting horribly but Mike got it to fit. The Z has an original Endura bumper.

Definitely!!! It'll be loads of fun cruising around Granby. Then, I have to start planning out some local cruise nights.

ImReadytoRideTimes10!!!!!!!!!!

Bahahahahahahah

Very true. I see the car regularly and it is way more impressive in person. Pictures are weird. Unless they are professional-quality pictures (no offense meant David), they tend make an average car look great and a great car look somewhat average.

David has a great car! I can't wait to see it with all the stripes on!

wow very nice!
the ride height looks good too!
I cant wait to see it at the carshow friday nite!!!!:flashing:

HA! Not yet Dawg, I talked to Mike today and he said it would be about a week. There are a lot of small details like hoses and trim pieces to finish. Also the subframe connectors are hitting on the bottom of the floor pan and they are going to have to cut and weld them to get them to fit correctly.

I also saw the first thing I really didn't like. It's the repro Endura bumper. I spoke too soon about Mike getting it to fit. The edges look flared out. It looks great from 8 feet away, but up close.....BLECH.

A couple months ago I picked up a damaged original one that needs some TLC. I asked Mike if in a couple months he could get the old one ready to go on. 75% of all repro parts SUCK.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/P1010207.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/P1010209.jpg

In general though, the car is looking like it's ready to go.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/P1010202.jpg

how can they sell these parts like this????? id be PISSED!!

Yep. Friggen $300 piece of foreign-made garbage. I don't know how all these major pieces suck so bad. The rear bumper, the front bumper, the quarter panels (many days were needed to cut the quarters up and reweld them to make them identical to the Z panels) , the radiator support, etc. etc. etc.

--------------------
edit: I forgot the worst pieces were the repop chrome window trim both front and rear which were total crap.

China?

That car is so sexy! How bout a black front bumper? Hideaway headlights?

Most likely.

Nah...I really like the white Endura bumper but it needs to fit. Mike should be able to fix up the original one I bought off yenko.net.

outta be close now?
any updates David?

The subframe connectors have been cut and rewelded and are in place.

The repop door weatherstripping was 2 times thicker than the original and the doors won't close correctly, so Mike ordered some new ones.

The front fenders still need to be aligned.

The front window wasn't fitting well, so Mike took it back out and is refitting it.

He is also going to start repairing the original Endura bumper. The repop bumper should go into the garbage along with a bunch of other repop parts.

There is still a bunch of small detail work to be done with some small parts that still need to be ordered.

Fender stripes will go on last.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/100_3921.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/100_3919.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...o/100_3914.jpg

Came along way snd lokking awesome.

that looks fucking GREAT!!!!

Looking very nice. :)

Matt, You're back!!!! I was wondering where you went. Hope you're doing great!