The Supercar Registry - Show me Your "POST" car

In May 1987 I purchased the June edition of SUPER CHEVY magazine. After reading it, the magazine was left in a box with other old car magazines at my parent’s house. Years later in the autumn of 2003, when I was home for a visit, I came across the magazine for the second time. Casually thumbing through it I noticed an article entitled ‘Minnesota Thunder’ featuring not one but two 1966 L72 Biscaynes. One car was black with a red interior and at the time the article was written had slightly over 28,000 miles. The other Biscayne was Aztec Bronze with a fawn interior with 16,000 original miles. Both cars had M21 transmissions and where built in Janesville, Wisconsin, the bronze car being manufactured during the third week of March 1966.
The article mentioned the present owner lived in Cloquet, MN, which coincidentally was only a few miles from Duluth, where my brother lives. I spoke to my brother and asked if he would look up the telephone number of the gentleman that owned the cars when the article was written back in 1987. Luckily a current number was listed and after a few attempts I finally established contact. During our initial conversation I casually mentioned the June ’87 SUPER CHEVY magazine and the reply was ‘ oh you must be looking at the article about my L72 Biscaynes’. When I confirmed that was the case I was then told ‘the black one has been sold but I still have the bronze car and two other ’66 L72 Biscaynes’. Unbelievable! I realised then I had hit the motherlode because I had been looking for an original 1966 L72 Biscayne for years.
Over the course of the winter of ‘03/04 arrangements were made for me to see the car in the spring. If it was what I had been looking for perhaps a deal could be made. In the spring of 2004 I arrived at my brothers in Duluth and off we went to check out the bronze L72 featured in the magazine article 17 years earlier. I was not disappointed. Other than the day 2 parts, Hurst shifter, Sun Tach & gauges, line lock, Mallory ignition & front end lift kit, the car was exactly as depicted. The mileage was even the same as in the article, at 16,417.
A Mr. Dick Ribaudo, who took delivery of it the last week of March, ordered the car new in 1966 from Arrow Chevrolet in Duluth. Dick bought the car to race and it was on the track at Minnesota Dragways in April.
I have a Minnesota Dragways newsletter dated April 10th 1966 indicating Dick’s car ran a 13.03 @ 114.94 miles per hour in B/Stock. Interestingly, the winning car in A/Stock was a ’66 Dodge owned by Bob Peters who ran a 13.42 @ 110.83 miles per hour.
While researching the cars history Rick Nelson suggested I contact Mr. Tim Clift. Tim was a photographer who took many pictures of racecars at Minnesota Dragways during that era. He remembered the car and happened to have a photo of it in race trim when it was owned by Bob Bezdichek in September of 1970. Unfortunately only the back half of the car is visible. The Biscayne was lettered ‘ Rat Trap’ and had a cartoon style road runner painted on the rear quarters. Incidentally, from what I understand, Bob Bezdichek also owned and raced the 1970 Dick Harrell Camaro.
When I purchased the car all the lettering had been removed with the exception of ‘Good Times Gasser’ on the rear lip of the trunk. Looking closely you can barely make out ‘John’s High Performance’ on the top of the front fenders. The car still had the front lift kit and Crager Mags installed. In addition, the car also came with the original steel wheels and dog dish caps.
Unfortunately, Dick the original owner passed away in December of 2000. I managed to contact his widow requesting additional information about the car. She told me the Biscayne was before here time with Dick but her son had heard of the car and was anxious to see it if at all possible. Consequently, Dick’s son Rich was introduced to the car his father had owned and raced. I gave Rich the keys to his Dad’s old car and invited to take it for a drive. The excitement and enthusiasm Rich exhibited was priceless.
I presently keep the car with my brother in Duluth where I manage to drive it once or twice a year.
The blue L72 is a 1,600-mile survivor that also has a race history. I will post some more information regarding that when I get the facts.
Any further information regarding my bronze Biscayne would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Zapper