Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Wow, Thanks Clarence, and thanks Steve.

Some real history to this Butternut!!

Ryan

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Nothing beats original owner stories!

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I feel very fortunate that Clarence was willing to speak with me and I could tell him the history of the car from it's time in Lake Orion. I am hoping to add more to the history as my leads in Colorado start to come to light. I hope to continue speaking with him in the future so that we may perhaps fill in the gaps from the time my father passed up to it's current residence.
Thanks again.
Chris

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I think the courts will determine whom "legal ownership" belongs to if it comes to that.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My understanding is the orig. owner has vast knowledge of the car and is going to post here. Car is currently owned by someone that has not been contacted and does not want to be contacted. There has supposedly been legal ownership of this car for as long as anyone can remember. </div></div>

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

This site (and more importantly its members) continues to <span style="font-size: 20pt"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">AMAZE</span></span></span> me with its ability to pull the most obscure facts together to trace the origins of these Supercars. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think the courts will determine whom &quot;legal ownership&quot; belongs to if it comes to that.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My understanding is the orig. owner has vast knowledge of the car and is going to post here. Car is currently owned by someone that has not been contacted and does not want to be contacted. There has supposedly been legal ownership of this car for as long as anyone can remember. </div></div> </div></div>

I agree and the current owner is willing to get law enforcement involved if it ever becomes more than it currently is.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mockingbird812</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This site (and more importantly its members) continues to <span style="font-size: 20pt"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">AMAZE</span></span></span> me with its ability to pull the most obscure facts together to trace the origins of these Supercars. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img] </div></div>

Amen to that, Sam!!

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think the courts will determine whom &quot;legal ownership&quot; belongs to if it comes to that.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My understanding is the orig. owner has vast knowledge of the car and is going to post here. Car is currently owned by someone that has not been contacted and does not want to be contacted. There has supposedly been legal ownership of this car for as long as anyone can remember. </div></div> </div></div>

I agree and the current owner is willing to get law enforcement involved if it ever becomes more that it currently is. </div></div>

I don't think it will ever come to that. Honestly, back then these cars were worth nothing with the gas crisis, and the car could have been abandoned or stored somewhere and the title transfered via mechanics lien for storage fees. You need to start at the very beginning and some people are no longer with us to find out the whole story. Also if it was never reported stolen 35 plus years ago its an uphill battle.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tom999q</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hmm, When I contacted the original owner they sure were not forthcoming with information, didn't care to know new information about the car, were not friendly, and also never returned my follow-up correspondence... </div></div>

Wow, the person I'd contacted above must be about a different butternut Chevelle... I wonder how many of those were made, maybe I can dig up another one out of obscurity.. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Yea This is Clarence I was the original owner and this old butternut car has and will always be in the family ,,just different brothers taking care of it from time to time..

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CJASON</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Yea This is Clarence I was the original owner and this old butternut car has and will always be in the family ,,just different brothers taking care of it from time to time.. </div></div>

Huh? Are you talking about the same butternut Chevelle as CWorkman?? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I think hes talking figuratively. Not actually.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tom999q</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CJASON</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Yea This is Clarence I was the original owner and this old butternut car has and will always be in the family ,,just different brothers taking care of it from time to time.. </div></div>

Huh? Are you talking about the same butternut Chevelle as CWorkman?? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img] </div></div>
Yes Clarence is the original owner of this car. I thought this was made clear in previous posts.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Here are a few pictures you might like the Muncie time slip was the fastest it ever ran with the original tires ,no headers,, that was &quot;pure stock&quot; . As you can see I guess you could say I traded it for a jeep,, I am sure some of you can identify the 25th infantry tags on the jeep https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...075-img001.jpg

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

This is evolving into a great thread with great pics.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

charley,, man I dug deep for those!! later Clarence

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CJASON</div><div class="ubbcode-body">charley,, man I dug deep for those!! later Clarence </div></div>

Clarence you haven't changed much. Thanks for sharing the photos and memories with us.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Thanks Clarence. Putting this kind of stuff together is what makes this site.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

And thanks Cworkman2 also for making the history of a Yenko Chevelle more complete. I don't think you will get your Dads old car back but you have at least found out it is still around and restored.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Wow, now that's history. Thank you Clarence and cWorkman for a great thread. 105+ trap speed - that car was strong!

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

I am very appreciative and thankful for everyone who has come forth and shared their stories and information. I believe there is a very clear picture of the cars history now from it's purchase by Clarence all the way up to the point of my fathers passing in 1975. The pictures are proof that the car had/has a profound effect on each person it has come in contact with. I do believe my interest in the history of the car is valid from 1975 on and plan on pursuing it to its fruition. I have scarce information about it in Colorado Springs in 1984, but that gives me a decent time frame to work with. 10 years of history is easier to sort through rather than almost 40.
Once again I want to thank everyone on here for their support and comments, and as always I am willing to talk to anyone who wishes to message me or call.
Thank you.
Chris Workman
989-600-6881

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Cars with this kind of provenance never fully go &quot;lost&quot;. Thanks to Clarence and Chris for sharing these awesome photos.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

In Sept 1984 the car was purchased by Leroy Funk and Titled by him in Sept 1988. Here is a link to his burial plot and Obit.
His obit reads like he was a pretty good car guy.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...;GRid=34636487

My understanding is all Colorado DMV records are still there but you have to hire someone or go to the courthouse to look at the files.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

And then the car mysteriously disappeared after his death... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/blush.gif[/img]

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Thank you, Charlie. Its another piece in the history puzzle; but once again leaves a gap from 1975 to 1984. I am contacting friends of mine in Fort Collins and seeing if they will help me with this search at the DMV.
Thank you.
Chris

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Where was the car physically located when your Dad passed. What actual letters from your Mom, paperwork etc. You can privately send it to me if you want. We have contacts that might be able to help. Do you have a title ? Have you contacted Colorado police ?

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Charley-- I want to thank you for your offer to help me regarding the history of the car, but please forgive my apprehensiveness if I seem a little standoffish. From your previous posts you stated that you may know the current owner and alluded to him involving law enforcement if the need arises. That being said I feel it would complicate any foundation I have established by giving you my records regarding the correspondence between my mother and the Army summary court officer regarding the car. I will state that, at the time of my fathers death, the car was located at his residence at 2113 Frontier Dr. Security, Co. As you can find in this thread, the last registration for the car from 1975-76.
I am not trying offend or scoff at your genuine offer at help, but as a car collector yourself, you must understand that I have to keep my hood closed for now.
Once again, thank you for all your posts and I welcome any thoughts or comments you may have.
On a side note,
For those who have PM'ed and called with support and questions. Thank you, and thank you to the others who have posted pictures and helped me uncover the history of this car.
Regards,
Chris Workman

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

That's OK. The current owner really was trying to help but now I'm getting the feeling that you are wanting to get the car back and not just seeking closure. The current owner has no problem with giving the car up if you can produce valid ownership etc. Right now all you are doing casting a cloud over his ownership of the car. He bought the car from a licensed and bonded dealer so he either has recourse against the dealer or at some point he will probably have to legally contact you to either substantiate your ownership or stop pursuing it.

Somehow Leroy Funk got a valid title to the car in 1984. Someone probably had valid title in order to sell it to him. If your Mom would have reported it stolen you would have no problem. It apparently wasn't worth reporting stolen when it was worth maybe 2K max but now it is more like 200K.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

The owner of the car now and 4 (or more) previous owners had a title signed over by the previous owners. The only potential rub I see is the person titled after your father. Again we've seen no documentation or correspondence that you have alluded to justify your claim that it was stolen. Initially in the thread you stated lost and now it morphed to a stolen or claim to legal ownership. In fact your accusation could taint the car, without any facts. Contacting the present owner who has nothing to do with the transaction (which took place 35 years ago) is not where to start. Many scenarios could have taken place but without evidence you seem to claim it was taken/stolen from your mother, without it ever reported as such. To me that seems strange. I understand your concern but I can understand why the present owners hood is closed as well.

This thread has been fascinating, and although this has been a known car and in magazine since the 80's there has been a lot new info and pictures. I really appreciate you and others for sharing it with all of us.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Coming back to this subject...You should want the law enforcement involved if you want to really get to the bottom of this. The current owner was offering to get law enforcement involved. The records should be in Colorado but it will involve the expense of sending or hiring someone to pull the records.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Do you know if your Dad owned it outright or was he making payments on it ? Could it have gone back to the lender ?

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Someone could have easily forged a signature on a title had they had access to it after your fathers death. Interesting read with great pics and thanks to all for sharing this cars awesome history:).

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

From Chris's previous posts it appears there was attempts by his mother to have the car returned to Michigan. I'm not a military guy, nor do I know how possessions on a military base work, but what Tom said about possessions going to next of kin makes for a compelling argument that this car belongs to Chris and his family.

Again, I'm no military expert but the photo Chris posted of the residential housing to me looks like it's on a base. If this car was infact taken form the base than wouldn't military law eclipse law-law?

Just asking questions here as I have no skin in the game.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Where had Chris noted that he thought it was stolen? Let's not put words into someones post. I had noted that it was stolen, though I'm just a casual observer making an assessment on the information posted so far.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: paceme</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Initially in the thread you stated lost and now it morphed to a stolen </div></div>

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

Sorry for the delay, I am currently at work and access to the internet is sporadic at best.
I would like to address your earlier response about casting a cloud over this car. I wholeheartedly believe the current owner bought the car with absolute faith and assurances that it was genuinely titled and sold. I am not debating it I'm sure his path of car purchase went from Leroy Funk, to a gentlemen in Kentucky, then to Pa, and so on. I have been able to track the car since 1984 pretty accurately from help from people on this site and others who have contacted me privately. There is the time previous to Mr.Funks ownership that I wish explore and clarify.
I'm sorry if you or the current owner thinks I'm being subversive, but if you review my previous post concerning this car you will find that I have not initiated any legal proceedings nor have I painted anyone in a negative light. Matter of fact I have admonished everyone who has posted and aided the search for the truth regarding this car. Your comment about &quot; it apparently wasn't worth being reported stolen when it was worth maybe 2K max but now is more like 200k&quot; is posturing and negative in regards to my character and was unwarranted.
Another thing I would like to point out is that if information was present that poster &quot;paceme&quot; put out there then I have to ponder why it wasn't brought up earlier in this search to alleviate any discrepancies. I don't see the need to be baited into giving up information when I have to wait til some armchair drama comes out before we get down to brass tacks.
Lastly, I have posted my information on here so people can contact me directly. I have said in the past that I have not tried to &quot;lower anyones net worth&quot; by saying or even implying the car was acquired by illegal means currently.
But seriously can you blame me for not wanting to give out personal information concerning my fathers death before I can do my own personal research?
To answer your question Charley, the car was free and clear from the bank in Oxford, Mi. I was in contact with them this past week regarding any liens or trusts.
Please inform the current owner that I am not posturing myself in anyway regarding this car, I have never mentioned involving law enforcement, nor have I claimed myself rightful owner of this car. Once again, I will reference my contact information if he/she wishes to contact me privately.
Christopher Workman
5703 w.school road
Mt.Pleasant, Mi 48858
989-600-6881
I didnt accept your/their help because of the thought that your an enemy, I passed because this is my journey and I will find out one way or another what happened. I believe your offer for help was genuine and honorable, but understand it also was prefaced in a very postured way...it put me on guard and I think I have a right to feeling that way...and so does the current owner.
I truly wish this was just another run of the mill 69 chevelle that was abandoned in a field. It would make this alot easier to deal with cause the likelyhood of it being lost forever would of been high...but it's not...so finding it is easier...but now people are drawing conclusions without knowing the story from front to end...just the parts that make their part right. If the current owner was able to buy the car now then what position does that put me in to fight them in a legal battle. If you want to talk to me, really find out the person I am, then contact me or private message me. I am hoping that some of the people I've talked to in the past will acknowledge that I am not some scrub looking to make a buck on this.
Regards,
Chris Workman

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

You came here asking for help. Me and the owner offered to help. You passed because it is your journey. My statements are guarded because we are still not clear what your motives are. You wish it was a run of the mill Chevelle that was lost forever ? That wouldn't be any closure. You would just be wondering forever. I can assure you the owner is not concerned with losing the car. He was willing to help research the early years in order to find out and put this to bed one way or the other. There are probably a few here that will vouch for my word. At this point I think the owner will probably spend his own money to find out what happened but it looks like it will be done without your involvement. He is a private person and prefers to keep it that way.
P.S. The person in Ky is not a gentleman.
You also state you have not initiated any legal proceedings yet in earlier posts you stated you tried to apply for duplicate title and you once tried to report it stolen. Those look legal to me.
No hard feelings.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
You also state you have not initiated any legal proceedings yet in earlier posts you stated you tried to apply for duplicate title and you once tried to report it stolen. Those look legal to me.
No hard feelings. </div></div>

A 9 year old kid picking up the phone and calling or pretending to call law enforcement is reporting it stolen? Come on Charley, you're better than that.

Re: Fathers Lost Yenko Chevelle #358034 Butternut
 

No hard feelings at all Charley, I would like to point out I was 9 when I tried to file a police report with the description of a yellow chevelle....I applied for a lost title long before doing any research on a whim...where I was informed it wasnt in michigan and lastly youve had some dealings with the person from kentucky in the past, I have only references to ownership during the period after 88. And it would of been easier to have closure finding the car as a rustbucket in a field rather than this tit for tat stuff. My last post was unclear about that.
I hope that the cars owner is able to find the same information regarding the car up to 84 as I am looking for...I bare them no ill will nor do I bare you or anyone on this site and disrespect.