For the record.....the pictured Black '69 Chevelle above is not the Mel Perry restored '69 Chevelle, instead it is an example of what it would have looked like :D

Dan

After seaching this forum for the black parchment Scuncio Chevelle the owner of the car said it had a build sheet from Scuncio so it was not delivered to Norwood so it was not a dealer trade. I tend to believe the guy that drove the Chevelle at the track who has nothing to gain he was just sharing a memory from actually being there back in the day but there is no way to know if it was Helmuts car. plus the owner of the burnished brown car knew the original owner of Helmuts car.

This photo of Norwood Motors looks to be from 1965.

Mario Andretti in a Tasca Mustang and Frank Maratta the owner of CT dragway racing.

Great pics!! Was that 68 Rallye Green?

It looks like Tripoli Turquoise and it looks like the window sticker is still on the car.

More from Norwood.

Helmut wanted me to post this picture. I know there is not much to go on but can anyone make out the decals in the window or anything else. Looks like a mid 70's Caddy in the background.

The decal on the right looks like the early Winston racing decals. Can't make out the other one.

Could this be the other one?

You guys have keen eyes to recognize those... but I think you might be right. They sure look similar.

For those that are on facebook or other sites that have vintage race photo's and come across a photo of a black 69 Chevelle with Connecticut plate number KN82 that's Helmuts car.

Looking at this photo... actually, staring intently at this photo... I can't help but wonder if this could be a photo of my Chevelle back in the day?
Yes, there were a lot of 1969 Chevelle's out there, but here are my observations (and wishful thinking):

Tuxedo Black 1969 Chevelle - check
Super Sport - check
No Vinyl Top - check
No D96 Side Stripe - check
Manual Driver's Mirror - check
Front Antenna & AM radio - check
Appears to have a Black Bench Seat interior - check
I can't tell if this Chevelle had Front Guards, but my Chevelle did not.
Those look like Ansen Sprint wheels to me, as described by Howard the original owner - check
This Chevelle has Ladder Bars, as described by the original owner - check
Is that a Fly Eye Air Cleaner under the hood? Original L88 apparently had 3 BBL Carb - check?
I can almost see the bulge under the car from the Stahl Headers and chambered exhaust? Like I said, I've been squinting a lot!

The only difference I see, is that this Chevelle does not have wheel opening moldings... but any 1969 Chevelle SS would have had those. Evidently they were removed from this car.

Any other observations?

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps8w17gata.jpg

Have I been looking through rose coloured glasses?

Helmut,

Good chance that is you former Chevelle.....but there also may have been one like this at every race event.....across the country on the weekends.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

Keep digging Helmut :D

Dan

Helmut did your car change hands in the mid 80's out of CT? I have a clip of a black 69 L78 Chevelle out of the local want adds from that time frame.

The car was in Westford MA in 1984 and was said to be in Littleton MA before that. Do you recall a Ron's speed shop in RI?

The Chevelle was traded in to Scuncio in 1971, but I have no history on what happened to it afterwards. I have traced the Chevelle back to 1982 through previous owners, but the owner in 1982 (in Littleton, MA) had bought the Chevelle off a used car lot so he didn't know the previous owner. I haven't been able to fill in the gap from 1971 to 1982.

Can you post that clip you have?

Relative to the picture, I would not think that is the same type of badging of a 427 under the SS is the same as that restored black example presented.

I don't know whether my Chevelle wore 427 badges after it left Norwood Motors?
Yes, it had factory disc brakes.

Pic
 

The only speed shops that I knew of at that time where East Coast speed on Elmwood ave I think and Ciscos in Central Falls where I grew up. Here is the pic Helmut.

I would think for $6400, there would be some 427 badging showing. Odds are the original owner would remember that?

This Chevelle sounds like Helmut's car as described by the original owner.

Helmut,

Dial and call that number :D

Dan

The phone number is no longer in service.

I've bombarded him with a lot of questions, including that same question... but he simply hasn't answered all my questions yet.

I located a vintage set of Ansen Sprint wheels and Mickey Thompson's. After I got them on the car I sent these photos to Howard, the original owner. His immediate reply was:
"That's it. The wheels are perfect. That's the look Mel and I wanted. The wheels were the key!!!"

Followed by: "Helmut, Your doing it right. When I started it, it sounded like it was going to roll over in the road. With the L88,headers, and chambered exhaust all together the monster was alive."

I've lined up an original low mileage L88 427 with aluminum heads (from a member here) along with a set of Stahl headers. I can't wait to bring this "monster" back to life.

The rear sits far too low for the minimal clearance. I'm looking for a pair of Monroe Hi-Jackers so that I can drive the car, if anyone has a set they're not using...

SAAHMOKIN' Helmut!!! Great look! Love where you are going with this. "Hi-Jackers" were made by Gabriel. New ones are very, very close to originals but are painted black. I used new ones for my Deuce a few years back and they looked and worked real nice.

Keep us posted!

The wheels look fantastic on the Chevelle..




Sorry didn't see this previously. If it were Turquoise then it would have had black stripes. Although it could have been a special paint car too.. :beers:

Looks awesome Helmut. That car would look right at home with Gabriels or a pair of Hurst's on the back. You could always repaint a set in white and add the Hurst repro decal kit to them for that vintage Hurst Gabriel look?
Hoping to see you out with it this summer. Maybe old town Okotoks on August 13th.

Love how this thread has come together for you and the connection with Howard. :)

are there any sound bites of this car? I can only imagine how nasty a L-88 must sound through a chambered exhaust!!

Thanks for all the feedback and ideas guys! The motor won't go in the car until this winter if all goes well. You can bet I'll post a sound bite.

DAY-2 is taking over!!! In a good way!!

Ryan

Helmut how about a close up photo of the rear license plate.

Gladly! I had the the original plates reproduced based on the plate number from the original title...

And.... Thanks to my good friend Tony (scuncio) I found and managed to score this pretty cool plate frame that truly belongs on this car

Awesome! That was a killer plate frame, looks great on your car.

I posted this photo on a CT dragway facebook page and I was contacted by Peter Regas who knew the history about Helmuts car just from seeing the licence plate. The original owner Howard Neff was dating Peters sister when the Chevelle was bought new from Norwood Motors. Peter said the Chevelle came from Norwood with an L88 engine a four speed and Ansen slotted mags and sat up high, he recalled other details like NMW traction bars Holley three barrel carb big tube headers and the chambered exhaust that could be heard a block away. Peter recalled the car running an 11.05 the first time at the track and how badly he wished the Chevelle was his.

Somehow a car can get better than being a documented L89?

Unreal!!

Ryan

I keep thinking that too Ryan... That Chevelle was absolutely awesome before learning about the dealer installed L88 history.

Thank you Ed, for your continued legwork and success in finding another person that can attest to the fact that this Chevelle was converted to an L88 by Mel Perry at the dealership before being delivered to Howard.

Speaking of documentation, how is the best way of documenting the conversion now that multiple people recall it having an L88 right from the dealership?

Look what I found... or what kinda found me. A set of Gabriel Hi-Jackers that a fella bought for his 1969 GTO Judge, but never installed. Brand new! The missing paint was apparently stuck to the instructions... giving them just the right patina.

Here's hoping these will make my car sit just right.