Just spotted this thread today, all I can say is... WOW!! Nothing more fun and rewarding than bringing a survivor back to life. Love your attention to detail and your knowledge of what's correct. Well done is an understatement, what an absolutely amazing transformation! Enjoy those burger runs in style.

Grant

HaHa!! This wagon, as ugly as it was, has always been banished to the far end of the building, under a lift. More than once Jani has tried give it away "Just take that ugly thing and get it out of here!" But now she is totally into it, even helping me at times.
She grew up a SoCal CA surfer girl who likes old Ford woodies, so I believe the woodgrain swayed her.

Worthy of mention, in the past few months while I was doing the Concours I was also dividing my time in pushing along the restoration of my buddy Dave's '67 SS. It is now near completion, waiting to get the carb back from Eric and a couple details. Planning on a debut at "Chevelles in the Smokies", Pigeon Forge, in a couple weeks. Look for it at MCACN 2022.

I sold Dave this car in about 1987. It also is a CA high desert car, the floor pans are so clean that the original paint, oversprays, and factory undercoats were preserved. Total original panels of course. I restored the chassis in 2006, it's been a long road since then with a final push began about two years ago.

This L35/M20 Chevelle has a nice selection of options including factory 8 track player, tilt wheel, tach and gauges, and CA smog equipment. Sold new at DeAnza Chevrolet in Riverside.

It was, quite literally, saved from the junk yard! My old friend Gordon moved to CA forty years ago, working for Lockheed in Lancaster. He calls me one day, "Billy, we gotta save this Chevelle or it's going to the junk yard". IIRC I paid $450 for it.

Bill W

I might add, those black and yellow tags and frames are the originals to this Chevelle.

Nice job Bill!! Very nice car...

Beautiful car. Miss the days where you could find cars like this in the CA desert for $2000-4000. I paid $2500 for my ‘70 SS396 in 1997, and dragged it back from Lancaster, CA where it had spent its entire life. Still have the Rally Chevrolet license plate frames.

I like Chevelle wagons years ago I had a 69 Concours wagon that i fixed up to haul the kids and mom on vacation, kinda miss it too(horrible pic I know)

Just read this whole thread....great job Bill!

I love this “Wente Woody Wagon”!!!! Like many others have stated, you have knocked it out of the park Bill!! BRAVO

Amazing work Bill.

A ways back Chris (60sStuff) posted a couple Concours wagon magazine print ads. Here are two more from my wall.

Update... Chevelles in the Smokies 2022 is in the books. In addition to being awarded Best in Class, here is a very emotional Dave carrying the Best of Show trophy. That punch bowl is filled with 500 $1.00 coins.
Dave's lifelong dream has been to own a nice '67 SS396 in his favorite Marina Blue/Bright Blue color combo.

Bill W

well deserved best of show, car is very nice

What a beautiful car, I hope to see it someday.

I was fortunate enough to be able to see this car in person last month along with the rest of Bill's collection. What a neat car and in unbelievable condition. Amazing what a little elbow grease and cleaning supplies can do.

----I feel a whole lot like scheduling a trip to Waterloo!!!.....Bill S

Very cool!

You won't be disappointed!

Ha....and to think that car was headed to the scrap yard at one point! Congrats to both Dave and you, Bill :biggthumpup:

"Come On Down" Bill!! :beers:

Fantastic work on the wagon Bill!

The Concours made it's debut today at the 40th Annual 4th Street Cruise....more than 800 cars.

Looks like Jared Ritchie’s 71 Monte ss with the red interior next to your car. He sold it at auction and it just went up to Mecum where it didn’t sell.

----It appears that there were several of your bretheren long roofs there as well, Bill. Cool!....Bill S

Somehow I missed this entire thread until now! Bill sent me many of the pics by text, but seeing it all brought together with the narrative is a treat! Very nice work as always, Bill!

FANTASTIC BILL! Looks GREAT! Another Job VERY done for sure.

Bill

I really don't know anything about the MC other than it has really good black paint. He was busy being loud with his buddy who's wife kept leaning against my car :thumbsdown: and I was catching up with old friends.

Looks like you went with the TTs for your 1st outing :D

That’s the new owner. He bought the car at a small auction for 55,000 a few months back and had it at me I’m and it bid to 65,000 but he didn’t take it.

Headed to the races!

Northern Ohio Chevelle Club Show. Here's the Concours with Jeff Helm's incredible L88 powered SS vintage drag car in tow.

That is a great pic!

I had a business meeting in Waterloo, IA, so I stopped by to see Bill and his incredible collection of cars.
Thanks again for your hospitality and for giving me a ride in this awesome wagon.
It runs as good as it looks.

The carpet pic is for Bill S. As I know how he appreciates original carpet and interiors.

Thanks again Bill W.

P.S. I hope the pics load correctly. I have a short video clip of us driving and need to figure out how to upload it.

Awesome

----Thanks, Dave! Love this long roof. I'm just finishing up my new beater. Ya'll will see it at MCACN. I'll send Dave some pics (because I'm clueless) and you guys can see how I've been wasting the little bit of time I have left,,,,LOL!....Bill S

Yeah Bill, that pretty much sums up what I'm doing here too!!... :beers: - Bill W

Seeing how passionate both Bill's are about the hobby in their 70's really inspires me! Cars have been my main interest my whole life and I use to wonder if I'd be able to enjoy them once I retired but you two have proven that age is just a number and as long as we have our health anything is possible. Thank you both.

dykstra,

Thank you for sharing these cool photos of Bill’s ‘67 wagon, I envy you.

Mr. Wente,
Would that worn area in the Original paint on the RH side of the tailgate possibly be from a right handed person lifting to close that gate?

Also, are you able to keep the California Black & Yellow plates on the car after it’s registered in Iowa?
I had to install California (period correct B&Y) plates on my New Jersey ‘65 GTO to register it in my name.

Thanks, Chris.

Chris, that is a very plausible explanation for that paint wear!

In Iowa we can do what's call Year of Manufacture (YOM) tags, meaning we can install original IA tags dated to the YOM of the car. Mount them to the car and have your current tags and registration inside the car. (I slide mine under the seat)
Years ago while at the court house transferring tags and title to a new purchase I asked "Does YOM apply to out of state tags original to this. car, but from the state it was sold new?" The clerk spent 15 or 20 minutes with her supervisor on the computer, and came back, "We don't find anything that says you can't, so it's ok"
I have never had a LEO question it, in fact we once took my L79 El Camino to lunch (original CA tags and dealer frames from Dahl Chevrolet in Oakland, repro 1967 sticker). FIVE State Troopers were there having lunch, I parked between two troopers cars, safe spot!
When they left, one of them bent over and scrutinized the front tag. Then went to the back and checked the rear tag closely. Then got in his car and left.
Must be ok!
Original tags stay where they belong!! :headbang: :beers:

Bill W

Bill,
I’m not sure I understand what you are referring to saying “tags”?

In California we also have the (YOM) system offered.

How it works on the ‘65 I purchased from NJ is I can not keep the Original NJ “plates” on the car any longer.
I now have to have period correct Black and Yellow California “plates” with the year of car (1965) “tag” in upper RH corner.

I was able to find the correct first letter for the ‘65 model year in the B/Y.

It seems you were able to keep the B/Y California plates on your wagon and not switch to Iowa plates.
Good for you as the Black & Yellow license plates look great on your car.