6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Hi all,

My name is Brian and I've actually posted on this website before about this very same car, but it was years ago.

Well, even as I type this we are in the process of finishing a mild refreshing of my Dad's Nickey 1968 427 Chevy Biscayne. It has the 425hp L72 motor in it and has only 6700 original miles. I've put a few *very* hasty pics up on Photobucket, '68 427 Nickey Biscayne on Photobucket

I have 2 questions. First, I remember when my Dad first bought this car 21 years ago that the headers were painted white. Does anyone know if that was the original color that Nickey painted their headers? If not, what color were they?

Second question is this...we have a repro build sheet that we would like to write up somehow. Does anyone know what the codes would be on this car?? I can provide all the specifics on the Biscayne if someone can help with this, but basically it is a factory L72/4-speed car with AM radio and that's it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif

After years of searching we finally got ahold of the original owner's father who has now provided us with a signed and notarized statement that yes, his son is the one who bought this car from Nickey brand new. It is a matching #'s car, but according to the original owner's father his son lost the original engine in a street race! Can't imagine what he could have lost to, must have missed a shift or something. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif So he got a factory replacement engine with the matching numbers.

Anyhow, we are getting the car finished in time to bring it to the Chevy Vettefest in Chicago Nov 22-23rd. We are planning to get it certified as a real Nickey there, should be very cool. Also, my dad won a Gold Spinner award exactly 20 years ago with this car at the Chevy-Vettefest at McCormick Place, it'd sure be nice to win another one!

So anyways, sorry for the novel...but if anyone can help with any of the info I've asked for that would be fantastic.
Thanks all!

-Brian

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Stefano your help is needed.

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Looks and sounds like a neat car Brian, we look forward to meeting you and seeing the car next month. Whereabouts are you in Minnesota? I just moved from there and was just curious.

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

I love big cars with no frills. Looking forward to seeing it next month. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

I live in St. Louis Park MN, about 2 miles west of downtown Minneapolis. Sorry though, I probably should have put my location as Gold Hill, NC which is where my parent's and our shop is, as well as the Biscayne.

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif I just ruined my keyboard. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Ok, heh seems I've screwed up already. Was just discussing this site with my Dad and I need to correct 2 things.

1) The Biscayne has a heater, too. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif
2) It's not a factory replacement engine, it's the ORIGINAL MATCHING #'s engine. I forgot the last part of the story...

After he lost the engine, the car was stored for 15 years or so. It was then finally sold, changed hands a few/handful of times and somewhere in there the original engine was re-united with the car!

I don't have the title or the paper work in front of me right now so I/we can provide exact details later, I just wanted to get on the site to see if anyone had any info about Nickey header color and factory Biscayne codes from '68.

Ok that's it for now, yeah I'm very much looking forward to having this car at a show, it'll be the first time in at least 5 years that the car has seen the light of day.

-Brian

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Brian,
I lived only 20 minutes from you in Lakeville.

Depending on how old you are you may or may not remember all the 427 Biscaynes, Bel Airs and Impalas hanging out on Brooklyn Blvd in the 70's, me being one of them before switching to a 427 Chevelle. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Brian,
Awesome looking 68! I have a few binders full of build sheets and window stickers for big Chevys. Let me know exactly what type of info you are looking for regarding codes. I'd be happy to help you out. I also have a few questions myself about this car.
Steve

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Wow! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
Brian,
I lived only 20 minutes from you in Lakeville.

Depending on how old you are you may or may not remember all the 427 Biscaynes, Bel Airs and Impalas hanging out on Brooklyn Blvd in the 70's, me being one of them before switching to a 427 Chevelle. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

YOu must have been driving that 427 chevelle to get from lakeville to st. louis park in 20 minutes https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif I just ruined my keyboard. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You really need to get that problem under control!

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Brian, the numbers-matching deal makes MUCH more sense now that you've verified it's the original engine. Couldn't be more https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
Brian,
I lived only 20 minutes from you in Lakeville.

Depending on how old you are you may or may not remember all the 427 Biscaynes, Bel Airs and Impalas hanging out on Brooklyn Blvd in the 70's, me being one of them before switching to a 427 Chevelle. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Dang, sorry I missed all that...but I *just* turned 34, man. I'm just a kid! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif Wish I'd seen that though...

-Brian

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif I just ruined my keyboard. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

HAHAHAHAH! Holy cow man, I almost fell out of my chair I laughed so hard when I read that...nice.

-Brian

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
Brian,
Awesome looking 68! I have a few binders full of build sheets and window stickers for big Chevys. Let me know exactly what type of info you are looking for regarding codes. I'd be happy to help you out. I also have a few questions myself about this car.
Steve

[/ QUOTE ]

Steve,

Well basically I need a code for whatever would have been on the build sheet, i.e. everything. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif

Here's the options that the car has:

AM radio
Heater
4-speed
Factory Posi-Traction (decal under trunk lid re: posi)
Color (Black/Black/vinyl int/bench seat)
Tires code (don't know what wheels/tires it would have had)
F41 suspension (Dad is pretty sure that's what it has, and F41 is the code right?)

The car didn't have the orig trans in it when Dad bought it, it had a Borg-Warner T-10. We now have a probably-correct M20 that is going in which we had built and is stamped with the VIN of the car. We're assuming an M20 just based on the numbers produced. From an article on SuperChevy.com:

"[for '68] Big car four-speed transmissions totaled 6,596 wide-ratio [M20 right?] and 1,052 close-ratio. [M21 right?] The heavy-duty M22 four-speed transmission numbered 124."

Let me know what questions you have about the car, Steve, and thanks a ton in advance!

-Brian

P.S. Engine going back in this afternoon!

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

pm sent

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Welcome Brian,

Was that you with your family, at the Mecum Auction in Indy? We spoke about your car, as well as the Vette Fest.

It sure seems to be a very cool car you have.

Your Father had mentioned that he was going to send us copies of the supporting docs he had, to show that the car had been sold new out of Nickey Chevrolet.

I don't know that we will ever be able to Certify your Car as a "Nickey" Conversion, as the car was built by GM.

There are generally 5 broad classes of Muscle Cars/Race cars sold out of Nickey Chevrolet or Nickey Chicago.

1) First are RPO Muscle cars and Corvettes.
Example; We have Three ZO6 Corvette, Big Tank, Big Brake cars in the Registry; One is the 'Nickey Nouse' Race Car, another is the built for AJ Foyt Race car and the final one is a customer sold car.

This last car is classified as a Nickey Sold Car and is included in the registry as such. This is where I believe your car may be included.


2) Next we have Nickey Super Tuned Cars. These are cars which generally kept their stock engines, but had other Nickey Hi-Performance Modifications performed when New.

3) Then there are cars, which were transformed/Converted into "Super Cars" when New. These Conversions are the cars which became "Nickeys".

4) Also there are a host of Nickey owned and built dedicated race cars and we classify them as "Nickey Race cars".

5) Finally, we have Nickey Shop Conversions, which are cars also purchased from other dealers and/or brought into Nickey for engine swaps, after they had been sold/ driven and/or raced.

I do have to mention that I am not a fan of "Fake" paperwork such as the build sheet you plan to reproduce. Even if it is used for display pouposes only. I can't tell you how many such documents I look at every year which misslead or confused some one!

Take the real documents you have, along with the affidavit and display those along with a breif history and the Hobby will be much better off in the long Run.

I hope this helps. I look forward to seeing the Car at the Vette Fest, See you at there https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

here is the factory GM Photographic press release photo for the 2-dr Biscayne ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...r/68bis2dr.jpg

and the BelAir:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26...er/68ba2dr.jpg

send me a SASE and I will send you the photo

email off line: [email protected]

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Wow! Love It!

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...r/IMG_0697.jpg

Dan.

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Are those custom built Ladder Bars?

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...r/IMG_0702.jpg

Dan.

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

Awesome https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/drool.gif

Re: 6700 mile L72 Nickey '68 Biscayne questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
Are those custom built Ladder Bars?

(pic deleted for space, see above)

Dan.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, not at all. Nickey put those on!

Ok I've only got a min and I gotta run, but here's what we know about the car...and I'm thinking I should print up "The Biscayne Story" or something to show with the car.

The year after my Dad bought it we took it to McCormick place for the Chevy Vettefest in '88. 2 different guys recognized the car, one worked at Nickey and said "Yep, that's how we put the ladder bars on" and the other guy said "wow this looks like my friend's old car". Then we showed him the title and he saw his friend's name on it. "It *is* my friend's old car! But where's the Nickey sticker on the trunk lid?" Car had been repainted since then...and anyways that is the first my Dad heard that it was a Nickey car!

Anyhow, I will write up the whole story of everything we know to bring to the show.

-Brian

P.S. Stefano, I've been trying to get my Dad to call you. Could you use whatever docs we have in electronic form? I could scan and email...? thanks...