Super Rare '61 Biscayne #s 409/4-sp Fleetmaster
 

Allegedly known by our own Verne Frantz...sure looks like a very cool car. If it was in fact ordered this way, as claimed by the seller, wow....

Link to 1961 Biscayne 409/4-sp auction

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W:drool:W!

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Thread on the car over at the 348-409 site.


http://www.348-409.com/forum/threads...his-car.43291/

Beautiful car. Love to see the engine pics.

They are saying the owner “Butch” found the original block but it’s not what’s in the car...so does it come with the sale or what exactly do they mean?

He found the original engine but the owner wanted $10,000. I dont think he bought the original engine.

If it was me and I had the original motor I would sell it for what I paid for it. I just feel it is unprofessional to hold stuff hostage.

I've got that BS going on with a POP.

Which is why Dave and I stepped up twice (reluctantly but willingly) to buy the original POP for one car and all documents for another.

Good luck

Dan

Relisted for $201,000...man, that's real money.

Link to 1961 409 Fleetmaster auction

Relisted in the link below for $199,000.

Link to 1961 409 Fleetmaster auction

Never owned one like this but looked at it in detail. Few things

1. Original engine should be with it.
2. In my opinion the pop is "Fake"
3. Value 115-125k (if the real McCoy)

He's lookin' for in the neighborhood of $200K and won't spend $10K for the original block? :shocked:

Oops, never mind, didn't know the original block was unusable and not VIN stamped.

Growing up, my Dad had a 61 2 door fleetmaster Byscayne too. Never realized only 138 2 doors were made and we had one. Straight 6 and rusted away by the early 70's

The original block was so broken and rusty it was beyond repair.
The block in it now is one of the last cast in the third batch and is a true 623 '61 block. Oddly enough, it has a VIN on it (which wasn't done in '61 production). The VIN belongs to an Atlanta '62 Chevy!



I interrogated the engine thoroughly through Butch after he bought it from Lamar Waldon.



The unique parts of a '61 409 are entirely interchangeable with the parts of later 409s, and vice-versa.


Verne

138 was the production of V8 Fleetmasters. Another 497 were built with 6cyl engines.


Verne

As restored
Attachment 158110


Verne

I’ve seen the car in person & love the way it was restored with its patched inner fenders and dash pinstriping preserved because it represents the car’s history, character, and individuality. As far as the block goes, it gets a pass from me because this car was a racecar it’s whole life and the OEM block was sacrificed to the horsepower gods to build the 409 legend that still endures today. If I were building a GM musclecar collection, it would be bookended with this car in the beginning and a 1974 SD455 Pontiac at the opposite end.

Ol' Fleetmaster is back on the block, with new pics:

Link to 1961 Fleetmaster 409 auction