Bill; I don't mean to be smart, but lets look at the phrase survivor.12 people on an island, 6left, 5left, 4left, 3,2,1.There all survivors. Parents die survived by children.36 made 8 left certainly a survivor. But lets go deeper. 16 L88 corvettes 3 with original engines, are the rest junk, no they just survived the life they were meant to live. 69 Zl-1's, How many have original engines, how many are cliped, how many rebuilt from the ashes, survivors you bet!! Its about numbers and percentages!!!!!. How many were made. How much restoration was done. A frame off O on originality maybe 100percent correct in part, finish, and application, 0 on the originallity scale.paint and body only make up a small percent of that original car. Its about the whole picture!!!I have a 500 mile 66 nova l-79 hardtop ( see attachment ) original paint , interior, undercarriage. It was taken to Jenkins compition day one and made a race car. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]The original hood had a grumpy lump installed, the motor has been scattered more times than most of these restored supercars have made a full throttle pass [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/
[/img]. The trans has been broken more times than the rear. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/
[/img] But the original block, trans case, and rear housung are intact. If you look closely you can see where it was lettered. A survivor You Bet Ya!!!!! . Now lets beat up the L-78 conv. how many L-78's are left much less convertibles. how many have some form of original hard to find dated parts. Maybe you haven't tried to buy an 837 alternator recently, much less a 772 fan or 4346 carb. However these are the original items placed on this car on the assembly line as it was being built. I highly doubt you can state that about a lot of your know survivor cars. If that was true I wouldnt, get so damn much for those low mile take off smog setups, shifters , original paint valvecovers and so on. You don't know looking at a survivor just how much has been changed. I do know I have sold a lot of you guys original parts to correct you super low mile cars.Lets continue beating up the chevelle. The bottom of this car has not been touched, the trans hasn't been out , the rear gears are still as set up new. original paint on the brackets ,firewall and so on. the top frame still sports original paint and they age fast. Lets beat up other supposed low mile original cars. The 69 L78 gold conv that just sold at Barrett Jackson, the whole top of the car had been colored gold and cleared, the right rear quarter and door had been painted, the bottom painted black, The engine had been out and painted. the smog was missing and all that and more with only 19,000 original miles, seems to me it brought $90,000. The red original paint yenko deuce that was there out of Reggies collection, had paint work all over the front and was originally a bench car with the buckets touching the doors. Were they survivors yes they are. They are both great cars , but it comes down to percents. You have to look at the whole picture [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif[/img].you are entitled to your opinion as is everybody and thats what makes this whole world so much fun, just look at the other side of the coin from time to time [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]I hope i haven't offended any one I'm only tring to make a point. These cars were designed and engineered to have the living crap beat out of them and come back for more [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/
[/img]. If you think for one minute each and every one of that are left haven't , dream on. No one bought these cars to put them in there garage and stare at them , to live for the opertunity to wax them. Not, but to mash the accelerator and see what it do. I'll let in on a little secret , did ever wonder why young guys worked a car dealerships for no money. I enjoyed beating the living crap out of every neat looking car I saw at the Chevrolet dealer I worked at when I was a kid( mid 70"s). Just because you haven't beat it and you were the original owner, I will bet the pdi guy did it for you [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/
[/img]. Thanks Jim. Now let me jump down [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif[/img]