Thank you for the compliments guys. I have always admired your work Brian and am just glad you don't make a habbit of doing Chevelles as I do not need that much competition.
I must say the convertible deal was bitter sweet. Many of you don't know it but thanks to Don Lightfoot who located and turned the convertible onto me from the original owner, I was supposed to be the new owner of this car. The original owner and I had a gentlemen's agreement on the purchase but he refused to take a down payment from me stating "what good is a handshake if I cannot be a man of my word".
Needless to say the weekend before I was to fly out to purchase the car he sold it to someone who showed up at his door (a broker). Due to no malice on their part they got a very good deal. One of the potential buyers then contacted me without knowing the connection in hopes that he could fly me up to authenticate the car before he signed the dotted line. I saved him some money as I already knew the car was real. He then hired me to do the restoration which started out as a very difficult project due to the connection but soon turned into a labor of love. I owe much of the car's end result as well as Dennis Lang's Shadow Grey car, Chad's Cortez Silver car and Kent Mathison's LeMans Blue 69 Z-28 to my painter Tom Scholtz. He is one of the best I have ever seen and have used him for over 20 years. Though not cheap by any stretch, he paints them exactly as I want them without me having to babysit him and was instrumental in working with me to develop the trunk painting process. I found the trick and he refined it with about 90 hours of experimentation though not by the time the convertibles trunk was painted. Dennis's truck did have the refined process down and it turned out great. Because of his expertise in painting these cars, he is now getting two new restorations. Don't ask me for his contact information as I need him available to me full time!
Mark, rest assured that not only will the car be there but I will as well. I would love to meet Mr. P. and be a part of the unveiling and reunion. Mr. P. has been wonderful so far in the cars research and history and I am sure will be elated to see the car once again.