Hawthorne Chevrolet New Jersey

[PeteLeathersac]

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Great pics, the ‘68 looks even tougher knowing it’s a 4:56 4-Spd. L78 car!
You’re right, the options are exact to the Hawthorne Ads incl. Black VT so must be the car.
So great you saw the postings and made the connection also amazing how we’ve gone from the Red L78 Ad at the top of the page to knowing it exists and pics posted now.
Your ‘69 looks awesome too, was it a different dealer than Hawthorne delivered new?
Looking forward to anything your Dad remembers also more of both your cars.

~ Pete

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[68396L35]

I know, so happy I found this post. Ties everything together and nice to see a history of a rare car that so many are faking nowadays for a buck. Yeah, my 69 is done right with almost all original or nos parts. I have 1 full perfect build sheet and a partial. It was orignally from Benjamin Chevrolet in Brooklyn NY. My other friend remebers a Lemans blue L78 with no stripe in the street racing days from there as he lived there unit he moved to NJ in the early 90's He is about my dad's age, must have been such an exciting time to be around all this history of muscle before they became what they are now

[68396L35]

I spoke to my dad today and got some more info. He said he didn't know of any COPO's in the area but even other dealers had no clue what the L78 was. He bought his red 68 used from his future brother in law's neighbor in Sept. 1970. Because of the loud lifters he went to the local dealer (not Hawthorne) asked the mechanic if this car was a solid lifter motor and the Chevy mechanic had no clue, LOL He did mention his next door neighbor was dropping L88s' in 1966 Chevelles, so this area was prone to high perfomance chevys. All was in Paterson NJ, late 60s, early 70's before the city became what it is today.

[68396L35]

Here are a few he just sent me today. I will get more interior, engine, etc. At least this shows present day for you to see how it looks now.

[PeteLeathersac]

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WW pics, car looks awesome and kudos to your Dad for never letting it get away!
Thanks for quizzing him about the Hawthorne Delivered ‘69 Copo cars, I take it he never knew of the Black ‘68 L78 on Pg.#1 either? (Plate pic below from it)
Sounds like some performance action was happening in your area back in the day, still may be worth beating the bushes for anything of the missing Copo cars as you never know sometimes unless you try?
I gave a go searching Benjamin Chevrolet which was owned by two Benjamin brothers also a third brother owned Bay Chevrolet in Queens as Ad below, sorry but no luck w/ any Ads for your ‘69.

~ Pete

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[68396L35]

He didn't know of that car, he is going to check the build dates and see which car was built first. I love this history, thank you for that ad, its so cool to see the dealer history to each car.