I can't speak for the car but I can speak for the lore surronding the owner,
"Kenny Wright" who stunk & didn't bathe according to a local restorer.
The local restorer was chasing after the hoarding nutcase to shake out three rusted projects that had been sitting out in the front yard for 40yds. In fact, as the story goes, the restorer cuts a deal with Kenny all agreed, & before the restorer could return with the cash, Kenny had taken a note to the restorer's local shop fence, "Sorry changed my mind". So no cars ever for the restorer but the case for this guy Kenny having a number of intersting big block cars (that he bought on time, new from the local Jim Quinliin Chevrolet in Clearwater, FL) is strong. Eventually Kenny up & died & the girlfriend sold off the cars, maybe 5 years ago. A buyer up in the Brooksville, FL area secures a few of the really good ones. The black JL8/L-89 car was one of them. I've seen the car final fininshed for Mecum at the SAME restorer's shop who missed out on the three cars out in the front yard years ago (two were a butternut camaro 68 L-35 car & a 1970 big block camaro)I've also seen copies of the orginal Jim Quinlinn docs (in the resto shop with the car) & they all show matching Kenny Wright signature's that are impressive, regardless. The dealer invoice in particular is impressive in authenticy & looks legit. Interestingly enough I ran across the location of a small block Z street legend, by chance, snooping around & asking questions. So I located his house & the not running 1968 Camaro tunnel rammed rocket was still in the garage. I once vistied the car/owner 32 years ago & what a bizarre step back in time this was....... I saw the car in its' then prime when the then feared 35 YO owner was crisp & ready to throw it down on the street. I eventually questioned him about Kenny Wright (after talking at length about his car & parts) & he said, "Yep I knew Kenny, he had all big block camaros over there; I was the small block king, but we never raced".
So the restorer accounts for the original owner & his front yard cars, not knowing off what was out back. There were more cars out back & the buyer of the black JL8/L-89 car was reported as hopping the back fence to get a look under the hood of the non running/tarped car super car. After lifting the ajar hood & seeing the AL heads,the buyer quickly closed the hood, hopped back over the fence, rushed back out front to close the deal before the others showed up with their money/offers. It was that hot a local car topic at eventual go time. People had been hounding Kenny non-stop for years. He might have been been a stinking idiot who didn't take a bath & let his cars go, but, the guy had plenty of insight to order the cars he did (buying them on time),putting them up, knowing all along he really had something special.
Then the grilfriend went on took the money & run.......
And that's all I know
01-23-2014, 05:18 AM
Re: 1969 Camaro L89 with JL8 option at Kissimmee
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