"Mystery" Chevelle LS-6 in NEW Muscle Car Review???

[redeuce]

You are correct citing the popularity of the day 2. And kudos to all for recognizing the importance of these cars in the hobby. Don't forget that many restos that were done in the late 80's and early 90's were limited in availability of nos and oem parts. There was no Ebay and most catalogues were limited. A perfect example-Mopars have realized the biggest jump in value over the last five years- 12,000 B Bodies are now 20,000 and E Bodies are through the roof.
The primary reason for this is the 3 inch thick Year One catalogue, Legendary Interiors, and Just Dashes. Also, the typical buying public is now looking for a turn key car in the 15,000 to 20,000 bracket. Unfortunately, that rules out a concourse correct car in most cases. As an interesting side note, after examining the receipts, we discovered the Orange LS6 in the mid 70's had a hang on AC unit put on by the owner. We almost hung one back on just because that was how the original owner had the car set up.

[hvychev]

I to think "day two" cars are going to be the thing. It makes your car a lot more fun to drive and sets it apart from the rest I recently added to my stock appearing Chevelle SS LS5 454 a set of Crager SS's, sun super tach, Richmond 3.73 gear, Headman headers, and vintage speed part decals to the side windows. I probably drive my car harder and a lot more that 90% of most muscle car owners considering I still have the original drive train in my car. Before I would never dream of doing this to thiss type of car. 8,000 miles since 3/01! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Rat_Pack]

Dave, you and I both share the same outlook on the "day two" cars. I was wondering how that was doing at the Mopar Nationals. Sounds like it was a great idea and one that our Camaro club has been kicking around for a while. We had about 5 or 6 cars show up last year that were done exactly that way and we ended up splitting the 67-9 modified class into two categories. Those cars could not compete against a "fully" modified car with aftermarket suspension, brakes, 18" billet wheels, etc. Tim Lopata showed up with a bone stock base 69 Camaro with Cragar S/S wheels and Goodyear Polyglas tires!..................RatPack.................

What does everyone else think about a Nostalgia Class?..............

[whitetop]

Rat Pack

I've talked with 4-5 guys over the last year who are building cars for the Mopar Nats Nostalgia class. Aluminum slots are in big demand, early '70's Direct Connection stuff, finned valve covers, early Edelbrock/Weiand intakes, Sun gauges etc. I plan on going there this year to check it out.
The trend within Day Two that I have been noticing lately is the use of more correct parts. In the past guys would be happy with a chrome Autogage tach on the steering column and call it the nostalgic look or non correct Lakewood bars from the Jegs/Summit catalog. Now they are looking for the early style "long tail" Lakewood bars, M/T B/B Valve covers with the 427 script etc. When people are calling they are asking for very specific parts.

For you people not sure what parts to use check out the old mags or catalogs. Here is Dave's shortlist of what NOT to
use on your Day Two mobile:
1. Fuzzy dice, Halibrand wheels, polished torq thrust, anything Moon (including decals, tachs, valve covers etc Moon was a '50's very early '60's deal and was negated to a "has been" company status by the late '60's), Chrome VDO or Autogage tach on the steering column, Sun Super Tach II, Suntune or Sun Pro gauges, dice valve stems, Clay Smith woodpecker decals, any year NHRA event repo participant decals, weenie size tires on the rear, mismatch of modern day and oldstyle parts, radial tires... espcialy when they say Toyo, Michelin etc on them, anything blue anodized, modern day Grant steering wheels that try to look like the old style Grant wheels but with the "modern touch", lowered cars...grow some balls and put the cars back up where they should be.. a little higher than stock, front and rear is even better yet (Mark Hassett's '69 Chevelle has the right stance), any chrome dress-up item from the latest GM performance parts catalog -especially if it has a chevy bow tie emblem on it.

Ratpack, do you have any more to add??
Dave

I think if more national clubs and shows accepted the "day 2" car,there would probably be an even greater interest. I sometimes wonder with the increased interest in our hobby, and subsequently the increased cost of it why more people don't look to "day 2" cars as a good alternative. It makes me wonder sometimes about the rational about buying dated parts off the internet or shows, and paying outrageous prices then finding out that they are re-stamps anyway.

[69rsss350]

I feel the need to express an opinion here...
Original is only original once, right? If a car has the original motor, tranny, rear end but all new fenders, floor pans, trunk pan, interior, quarters, paint, etc. Is it original? If a car has all the original body parts but a NOM motor is it less valuable? If a person has a heart transplant isn't he the same person? My feeling is that if you have a REAL car it should matter less as to whether all the parts are original but more that it reflects that nostalgia that we bought them for in the first place. I know I was a senior in high school when my car was built and that means more to me than whether it has the original engine or not. I spend hours with this car that I don't even consider spending with my late model Suburban. I sell used cars for a living and bought a brand new 98 C-5 Corvette that was a truly awesome car and sold it six months later for a small profit cause it was a depreciating asset. The endless pursuit of originality is really a fruitless effort cause it still won't be "original". I believe that sometimes we as the enthusiasts create some of the things we complain about. For example... replaced VINS and cowl tags, bogus or reproduced documentation, restamped components, people selling cars as "numbers matching" when they truly aren't, etc. To me a "real" classic car that is restored to bring back the age to those of us that appreciate them is a blessing and should be considered as such. I have no problem with and agree that the best representations of these cars should bring a premium and also realize that the almighty dollar is what drives the fakes and cheats. Bottom line is, I guess, that I, personally, don't care whether that "Mystery Chevelle" has its original smog equipment or heat shields over the spark plugs or whatever, it is an awesome piece of classic machinery that ain't gonna be reproduced! Same way I feel about my Camaro and all you other guys cars. I wish as a prerequisite of registration evryone had to post pictures of their cars. I would love to see them!!!!!! Thanks for letting me vent.

[redeuce]

Great post 69. That's why there is popularity in all categories- unrestored original, restored original, modified, custom, pro street, and race car. A butt for every seat. Now if the judged shows would adopt a standard class breakdown, it would prevent a lot of disgruntled car owners. My car is a street driven, 785 hp, blown, fully tubbed,rollcage, etc. and sometimes is competing in a "Modified 1900-1960" class that throws in everything that is not stock. A basically stock car with just a transplant engine and chrome wheels, a custom car, race car, and pro street all compete against each other.

[69rsss350]

I agree that there needs to be some kind of consistency in the judged car shows and i think Super Chevy is one of the best of doing that, however even they will put you in street class if you have the wrong valve covers. Seems ridiculous for a basically stock car to have to compete with a truly custom car cause it has bright valve covers doesn't it? Or for your car to compete against street rods?

[T Billigen]

I also think Super Chevy does a pretty good job at judging, they have certain guide lines that they must follow or there would be chaos when putting cars in classes, when they say stock they mean it, if you have the wrong wheels or even an aftermarket tach you will be in a modified class. There has been much discussion on here about the Yenko cars being put in street class, I don't totally agree with there reasoning, but they do have a point on what and what did not come from the factory. It still boils down to "attention to detail" I have competed in the street class with a Yenko Chevelle and still won first place, so a lot of fancy chrome and wild paint jobs don't always win!

[Jeff H]

That's the way I'm having my 69 JL8 restored, with the crossram, Stahl road race headers, radio delete, heater delete, Minilites, Transistor Ignition, fiberglass GM crossram hood. Basically the way you could equip a car in 69 to go raod racing. That's what the JL8 option was all about. I just wish it didn't cost so much to do this project!