My L78 Christmas!

[sYc]

Bill, right after I sold the car, you saw the car listed in Hemmings and called me to see if I still had it.

I had forgot about the shifter and steering wheel, and yes, the interior was mint.

This was the first car I saw that still had the original paint markings on the firewall.

[Chevy454]

Bill: small world! We had a trio of '69 Cortez Silver L78 cars right thru there...Camaro, Chevelle, and Nova, and that Camaro would run off and hide from the other 2...whatever you did, worked! One of THE best sounding cars I've ever heard, from race cars to street cars...that thing rocked! It was mint when we had it, and IIRC all we did was keep the darn thing clean. We sold it back to the guy we bought it from, who had it sold before we delivered it...we talked to the guy we bought/sold it from, and he said he wasn't happy with the owner he sold it to, as he was a younger guy, and he was simply using the car to hot rod and horse around in and wasn't even remotely taking care of it...

I would like to see your pictures, Bill...either posted, or mailed, or...? I bet Chris would too...

[bruno17]

Congratulations Chris....that is a super xmas gift! I got my L78 xmas shopping all done in Nov...........I was afraid that the orig.paint L78 store would run out of inventory.

.......and Merry Xmas Rob C and hillbilly crew! you guys are a blast.......lookin forward to Martin!

[Xplantdad]

How cool is this thread? Way cool!

[L34Pace]

I might have done a no no I have a 68 L78 with original paint. It had no laquer cracking but it looked "foggy" and the lower quarters behind the rear wheels had some waves and bends as it looked as if it might have run over its own axel at one time. I straightend the lower quarters and used a matching laquer pack to blend the paint. I lightly sanded and buffed the entire body and then....I put a light coat of clear over it! Did I screw up a nice original paint car?

[Tenney]

[ QUOTE ]
Tom and Rob,,,

------Look at the names on the poster and you will see Bill Stephenson listed as the owner. I bought it from the brother when I was working at Classic Motors in Hinsdale. Been wondering if and when this car would ever turn up on the site and here it is. All the best cars show up here eventually!!!
------The car had an 800 double-pumper on it when I bought it and couldnt get out of its own way. The original carb was in the trunk in parts and we put the original back on the car and it screamed from that day forward. 800 must have been set up way wrong.
------I was never going to sell it but used to use it to borrow money against to buy and sell other cars. The guy I used to borrow from sold the car out from underneath me and I never saw the car again. I was livid and have never talked to the jerk to this day. Car was from just into Indiana from Chicago.
------What a great arrangement of options,,,Huh??? Interior was newer than new. I seem to remember an over the counter Hurst shifter, and the car had Cragers on it when I bought it but I changed to SS wheels. Also put the Comfort-grip Black wheel on it.
------You have brought up so many good memories. I really loved that beast and never should have risked it in the manner I did or I might still have it. I have a bunch of pics of that car but no scanner. Would love for you guys to see all of them........Bill S


------Chris,,,If the car is in anywhere near the condition it was when I bought it you have one heck of a car. Congratulations!!!!! If I can answer any questions just give me a holler.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pretty sure I saw that car in the garage at Classic Motors winter '77-8. Maybe 7K on the clock at the time?

Also, the Nova sports same paint scheme/wheels redlines as a low-miler on auction at O'Hare Expo center same time frame (summer, though).

[hvychev]

I am amazed with this thread. Is there NOT a cool car out there that Bill S did not dig up from his Hinsdale days????

Bill just a rough estimate, how many cars passed through that place? Oh, and PLEASE post some old pics!

[mchriscad]

I am sure the car is in the same condition as when you had it. It does have vintage tires and SS rims on it now. I will take some pics when the weather breaks here.

[mchriscad]

See if these pics stir up some more memories!

[Chevy454]

Bill: do you remember which brand headers the Camaro had on it?

Chris: do you know the ownership history from John B. in Leesburg up to yourself? Did the previous owner keep the headers??