hey Steve I love those pictures. I bet it was even more exciting buying them back the second time as it was the first. Good deal! Sammy
Purchasing the orange car back is one of my highlights in this crazy hobby I been passionate about for 35 years. This is the car that started it all for me. I still remember the ride home from Cherry Hill, NJ when I brought it home. Getting stopped immediately in my home town of Newtown Square and given three tickets, for noise, no registration, and no inspection while 1/8 of a mile from Best Auto Tags to get registered. This was the first car I cut my teeth on and semi restored (disassembled car, had repainted, rebuilt engine, repainted engine compartment and trunk). I sold it to buy a home and because my wife was pregnant with our first son.
I wrote a story about reliving my youth, and detailing my love for camaros and this car in particular in our club magazine(I may have posted that on yenko.net) The black car has a lot of wow and I put a lot of blood sweat and tears into it, but the orange car means so much more. I will share two quick stories as to why….
Story one: I had just completed restoring the car I believe around late 1980 or 81. To do this I had to travel from Long Island, NY to PA on the weekends (I had a job transfer up to NY from PA). Anyway I just completed the car late on a Friday night. The next morning I started it up and parked it on the grass next to side driveway and garage to wash it down and detail it. My mother that morning was leaving to go shopping and backed down the driveway which has a few curves and drove onto the grass. Yep she hit my car before I even had a chance to drive it (had to replace drivers fender and grill). I didn't say a word to her and she just felt terrible and broke down. I guess I didn't show any emotion because years later she asked me why I wasn't angry.
Story two: As mentioned previously I pursued this car for years and never received a call back. There seemed to be opportunities as the owner went through two divorces, was incarcerated for three years, but even then never wanted to sell. When I would call and if I got a hold of him he would always say “how much is that old car worth now”. Well a day before my mother passed 10/14/09, Mark called me first time ever and said “I’m ready to sell that old car …you interested”. The next day my mother was gone…Being reunited with this car is no coincidence and for me driving this car is reliving my youth.
My for sale ad is in the second column.
