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Chevelle barn find story

By: ROBERT 05/08/2024

I found this 71 Chevelle in a barn where it had been parked for 15 plus years. The owner had the car since the 80s and was building a nice street car. But someone was stealing parts off the car as he was building it. So he parked it in the barn and couldn’t bring himself to start to work on it again. It sat for 15 plus years when I stumbled upon it. At that time I had a 1969 Mercury Cougar that had been in my family since the early 90s. My dad and brother bought the car in Arizona. My dad passed in 2010. I bought the car from my brother 3 years ago and began to restore it. I had to replace the roof skin, vinyl top and the entire interior, I freshened up the motor and replaced the trans. Installed all new suspension and brakes. I rebuilt or replaced almost everything. I also bought an entire parts car just for the grille assembly. The last bit was a paint job. I finally found a shop dear me willing to paint the entire car. They had it for a couple of months and the day the paint was to arrive,( I had to buy the paint online to match the original color) the shop called and told me their building was on fire. My car was a total loss. Then I learned the shop did not have insurance. The fire investigation determined the cause of the fire as undetermined. So it went to my attorney to go after the shop owner. We sent a demand for payment letter. To which the shop called me and offered to buy another 69 cougar and paint it then bring it to me. I said NO. But, I did find a 71 Chevelle they could buy and bring to me. He agreed and my attorney sent the contract. A could weeks later, we set out to meet the gentleman with the Chevelle but the body shop owner did not show up. So I bought the Chevelle. My wife was not happy. But I am. I may have lost the car my dad and brother had all those years but I now have a car I have wanted since I was in high school.

The Chevelle has its own story I will share another time. Thanks for reading and happy hot rodding!!

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