Blog

“I don’t know how you folks keep finding them like this!” That’s an exact quote from a well-meaning non-car person trying to compliment us on one of our cars we’d spent a bundle on and sweat blood over for years. The ’64 Chevelle SS in the pictures that we all call Midnight was anything but “simply a lucky find.” Three people, Richard, Brad, and Chris were primarily responsible, but their families had to tolerate their devotion to it, and in many cases get in and help significantly.

Richard was the original owner and had ordered it new. He’s also the poor guy who had to wait six weeks after the car was built before he could take delivery. It was still sitting at the Assembly Plant (Baltimore) while a new-car delivery driver strike was being resolved.

“Beautifully proportioned to the classic Ford look” is how the ads of the day described the 1961 Galaxie. Apparently they were right on the mark as the new styling received a design award for “Functional expression of beauty” from the Centro Per L’Alta Italiana.

Taking a step back from the radical look of their 1960 model, Ford’s stylists abandoned the scalloped grille and hood for a concave grille mounting four horizontal headlamps for the 1961 Galaxie line. 1960’s slab shaped sides gave way to a more rounded look in 1961 and Fords trademark large round tail lights returned. Fins made their final appearance on the new Fords and their proportions further complemented the car’s classic lines.

1963 was a good year. Warren and I both graduated from high school in central Illinois. Beautiful cars with big engines were the epitome of having it made. Unfortunately, continuing education took priority for us so owning one of those wild machines would have to wait.

Now that we have our own businesses in Florida, we can afford to fulfill the desires of owning these beautiful cars. Over the years we have owned, restored and sold many beautiful classic cars. Warren wants to collect and keep his favorite cars from the year of our high school graduation.

1969 Camaro SS. We always cherish special times in our lives forever. If we ever get the chance to relive those times it is, like the commercial says, priceless. Such is the case with this old warrior, an exactly restored drag racing Camaro from 1969 and the guys who had built and raced it

Without ever touching a city street, this 1969 Camaro went straight from Berger Chevrolet in Grand Rapids, Michigan into drag racer Dick Arons’ shop in Detroit. There it was transformed into a dedicated NHRA Super Stock/E class drag racing car and run successfully for the 1969 NHRA season throughout the USA and Canada. By December 1969, with its year in the limelight over, this Camaro went into private ownership.

uel pump: installation of mechanical fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator

Tools: standard socket set, adjustable wrench, flat-blade screwdriver, Allen wrench set

Cost: approximately $200-$350

Tinware: fuel pump and mounting gasket (supplied with pump), fuel pressure regulator and gauge, 3/8” fuel hose and clamps, NPT pipe fittings

Tip: When re-routing new lines, closely measure all of your lengths beforehand to avoid last minute miscalculations.

Performance gains: superior fuel flow over stock pumps (approx. 80-130 gallons per hour), and pressure adjustability to ensure the right mix

Coating your surface rusted floor pans with POR-15 is a great idea. First step is to scrape away all the old surface rust with a wire brush. After the dust/rust particles have been vacuumed up, thoroughly clean the surface with POR-15’s Cleaner/Degreaser. Next comes the Metal Prep (also from POR-15), then you’re ready to apply the Rust Preventative Coating.