geberhard
12-07-2011, 03:20 PM
1968 Firebird convertible... Lola :D
So after selling my last Firebirds (below):
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMG_2911-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/10/blackmagicwomanloweredshaved-1.jpg
and coming to a realization that I have project ADD, I am set on a new couple of projects, his and her style. Let's start with some background :) She statrted as project F..nbird, but things started getting out of control
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/12/IMG_1162-1.jpg
So, time to step to the plate and start documenting my project. First I want to thank for all the information and bad influence (you know who you are) here.
To start with, I have MAJOR project ADD, so bear with me as I have about 5 projects on the line, but main focus ow is on the vert.
Some background... I have always been very passionate about muscle cars, specially first gens, 65 to early 70's definitely make my heart melt, but my main love is for first gen Firebirds. Something about them just struck me from the first time I saw one, and just could not shake it off. Little did I know it would end up as an addiction, or more like a disease but moving on to the 68 vert Lola....
I have been working on my 67 400 for a while, and as it is a pretty much all original numbers matching type car, was really hard to resist the temptation to modify it further than some 18's and low profile tires (yes drum brakes still all around). As much as I love that car, I itched for something more and just did not have the heart to start chopping this puppy...
On I started searching for another bird (the so called “project for the wife”...hmm yep right...but hse puts up with it – thanks hon :D) I bought and sold a few birds while learning more and moving towards what I wanted and ultimately started focusing like a mad man on a vert 68. I almost bought some rust piles on the process, even considered chopping a coupe, ugh! and glad I did wait some more.
Bear with me kinda long but interesting story:
On comes the devil (craigslist), and I find a vert that looks mostly unmolested, female owner (pretty much original owner), but a long drive away. I tried contacting her a few times, some emails exchanged then suddenly thee ad was gone, ugh..... But then wait, the ad came back up, but no contact info, no e-mails, no flowers, etc. I remembered then the city that the car was in on the original ad, and remembered calling the number posted (now out of service bar:cheers: )... yep looked legit right? :fingersx:
I called the local chamber, and looked for the contact of the owner of the bar and got her name, then information, and called her at home! She was like who is this?? I changed my mind about selling the car (was her first car bought at 17), but I asked if she would sell for the original full price (high!), and she suddenly started interviewing me over the phone for about 30 minutes to consider if I would treat the car well, and I finally talked with her about me coming over (5 hour drive) with car to look at the car on the same freaking night....
Long drive, got to the car...not running, sitting in the garage for several years, cats starting to move in literally, but at this point I was committed, buying a car at night, load of cash on hand, trailer, etc. loaded the car and grin from ear to ear as I drove back home :) She was a nice lady (semi-cougar), and told me she bought the car when she saw it from the first time at 17, working form a Foster's freeze. The car was a few years old when she bought it but she has had it ever since with plans to keep for her kids who ended up not showing any interest on the car. She did several things to the car, 6 banger was rebuilt a few times until a Chevy 307 was popped in (upgrade?), interior redone, etc. All in all a chick's car that had not been abused (well no idea about the back seat ugh!)
The car was pretty solid and that is what mattered since I had some wicked plans on the back of my head...
To make it easy to call specially around kids, I am starting to call her Lola Shasta! It is a good stripper name (I am hoping I am not offending anyone's moms!), and goes with the vibe on the car, red interior, plus had some good LOL's with a buddy (John Paul) so when thinking of a name so LOLA seems fitting. My wife called the 67 400 Trixie :) More background on the bird, the previous owner was a semi cougar saber-cat kinda thing still in purring mode, former bar owner in Lake Shasta, and bought the bird as her first car when she was 17 in 1969, working at a Foster's freeze . Yep, yep, I have heard all jokes form my buddies how those seats must have gotten a lot of action, etc, so the red interior is in progress of being severely cleaned and replaced.
I started stripping (stripper...see a theme here) and the car and had a cool surprise this week hidden in the car :) Very nicely packed tube and plastic which is a time capsule of sorts (see attached pic), BTW centerfold was Nancy Harwood :) Very cool to find original docs, even how to use the convert top, maint booklet and original manual, and a cool mag to go with it. I was like WTF, and after touching base with John Paul yesterday I got the chance to actually... hmmm errrr peruse the articles, and very cool to see there was some muscle car coverage and a big shot of a Firebird 400 and comparison between the cars at the top. $3200 for a bird... yep, sign me up!!! BTW already contacted Nany, and she looks as hot as ever, so mandatory guys trip when I hear back from her :P She heads a Playboy thing in So Cal for ex playmates :D yes, i have already contacted her, told her I am not a stalker... but asked if I could come bring the car down for an autograph when she is done :)
So after selling my last Firebirds (below):
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/IMG_2911-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/10/blackmagicwomanloweredshaved-1.jpg
and coming to a realization that I have project ADD, I am set on a new couple of projects, his and her style. Let's start with some background :) She statrted as project F..nbird, but things started getting out of control
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/12/IMG_1162-1.jpg
So, time to step to the plate and start documenting my project. First I want to thank for all the information and bad influence (you know who you are) here.
To start with, I have MAJOR project ADD, so bear with me as I have about 5 projects on the line, but main focus ow is on the vert.
Some background... I have always been very passionate about muscle cars, specially first gens, 65 to early 70's definitely make my heart melt, but my main love is for first gen Firebirds. Something about them just struck me from the first time I saw one, and just could not shake it off. Little did I know it would end up as an addiction, or more like a disease but moving on to the 68 vert Lola....
I have been working on my 67 400 for a while, and as it is a pretty much all original numbers matching type car, was really hard to resist the temptation to modify it further than some 18's and low profile tires (yes drum brakes still all around). As much as I love that car, I itched for something more and just did not have the heart to start chopping this puppy...
On I started searching for another bird (the so called “project for the wife”...hmm yep right...but hse puts up with it – thanks hon :D) I bought and sold a few birds while learning more and moving towards what I wanted and ultimately started focusing like a mad man on a vert 68. I almost bought some rust piles on the process, even considered chopping a coupe, ugh! and glad I did wait some more.
Bear with me kinda long but interesting story:
On comes the devil (craigslist), and I find a vert that looks mostly unmolested, female owner (pretty much original owner), but a long drive away. I tried contacting her a few times, some emails exchanged then suddenly thee ad was gone, ugh..... But then wait, the ad came back up, but no contact info, no e-mails, no flowers, etc. I remembered then the city that the car was in on the original ad, and remembered calling the number posted (now out of service bar:cheers: )... yep looked legit right? :fingersx:
I called the local chamber, and looked for the contact of the owner of the bar and got her name, then information, and called her at home! She was like who is this?? I changed my mind about selling the car (was her first car bought at 17), but I asked if she would sell for the original full price (high!), and she suddenly started interviewing me over the phone for about 30 minutes to consider if I would treat the car well, and I finally talked with her about me coming over (5 hour drive) with car to look at the car on the same freaking night....
Long drive, got to the car...not running, sitting in the garage for several years, cats starting to move in literally, but at this point I was committed, buying a car at night, load of cash on hand, trailer, etc. loaded the car and grin from ear to ear as I drove back home :) She was a nice lady (semi-cougar), and told me she bought the car when she saw it from the first time at 17, working form a Foster's freeze. The car was a few years old when she bought it but she has had it ever since with plans to keep for her kids who ended up not showing any interest on the car. She did several things to the car, 6 banger was rebuilt a few times until a Chevy 307 was popped in (upgrade?), interior redone, etc. All in all a chick's car that had not been abused (well no idea about the back seat ugh!)
The car was pretty solid and that is what mattered since I had some wicked plans on the back of my head...
To make it easy to call specially around kids, I am starting to call her Lola Shasta! It is a good stripper name (I am hoping I am not offending anyone's moms!), and goes with the vibe on the car, red interior, plus had some good LOL's with a buddy (John Paul) so when thinking of a name so LOLA seems fitting. My wife called the 67 400 Trixie :) More background on the bird, the previous owner was a semi cougar saber-cat kinda thing still in purring mode, former bar owner in Lake Shasta, and bought the bird as her first car when she was 17 in 1969, working at a Foster's freeze . Yep, yep, I have heard all jokes form my buddies how those seats must have gotten a lot of action, etc, so the red interior is in progress of being severely cleaned and replaced.
I started stripping (stripper...see a theme here) and the car and had a cool surprise this week hidden in the car :) Very nicely packed tube and plastic which is a time capsule of sorts (see attached pic), BTW centerfold was Nancy Harwood :) Very cool to find original docs, even how to use the convert top, maint booklet and original manual, and a cool mag to go with it. I was like WTF, and after touching base with John Paul yesterday I got the chance to actually... hmmm errrr peruse the articles, and very cool to see there was some muscle car coverage and a big shot of a Firebird 400 and comparison between the cars at the top. $3200 for a bird... yep, sign me up!!! BTW already contacted Nany, and she looks as hot as ever, so mandatory guys trip when I hear back from her :P She heads a Playboy thing in So Cal for ex playmates :D yes, i have already contacted her, told her I am not a stalker... but asked if I could come bring the car down for an autograph when she is done :)