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I'm a sucker for an orphan, especially a neglected one that needs to be brought back from the dead. Timing was perfect as I've just finished that Dark Blue '78 we brought home 6 months ago for my buddy, and now I'll have an open spot in the garage. So I picked up this '73, 350 (L-48) 4 speed this weekend up in Santa Barbara. Price was right, original California car and it's very complete and has just 50,000 original miles on the clock. It is very apart right now. Same old story, was taken apart years ago for a restoration and stalled, but at least it was bagged and tagged pretty well. Body is very straight with no previous damage, frame and cage are super clean. It's a bit of a "nard" option-wise, no A/C, no tilt/tele, no power windows, no power steering, no power brakes. In fact, the only options it has are AM/FM Radio and Rear Window Defroster (oddly it has a brand new radiator already installed). But I've always had a soft spot for '73's and this one is Elkhart Green with the Saddle interior, which I really like. Everything came with the car except the engine. Apparently went to a machine shop years ago and nobody knows what happened to it. Fortunately forum member Jim (70s Vette Guy) helped me out again with that. He doesn't live too far away and he had a complete, carb to oil pan L-82 out of a '74 with 13,000 documented miles, so I picked that up as well. Seeing as this so lightly optioned and it will no longer be a numbers car, I think I'm going to have a little fun with it. Change up a few things here and there to personalize it a bit and because it's a '73 I don't need to be concerned with smogging it here in California, which is another bonus!
I just hosed off the dust and cobwebs today, so now I'm going to sort a few things and drop it off at my paint shop on Monday. That will give me time to get the seats recovered, order new carpet, etc., clean, paint, restore all the pieces and parts and it should go together pretty quickly. Extra bonus: When I unwrapped the rear bumpers I found they were freshly re-plated.
There is always something special when you start a journey like this.....I love it. Too bad my Corvette experience this year has been so tainted with the problems I had with the freshly rebuilt 408 in my 77....it ruined all of it. By tomorrow evening....my 69 project is probably sold. Rather than the beginning of a great journey....for me, its the end of a dream.
Next Candidate For Greg's "Reanimation Program"
