Ron Miller

I'm gonna disagree with a few folks here, but if I were looking for a driver, I would go for a non-original engine, or replace a matching numbers engine with a non-original block before driving it much. I purposely don't drive my matching numbers car nearly as much as the non-original engine car specifically because ot the originality issue. And, if it gets bumped or cracked, that also hurts the value.

I also would look at anything from '63 to 67 and buy the best in this year range (body, interior, chrome, etc.) that I could afford. As far as side pipes, power steering, air conditioning, knock-offs, etc., etc., they can all be added later as you wish, although at a cost.

Lastly, I enjoy driving my Powerglide car more so than the 4-speed, quite a change from my early years. But, it's a matter mostly of convenience, most of my driving is around town, short tripping, etc. And, I've got the 4-speed if I ever want to rip and romp. Your choice, best wishes . . . .


[Modified by Ron Miller, 10:07 PM 6/30/2004]

Kid_Again

"it pains me to agree with my firend the Kid" :shocked:


MARTHA!!! MY NITROGLYCERINE - QUICK!!!!!!!

savewave

That reminds me of something somebody told me when I was searching for my mid-year. The guy told me if I wanted to find a mid-year that hadn't been "dogged out," to find a small-block coupe with powerglide.

All the cars I looked at were verts and all but one was 4-speed. The guy with the '64 auto vert told me the car had the rare LT-1 motor in it (it didn't) and I never ran across any small block auto coupes when I was looking, but pass it along FWIW.

Ron Miller

I'm sure there's some truth here, certainly was true witth a lot of the other Chevys (& Fords, Mopars) back in the 50's & 60's.

67's

Being that you are in Colorado try to meet up with Lars and the rest of the C.C.C. I am sure they would help you find a car, and take it apart and rebuild it better.


Tom

guycummins

Ok I'll put my 2 cents in. I have an auto nuthn, "all" original 350hp 65 vert. I was hard to learn to drive but it's not hard to drive. Nothing beats the feeling of the HPs when the secondaries kick in. I drive it , commute in it. The cruiser sounds like a great idea, but the muscle car + sports car feeling all wrapped up together is hard to beat.



[Modified by guycummins, 9:59 PM 6/30/2004]

msm

Here's another opinion: I waited for years to get a mid-year I could afford but I knew I wanted a BB vert. I found one a little over the top of your price range unrestored but in excellent condition, a '66. It satisfied my need for the motor and my urge to do non-stop tinkering. This car could be a trailer queen or sold for big bucks if restored, but it's too much fun to drive and I know one of my kids will appreciate it someday.

Plowboy

You should be able to come up with a pretty nice car, in your price range, here in the Denver area. There's a 65 red SB vert in todays (7-3) paper. The 494 phone prefix would put it in the Boulder area.
Two years back I spent the summer looking and eventually found the car I wanted. It's a BB 66 coupe, nonmatching, but a nice solid driver and has not incurred any major problems/expense to maintain. I learned a lot along the way and was glad that I took my time.
Shoot me an E-mail, if you want, and I can give you a few pointers on doing a local (Denver) search, based on what I did.
PB