1. Saving the Best for Last
Name: Vernon F. Hupp Year/Make/Model: 1966 Pontiac GTO How Long Have You Had Your Car? 4 1/2 years. Why Did You Choose This Car? I have done eight cars over the years. Never got them the way I wanted, or done. Now in my upper 50s, I wanted to finish one last car, my dream car, and take it all the way and further! Where is Your Favorite Place to Show off Your Classic Car? It will show at its first show at Goodguys this summer in Des Moines. I was in November's issue of Goodguys Get In Your Garage. Any Recent or Upcoming Classic Car Restoration Projects You'd Like to Share? This is my last car. Hate to say it, but I'm getting old. LOL Anything Else to Tell Us About Your Car? I am doing a ground up build on a 66 GTO. I’m at 3 ¾ of a year, into my 5yr plan. It’s starting to come together fast. It sat in a field for over 20 years. With the windows shot out. My boss bought it and started, but he got screwed by the builder and took it back. It was blown apart and many parts were missing when I decided to go for it. I have done six or seven cars in my life. The last one was ten years ago. I told myself never again. Then I saw this pile of metal. I have a soft spot for GTOs. I had to save it. As you can see, it’s not stock any more. It is all new metal from top to bottom. The paint job is a ruby red tri-coat. It is coming together nicely. Last week I took it to Karl Kustoms in Des Moines, IA. They are going to do the break line, drive shaft, exhaust with cutouts, chassis adjustments, tune up, and new rims and tires. It will be driveable when it comes back to me. Minus the dash and interior. With luck you can see it at Goodguys in Des Moines next year. It is my dream car, come to life. I have replaced every part, nuts and bolts on this 66. If anyone needs to know about any part nut or bolt, or where to find them, for a 66 GTO, “I’m your guy!”
Could You Tell Us About Your Legendary Experience?
I got the walnut dash insert from Legendary. It was real wood. After I stained it, it fit great and made my dash stand out! I have not started the interior yet. But I have been making my wish list out of the Legendary catalog.
Related Article: The Best Classic Muscle Cars to Restore
2. Catching the Muscle Car Fever
Name: Mark A. Jones Year/Make/Model: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS How Long Have You Had Your Car? I found my Chevelle in Vero Beach, Florida in December 2017 after visiting Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum in Sevierville, Tennessee. I caught the fever after seeing so many beautiful muscle cars there. Why Did You Choose This Car? I owned a 1969 Chevelle SS L78 396 4 speed convertible in the mid 70s. I spent two years restoring the frame off completely. I let my buddy drive it on a date with less than 500 miles on it. He unfortunately got it into a wreck and totaled the car. Where is Your Favorite Place to Show off Your Classic Car? I enjoy taking my car to local shows or coffee houses to meet people with the same interests. I get a lot of thumbs up when I drive out on the road on some weekends. Any Recent or Upcoming Classic Car Restoration Projects You'd Like to Share? My Chevelle had a complete frame-off restoration eight years ago. Over the last three years that I have owned it, I’ve completed a total restore again, a little at a time as funds allow. I enjoy the car looking new. I replaced the vinyl top and front bucket seats with Legendary components. Anything Else to Tell Us About Your Car? My Chevelle Super Sport was assembled at the GM Oshawa Canada plant on January 9th, 1970. It was sold at Capitol Motors in Hartford, Connecticut. It is 1 of 3306 Super Sports built at Oshawa. I acquired the GM Heritage build packet to authenticate my SS. I am the 3rd owner. The 1970 cars were the last of the high horsepower and torque cars built at the end of the muscle car age. There is nothing like driving a big block with torque like these have. They are a joy to drive. Could You Tell Us About Your Legendary Experience? I have purchased many trim items and complete front bucket seat kits, and had a vinyl top replaced with Legendary components. By far, these are the best quality parts to use on a full restoration.
3. A Long History with the ’72 Monte Carlo
Name: Joe Tedesco Year/Make/Model: 1972 Monte Carlo Custom How Long Have You Had Your Car? Two years Why Did You Choose This Car? A 72 Monte was my very first car. I got another 72 Monte Carlo Custom while in the USAF, sold it. Found an almost identical one about two years ago. Where is Your Favorite Place to Show off Your Classic Car? Just cruise nights. Plan to go to Carlisle this June for the Chevy Nationals. Any Recent or Upcoming Classic Car Restoration Projects You'd Like to Share? I did a frame off resto at my own place on this 72. I had you guys do the entire interior, which included the 'rally' type front bucket seats. Anything Else to Tell Us About Your Car? It's a number matching car, but I put a LS6 454 in it (it was actually in the older 72 Custom, new crate motor from GM in the late 80's). I added a GM Perf parts 4L85E transmission, Holley Terminator EFI with transmission control as well. The car is a heavily optioned vehicle, with the original window sticker. I worked hard to maintain a stock appearance, but still have some of the modern features. Everything is hidden, with nothing that couldn't be un-done to put back to full stock to maintain value. Could You Tell Us About Your Legendary Experience? I had you guys do everything. Front and rear seats, front and rear door panels, package tray, sail panels, sound deadener jute packages, sun visors, and more. It was a pretty long list. Chris Robbins took care of the bulk of the order. I live near Niagara Falls, so I was able to drop off and pick up the items in person. No problems at all, delivered when expected. I've since recommended Legendary when other people have requested interior vendor recommendations.
Related Content: The Top 5 Interior Restoration Projects for Your Classic Car in 2021
--- Feeling inspired to start your next classic car restoration project? Legendary Auto Interiors is here to help! Contact us today!