Since I had a 72 El Camino project car stolen from outside of St. Micheal, MN. The car was sitting in a storage facility for at least 10 years and the owner of the building finally began the legal process of getting a title for it and getting a sheriffs sale done as she couldnt get ahold of the owner all those years, all at her expense. Before she did this the car was pushed outside the entrance door. There was also a rusty 83 G body El Camino that was owned by the same people that brought it to her years prior.
Having stored my 66 there each winter, noticed the car when I brought a Suburban I had to store outside for the winter storage and put my 66 inside in the fall of 2002. I noticed the 72 parked outside the door and inquired her about it and never really payed much attention to the 83 which IIRC, was still sitting inside waiting to be moved. I got all the details about the auction and when it came up in March of 2003, I put in a bid for both cars and won. In May of 2003, I came to get the Burb and looked over the 72 since it wasnt berried in snow anymore. I wasnt able to make space for the 66 on this trip out so I only came to get the Burb. The 66 was still in storage there until that 1st week of June that year when I was able to make room for it and thats when I noticed the 72 was gone but the junker 83 was still there and was finally moved outside by this time as the snow had melted finally. I figured they moved the 72 inside to get it out of publics view but nope, apparently someone came and took it only a few nights proir. She had been asking me when I planned to move them and figured I came and got it one night. So said a few people had been asking about it since the auction concluded so who knows where it ended up. But to this day it still hurts and ticks me off.
I know this, it had to have been taken by a tow truck and at the time I was working a very poor paying job at the time and the money I spent was an entire years worth the savings I was able to conjure up, which wasnt that much but to this day it still hurts to think about it. I never even had a chance to get the title in my name for it and didnt even think to insure a project car until I had the title for it legally in my name so I ended up SOL. However, I still am the legal owner of a 72 El Camino. It was a bench seat nothing special H code 350 car but it did have a big block in it and an SS style hood as well as an SS grill but it wasnt an SS. Car had a 10 bolt year. Bench seat car, black with black vinyl top. Another thing that frusterates me is that this car could have been a drivable project I would have gotten running to enjoy all these years not have to be a spectator.
As for the junker 83 I ended up with. I got it running and was able to get the only the front brakes working on it just so it would move under its own power after sitting over 10 years, thing actually ran pretty dang good for a 3.8 V6 and didnt burn any oil either. I needed the space so it ended up being stored wherever I could find someone that had a place willing to help me out and store it, I had it stored at my mini storage garage I rent, it say at Mike Hayens one year, Jamies another, then ended up a Daves where I finally stripped what I could off it and it got junked. The only good thing about the car was the bed and all the window trim was nearly mint and the glass and interior was in very good shape but the body was rusted out. The tailgate is fixable. The engine runs good and the auto trans shifted pretty good, so I saved all that stuff and its still in storage, although I did sell the complete interior to a guy in Eau Clair, WI back around 2008 or so. My plan was to start listing all the other parts that are still worth something but when the economy crashed that took care of that idea for a while so I put them in permanent storage. Along with a ton of other G Body Malibu parts I have in storage as well but thats a subject for another time.
John D said
Jun 6, 2013
Chris, it's too bad you had to go through this but it's time to "cut it loose" - 10 years is too long to dwell upon something that there is no resolution to - the car is GONE.... chalk it up to a learning experience and move on my friend...
Get busy inventory-ing that G-body stuff, post some ads, sell it off, pocket the storage fees, and get your '66 back on the road!!
Enganeer said
Jun 6, 2013
And where is that black Honda?
If you need help with the 66 let us know, we're willing to help out. Cripes, I might have my 64 on the road before you.
Chris R said
Jun 6, 2013
John D wrote:
Chris, it's too bad you had to go through this but it's time to "cut it loose" - 10 years is too long to dwell upon something that there is no resolution to - the car is GONE.... chalk it up to a learning experience and move on my friend...
Get busy inventory-ing that G-body stuff, post some ads, sell it off, pocket the storage fees, and get your '66 back on the road!!
I hear you. It may appear that and I should probably should say I havent let it bother me for years now, but I do still miss that car a little though. I figured I would have at least heard something about what happened to it by now, but it did give me a new found hatred towards thieves though, but I suppose anyone can say that. Best thing I can do now is make sure my other cars are well insured and do the best I can to make sure it doesnt happen again with the stuff I do currently own.
John, Jamie was working in ND all winter and he got in touch with me last weekend. They completed the construction project out there and he working back here now. So I will be starting some work on the Honda this upcoming weekend.
Technically, I never took a single part off the 66 so actually, I could probably spend a few weekends getting it out of long term storage and probably drive it again. But it still likes to use oil which took the fun out of enjoying it.
bowtie said
Jun 6, 2013
Mine uses too much gas, but I still enjoy it. Get it out there, like an old wine it needs to breathe.
Scott Parkhurst said
Jun 6, 2013
If you buy beer and have a get-together, I'm confident club members will help you get the '66 roadworthy.
If you get excited and try and do it all yourself, you'll probably hurt your back. Nobody needs that.
If you buy GOOD beer (like Fulton or Surly or something) I might even make an appearance....LOL!!
Seriously- if you pull the heads and have them done, you might be cloud free for a couple hundred bucks and some new gaskets. Some of us have connections at engine shops ya know.
Chris R said
Jun 6, 2013
Scott Parkhurst wrote:
If you buy beer and have a get-together, I'm confident club members will help you get the '66 roadworthy.
If you get excited and try and do it all yourself, you'll probably hurt your back. Nobody needs that.
If you buy GOOD beer (like Fulton or Surly or something) I might even make an appearance....LOL!!
Seriously- if you pull the heads and have them done, you might be cloud free for a couple hundred bucks and some new gaskets. Some of us have connections at engine shops ya know.
Regarding the heads. I had those done less then 1000 miles before I took the car off the road. Im into the very least, a hone and ring job. Its kind of a long story thats saved for telling in person.
It doesnt really matter anyways. The car doesnt have any seatbelts and the old me didnt give two hoots what would happen, now with a family, I dont look at it that way anymore. The money isnt there for this year either it looks like unless things change, been unemployed since February and I have since discovered its not as easy as it seemed getting a job in HVAC with only a degree but minimal expierence so far. Good thing I saved nearly every penny I made last year.
Since I had a 72 El Camino project car stolen from outside of St. Micheal, MN. The car was sitting in a storage facility for at least 10 years and the owner of the building finally began the legal process of getting a title for it and getting a sheriffs sale done as she couldnt get ahold of the owner all those years, all at her expense. Before she did this the car was pushed outside the entrance door. There was also a rusty 83 G body El Camino that was owned by the same people that brought it to her years prior.
Having stored my 66 there each winter, noticed the car when I brought a Suburban I had to store outside for the winter storage and put my 66 inside in the fall of 2002. I noticed the 72 parked outside the door and inquired her about it and never really payed much attention to the 83 which IIRC, was still sitting inside waiting to be moved. I got all the details about the auction and when it came up in March of 2003, I put in a bid for both cars and won. In May of 2003, I came to get the Burb and looked over the 72 since it wasnt berried in snow anymore. I wasnt able to make space for the 66 on this trip out so I only came to get the Burb. The 66 was still in storage there until that 1st week of June that year when I was able to make room for it and thats when I noticed the 72 was gone but the junker 83 was still there and was finally moved outside by this time as the snow had melted finally. I figured they moved the 72 inside to get it out of publics view but nope, apparently someone came and took it only a few nights proir. She had been asking me when I planned to move them and figured I came and got it one night. So said a few people had been asking about it since the auction concluded so who knows where it ended up. But to this day it still hurts and ticks me off.
I know this, it had to have been taken by a tow truck and at the time I was working a very poor paying job at the time and the money I spent was an entire years worth the savings I was able to conjure up, which wasnt that much but to this day it still hurts to think about it. I never even had a chance to get the title in my name for it and didnt even think to insure a project car until I had the title for it legally in my name so I ended up SOL. However, I still am the legal owner of a 72 El Camino. It was a bench seat nothing special H code 350 car but it did have a big block in it and an SS style hood as well as an SS grill but it wasnt an SS. Car had a 10 bolt year. Bench seat car, black with black vinyl top. Another thing that frusterates me is that this car could have been a drivable project I would have gotten running to enjoy all these years not have to be a spectator.
As for the junker 83 I ended up with. I got it running and was able to get the only the front brakes working on it just so it would move under its own power after sitting over 10 years, thing actually ran pretty dang good for a 3.8 V6 and didnt burn any oil either. I needed the space so it ended up being stored wherever I could find someone that had a place willing to help me out and store it, I had it stored at my mini storage garage I rent, it say at Mike Hayens one year, Jamies another, then ended up a Daves where I finally stripped what I could off it and it got junked. The only good thing about the car was the bed and all the window trim was nearly mint and the glass and interior was in very good shape but the body was rusted out. The tailgate is fixable. The engine runs good and the auto trans shifted pretty good, so I saved all that stuff and its still in storage, although I did sell the complete interior to a guy in Eau Clair, WI back around 2008 or so. My plan was to start listing all the other parts that are still worth something but when the economy crashed that took care of that idea for a while so I put them in permanent storage. Along with a ton of other G Body Malibu parts I have in storage as well but thats a subject for another time.
Get busy inventory-ing that G-body stuff, post some ads, sell it off, pocket the storage fees, and get your '66 back on the road!!
And where is that black Honda?
If you need help with the 66 let us know, we're willing to help out. Cripes, I might have my 64 on the road before you.
I hear you. It may appear that and I should probably should say I havent let it bother me for years now, but I do still miss that car a little though. I figured I would have at least heard something about what happened to it by now, but it did give me a new found hatred towards thieves though, but I suppose anyone can say that. Best thing I can do now is make sure my other cars are well insured and do the best I can to make sure it doesnt happen again with the stuff I do currently own.
John, Jamie was working in ND all winter and he got in touch with me last weekend. They completed the construction project out there and he working back here now. So I will be starting some work on the Honda this upcoming weekend.
Technically, I never took a single part off the 66 so actually, I could probably spend a few weekends getting it out of long term storage and probably drive it again. But it still likes to use oil which took the fun out of enjoying it.
If you get excited and try and do it all yourself, you'll probably hurt your back. Nobody needs that.
If you buy GOOD beer (like Fulton or Surly or something) I might even make an appearance....LOL!!
Seriously- if you pull the heads and have them done, you might be cloud free for a couple hundred bucks and some new gaskets. Some of us have connections at engine shops ya know.
Regarding the heads. I had those done less then 1000 miles before I took the car off the road. Im into the very least, a hone and ring job. Its kind of a long story thats saved for telling in person.
It doesnt really matter anyways. The car doesnt have any seatbelts and the old me didnt give two hoots what would happen, now with a family, I dont look at it that way anymore. The money isnt there for this year either it looks like unless things change, been unemployed since February and I have since discovered its not as easy as it seemed getting a job in HVAC with only a degree but minimal expierence so far. Good thing I saved nearly every penny I made last year.