When my wife Katie was 15 years old, her father Randy purchased a 1969 Chevelle SS as a project for them to work on together as her first car. Over the course of a few years they changed engines, made some upgrades, kept up on general maintenance; turning it into an every day driver for her.
1994:
In 1998 while going to college in Montana, she made the difficult decision to sell her beloved Chevelle and get something a bit more practical for a college age student. Since 2006 when she and I got married, I’ve heard her mention multiple times that she would either like to have another classic car, or that she regretted ever selling her.
Fast forward to 2016, an idea popped into my mind. Wouldn’t it be cool to find her car. I spent some time off and on doing internet research try to see if there was any way possible to track that car down. I came up with nothing.
Then one fateful fall, while Randy and his wife Peggy were travelling through a small town called Malta, Montana; Peggy mentioned to Randy that she thought that the person that had purchased Katies Chevelle lived in that town. On a whim, Randy stopped at a body shop and started a conversation with the kid at the counter about “the car”. Low and behold, a car matching that description was sitting in the driveway at his fathers house; just a few short miles down the road.
When Randy and Peggy arrived at he house, it was immediately clear the car that Randy was looking at; windows down, quarter panels removed, bumpers missing, rear glass gone, raccoon infested and all was Katies old car. There it sat after 19 years.
November 2017:
A deal was struck, and “Project CRN 631” was re-bourn.
Over the course of a year, the car made its way from Malta, Montana to Waverly, Iowa where body work and paint was done. Randy made multiple trips down to work with Katie’s Uncle and two cousins to start putting pieces back on. Crate 396, T400 tranny, upgraded breaks, suspension, etc.
Early November the car made its way back to Soldotna, Alaska after being gone for nearly 22 years. Inside an enclosed trailer, Randy and Katie’s Uncle Bob, towed her back to the hangar for the final touches before being revealed for Katies 40th birthday gift.
Just about two months later, after hundreds of hours doing interior work, bumper and grill work, the car was ready.
Last night, January 12th 2019 my wife got to sit behind the wheel of CRN 631 (same license number she had originally) once again. It was a pretty special night and one incredible build. At some point, I’ll spend the hours putting together the whole story, but for now…I’m just glad it is fucking done.
January 12, 2019:
1994:
In 1998 while going to college in Montana, she made the difficult decision to sell her beloved Chevelle and get something a bit more practical for a college age student. Since 2006 when she and I got married, I’ve heard her mention multiple times that she would either like to have another classic car, or that she regretted ever selling her.
Fast forward to 2016, an idea popped into my mind. Wouldn’t it be cool to find her car. I spent some time off and on doing internet research try to see if there was any way possible to track that car down. I came up with nothing.
Then one fateful fall, while Randy and his wife Peggy were travelling through a small town called Malta, Montana; Peggy mentioned to Randy that she thought that the person that had purchased Katies Chevelle lived in that town. On a whim, Randy stopped at a body shop and started a conversation with the kid at the counter about “the car”. Low and behold, a car matching that description was sitting in the driveway at his fathers house; just a few short miles down the road.
When Randy and Peggy arrived at he house, it was immediately clear the car that Randy was looking at; windows down, quarter panels removed, bumpers missing, rear glass gone, raccoon infested and all was Katies old car. There it sat after 19 years.
November 2017:
A deal was struck, and “Project CRN 631” was re-bourn.
Over the course of a year, the car made its way from Malta, Montana to Waverly, Iowa where body work and paint was done. Randy made multiple trips down to work with Katie’s Uncle and two cousins to start putting pieces back on. Crate 396, T400 tranny, upgraded breaks, suspension, etc.
Early November the car made its way back to Soldotna, Alaska after being gone for nearly 22 years. Inside an enclosed trailer, Randy and Katie’s Uncle Bob, towed her back to the hangar for the final touches before being revealed for Katies 40th birthday gift.
Just about two months later, after hundreds of hours doing interior work, bumper and grill work, the car was ready.
Last night, January 12th 2019 my wife got to sit behind the wheel of CRN 631 (same license number she had originally) once again. It was a pretty special night and one incredible build. At some point, I’ll spend the hours putting together the whole story, but for now…I’m just glad it is fucking done.
January 12, 2019:
