Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Our 1971 Chevelle SS 454...


1971 Chevelle SS 454 with rock crusher 4-speed and cowl induction. This was my only entry into the muscle car world, and purchased brand new in 1971 from Ed Kohar, who was the sales manager at Port Arthur motors in February of 1971. It was in the days when you ordered your car and received it a few months later. The Chevrolet dealership never stocked the SS cars at that time. Mine came in about April 20th back in 1971. I tried to get a 1970 first as GM was already starting to de-tune the big blocks by then but couldn't and had to settle for this one(She was a beauty). I told them to order exactly what was on the center spread of the brochure and they did. I traded in my 1967 Chevy Impala 327 and paid $2500. difference. The full sticker price on it was only $5150. so I thought I got a pretty good deal and I had just received a raise.

The left photo(all of us on a camping trip with NOT our Sunday best on) is my wife of 5 years far left, the skinny dorky guy second is me(holy cow...about 140 lbs soaking wet), then my sister-in-law Phoebe(nice name) and my brother-in-law Freddy. We hauled a travel trailer all over the country like it wasn't even behind the car. The second photo was taken on a trip to my wife's home town in Hastings, Nebraska, with me on the other side, her just getting out and her cousin Dave far right.
I sold the car 3 years later 'cause gas had gone to .70 cents a gallon and we had a new baby boy. It was in mint condition with only about 26,000 miles and went for $3100. Was I nuts or what!! What do you think I bought next??? You guessed it...A family man vehicle Chevy Van....LOL
Thanks for looking and click on the pictures to enlarge(don't laugh too much at the skinny guy!)

5 comments:

Shaun Hopkins said...

Check out those mirrors. Did they go with the car Dave? Hard to believe 70 cents a gallon could make a man sell a car like that eh?

Dave Cano said...

No, the mirrors did go with the trailer though. Believe it or not 70 cents a gallon was a lot of dough then...but I also had a new baby, that's what really made me get stupid.

Anonymous said...

OMG .. PHOEBE .. !! I do so remember her AND Margaret ...
Have only ever met ONE other Phoebe in my lifetime ~~

Maurice said...

Looks like a fun time! The big block of course had the torque & hp for towing up those mountain grades. Where is the Chevelle now?

Dave Cano said...

Sure was a fun time Maurice....it was an incredible towing vehicle....you'd never know anything was behind. The car went to Nipigon Ontario in 1974 and I've never seen it since. There were some rumors a year later that it was totalled.....It sure would be nice to find it again. Thanks