I purchased this car in 1976 from the original owner in North Royalton, Ohio. I drove it through my senior year in high school and with a heavy heart, I had to sell it in the fall of 1977 when I went away to school.
In January of 2012, I was contacted by a buyer who had found the car in a barn in Ashtabula, Ohio where it had been sitting since 1980, it was still black with gold stripes like I had painted it in 1977.
I purchased the car back and began a frame-off restoration with the help of my 14-year-old son. We have restored it to its former glory and back to the original color of Shadow Gray. The car is all original sheet metal except for the hood and front fenders. Their car was solid and needed no patchwork done.
This car is a true SS396, not a clone. The engine is a date correct ‘CE’ block, 3969854 casting 402 cubic inches. The transmission is a Turbo 400 that was built by “Transmission by Bruce” in Parma, Ohio who also built the original transmission. The rear end is the original 12 bolt positraction. The interior is the original dash, console and door panels. The car was a non-A/C car but since I moved to Arizona I wanted to have A/C, I purchased an original A/C unit out of a 72 Chevelle and modified the firewall by making a template. I then made a plate to cover the existing hole for the heater box and attached it to the firewall with panel adhesive.
Great Chevelle story!!! I too have a very similar one. In
1976 at age sixteen, I purchased my first car from Stiver Chevrolet in Hubbard, Ohio. We lived about 3 miles from there across the border in western Pennsylvania. My Dad helped me find the car after months of searching for my dream ride, a Chevy Nova. But my first car turned out to be a 1970 Chevelle, a one owner trade in, Shadow Gray with black vinyl top! I soon forgot all about the Nova.
This car was a Malibu, I later cloned it into an SS, which a lot of guys did. I drove it all through High School, graduated in 1978, then went on to college.
Then we decided to move to Arizona in 1980. I went back
to get my prized Chevelle and drove out to Peoria, Arizona where I live today. Life happened, got married in '84 then sold the car shortly thereafter.
Had many cool rides since, including a '57 Bel Air, a real deal 70 Chevelle SS396, and My Dream Car '69 Nova 427 Big Block. But nothing will ever compare to my first car! All those great memories are priceless!!!
As fate has it, I found my car a couple of years ago, and it's only 2 miles from me. I have been recently trying to negotiate
buying it back. I will definitely restore it to its former glory in Code 17 Shadow Gray!!! It too was a non-A/c car and you can bet I will be calling Classic Auto Air.
Michael Draskovic, owner
Mike's Auto Tech
Glendale, Arizona