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SD455DJ · 02-21-2015, 01:32 PM

455HOGT37,

Do you have any contact info on the original owner, or know his whereabouts, or what's become of him? It sounds like the OO bought it off the showroom floor and the way it is heavily equipped seems to substantiate that premise.

Dennis

Old Blue 66 · 02-21-2015, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Boss

It's going to a good home - one of the best!

Ummmmm - it wouldn't be in your garage Chris would it?

Old Blue 66 · 02-21-2015, 01:36 PM

Selling my blue 66 LeMans was tough. I said for the 14 years I owned that car Id keep it forever. Then I started getting tired of it and wanted a convert in the worst way. I surprised everyone by selling it. I do miss the car. It in TX now. LOTS of memories in that car.

455HOGT37 · 02-21-2015, 01:41 PM

I lost contact with the original owner right after the sale. That said, I believe he said he ordered the car that way. He also wanted the wing, which was unavailable from factory. To fix that, he bought a wing, drilled the holes in a brand new car, and drove it "winged".

455HOGT37 · 02-21-2015, 01:56 PM

Also, the owner didn't strike me much as a "Pontiac guy"... I was 19 at the time and had plenty of GTO's under my belt by then, so was into VIN codes, head casting numbers, etc... This guy really wasn't that on fire about the car or Pontiacs in general. It was "just" an old used car to him. And it was pretty thrashed for only being 17 years old.

The Boss · 02-21-2015, 01:58 PM

Word has it the Eagle has Landed - where are the pics?

455HOGT37 · 02-21-2015, 02:14 PM

So these are pictures from 1988. The day I bought it, sitting in storage, and driving home to California. Keep in mind this was a one owner, 17 year old car...

The Boss · 02-21-2015, 02:20 PM

Fixed that for ya - and the rest of us.

SD455DJ · 02-21-2015, 02:24 PM

455HOGT37,

Wow, those are so cool! Thanks for posting them and thanks Boss for rotating them.

Dennis

SD455DJ · 02-21-2015, 02:25 PM

I forgot to ask, did it have headers and a bunch of other day2 modifications on it?

SDennis

455HOGT37 · 02-21-2015, 02:30 PM

Air shocks and fake Cragars is about it.

455HOGT37 · 02-21-2015, 03:37 PM

Engine compartment when I bought it, and then me and the car back home in California a few weeks later... Doing typical 19 year old kid stuff...

BTW, those heads are small chamber, #12's... Reportedly the owner replaced the round ports under warranty after they cracked. Can't believe the dealership would put 72 cc heads on a 455, but that was his story.

The Boss · 02-21-2015, 05:15 PM

SD455DJ · 02-21-2015, 05:56 PM

Mike,

Those are great back in the day pictures and nice burnout. You have any more to share?

Dennis

Garry Sr · 02-21-2015, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 455HOGT37

Apparently it arrived safe and sound yesterday afternoon and is now secured in the garage. Must have been a shock for the car to see snow and single digit temps again, since the last time it saw that was when I left Illinois back in 88. It was 75 and sunny at my house yesterday.

As for regretting selling the car, I think I came to grips with that some time ago. It would have been different if the sale was forced by some unfortunate financial or personal situation. It wasn't. It also wasn't doing anything in my shop, and I didn't want to end up the grumpy old man who won't sell to an enthusiastic kid because "I'm going to restore it some day".

I always have more fun driving the beaters or "nothing" cars as I call them, as I don't worry about the loss of a rare piece of automobilia to a moron trying to drive, text and eat at the same time. Sure, I'll have a few bucks in the Cat, but if it gets wrecked, I can always get another one. Not so with my former GT-37.

No, it's better being "out there". The new owner knows exactly what he has and it's in good hands. If he decides to reveal his identity, you will know why I feel that way.

Very well said. I'd offer to sell you this GT-37 I just picked up but for one not only is it a piece of junk it also doesn't run, for two I'm kind of attached to it.

455HOGT37 · 02-22-2015, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Mike,

Those are great back in the day pictures and nice burnout. You have any more to share?

Dennis

Yep, I have plenty more.

Top picture is Day #2 of the drive to California. The shifter bolts came loose and I had to find this mound of snow to get under the car. Bought a bolt and borrowed some tools from a parts store and fixed it right in the parking lot.

Second picture is from 1990, just after my homespin paint job. This is how the car looked most of the time I was driving it.

muscle_collector · 02-22-2015, 01:42 PM

great car if I wasn't liquidating down I would have bought it. looks like it buffed out nicely.

Judge273 · 02-23-2015, 08:40 AM

Those are great pix of a great car! Not sure why so many passed on a solid 71 GT-37 loaded manual, hood tach, honey of an HO...

Always wonder what a wing adds to the package. Not much IMHO so it's sans now like intended.

I bet new owner will appreciate a well kept time machine too!

Thanks for sharing and posting those stories.

Btw: I'm not the new owner either....

2002Z4CSS · 02-23-2015, 09:11 AM

Too bad it was not being delivered to me. Maybe I will see it around.

PMD1969 · 02-23-2015, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 455HOGT37

Not quite. I'm from California, was stationed shortly in Illinois (Chanute) for tech school, found the car just before graduation, then drove it home.

The original owner was also an Air Force member who bought the car from a dealership when he was stationed in Texas in 71, and dragged it with him when he transferred to Chanute. I think the car was only in Illinois for a few years.

Daddy? My biological father was an engineer (so I'm told) at Chanute Airforce Base in Champaign IL (now closed). My bio mother was a student at Univ of IL. They might be in their 70's today?

I never looked for them or was told anything else.

Any tips?

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