Another 69 comes home...
 

Car was sold new at Bernie Fields Motors in Batesville, IN. Haven't been able to track the entire history, but it was purchased new when a veteran returned from Vietnam. Spent some time here, some time in Florida, survived hurricane Camila (spelling?), most recently has been in Indianapolis for probably 10 years. Lots of research going into this one. The original owner still lives in Cincinnati and his brother in Batesville. Have already heard some of the "if that car could tell stories" conversations. This may be one of the most exciting Pontiacs Paul and I have ever brought BACK to town. This is a special one that will stay in Batesville now that it is finally home again. More to come.


:usa2:


Oh yeah, almost forgot...


IT'S A RAIV 4spd 3.90 Convertible! ;)

Keep us posted and get those pics posted too!

Also need to thank fellow POSI member Chris Hooten (Hooch on PY) who was there along with Paul and myself to bring the parts out of several buildings, nooks, and crannies and bring this conglomeration home.

Pictures might be tough...never seen one this far apart in my life, but the owner was doing it right and had the best of intentions.

Off to the shop to inventory and see what is all there....

PONTIACS GONE WILD!

VERY COOL - what colors?

That needs lots of help.

We need pictures.:)

Limelight Green / Black / Black

Yes it does, but willing to do it and the most important parts of the car have never been screwed with (other than the original engine, but working on tracking that). It deserves to be done and can be done in my opinion.

Not in this one for financial reasons and that thought has never crossed our minds. It's a real IV car sold new in our hometown. Call me crazy...

From what I have heard about the car from a guy we both know-you are CRAZY!!!!

Wasn't there a similar '69 RAIV conv (Limelight green/white/green) that was rebuilt a few yrs back, after it was involved in a major front end hit?? Still great to save this one, if you're willing to do it for the sole purpose of putting it back on the road and not to make money...Great job!

Here is a link to the car I meant:

http://ultimategto.com/1969/69c_00056_1.jpg

Way to go! Collect the whole set! How many does that make now, Doug? Are you going to give Paul a run for his money?

I remember reading about that car, but definitely a different car. This one has been apart in Indianapolis somewhere around 10 years best we know. Has typical midwest floor pan / quarter rust damage, but never involved in a front end collision. Frame is straight and relatively clean.

I quit counting a long time ago.

Had a dream 2 nights ago that Dennis Wilson pulled up to the house in a Lucy Blue 71 455HO Judge and said "it's for sale, make an offer."

If the next one we find is a Lucy Blue Judge, I just might commit myself. Might be some sort of chemical imbalance in my blood stream that is light blue in color with lots of metallic.

In all honesty, the car is by far the most disassembled car I have ever seen. It is intimidating at first, but not as bad when you really start looking into it. Always up for a challenge!

PHS
 

Pretty well optioned in my opinion. The brother of the original owner also had a 69 RAIII Judge. Interesting that they did not check The Judge box on this one because it has everything else necessary.

Awesome car. Ram Air IV convertible!

My GT-37 was sold new at Bernie Fields Motors. I have spoken to Mr. Fields on the phone a couple of times. He says he has tons of old paperwork and he's sure he has some for my car, but I can't get him or anyone to send me anything.

2many, easy...they absolutely had to have the p/ant....:D

Doug you were going to take it apart anyway right?

They just saved you 1/2 the labor!

Patience my friend, patience! You have a PM.

Met the original owner...
 

Thanks to Hooch I was able to actually meet the gentleman that bought this car new. He currently resides in Lebanon, OH (outside of Cincinnati) and was in town for a family golf tournament. He searched through the archives and found some old slides of the car from June of 1969 and had photographs made from the slides which he gave me yesterday. The houses in the pictures still exist today and look very similar however, the gas station is now a beauty salon.

Pictures are from June of 1969 when Gary returned from Mississippi. The car was delivered to Bernie Fields Motors in Batesville during March of 1969. Gary's father and brother Bill drove this car and the father's 69 RAIII Judge to Mississippi to meet Gary on his return from Vietnam. After dropping the Limelight IV off, they returned to Batesville in the 69 Judge. The pictures are from when he returned to town and are taken in front of his father's gas station. No picture was taken of the driver side as he said it had slight damage from the hurricane that was not yet fixed. From the discussions, it sounds like Gary drove the car hard and had a good time with it until trading it in 1971 on a Grand Prix at Tom Wood Pontiac in Indianapolis. He did comment that the car never ran as good as it should have. One day he was so upset with the car that he put a brick on the accelerator pedal and went in the house for a drink (hoping it would blow up and they would warranty a new engine). Said it never died and the original engine lived on. The hunt for history continues...

Vintage black and white...
 

Thought some black and white would look good as well.

Couple noteworthy things that have been discussions over the years.

The car does not have any chrome exhaust tip extensions. Has been questioned whether or not all 4spd cars received them or it was an option. This one definitely did not have them.

I also find it interesting that the hood decals are "RAM AIR" as opposed to "RAM AIR IV". Possible that being an early Baltimore IV car, they did not yet have the correct decals or the assembly line worker grabbed the wrong decal?

Doug, I'm so glad that you have this car and this one can never leave Batesville again. I have talked about this car over the years and I'm glad to know who has it today.
One thing this might have done is to get the old owner back into cars. I think he asked Doug if he wanted to sell it 2 or maybe 3 times before Doug had to go.
His brother had always said if that car could talk and yesterday I found out that they were talking about the back seat talking. The girls must have really loved that car.

Also noteworthy that it has the blacked out grills - originally only thought to be found on Judges.

Good point. Assembly manual actually calls that one out per engine option (ram air or not) for 69. Haven't checked 70 per the assembly manual, but thinking that was Judge option specific as opposed to engine option specific.

I like how good the door gaps and hood gaps looks.

exhaust tips were a option. what door gaps? what hood?

Agree, just more evidence to questions people have asked over the years. I think Chris is referring to the pictures from 69 with regard to panel fitment. :D

Has pretty large gaps in it's current state as the parts are spread over a football field and all over my garage. :eek:

Don't confuse the prodding, Greg is green with envy - Limelight green in fact! ;)

Doug also forgot to mention that the older brother of Gary’s had bought a new red 69 ram air 3 4sp car that he painted bright green after only having the car a month or 2. He said that drinking may have been involved. Bill had bought his gto after he totaled his 67 Chevelle (396 – 4 sp) so Their Dad had a 69 Judge, Bill a 69 ra 3 4sp car and Gary had a 69 ra iv conv, and the other brother had a 69 camaro.

2many.....

Batesville Tool & Die, Batesville Casket, and Hill Rom are all customers of mine. And I go out there a couple times a year. I might just have to invite myself to see some of this Limelight stuff..

Sid

didn't the ra4 cars have ra4 on the hood and not just ra?

Yes, that is why I noted the question above as this possibly being an assembly line error? Now I have to decide to restore the car as it is intended to be or how the it was actually built based on the 3 month old pictures. :rolleyes:

To avoid the questions and explanations - without the documentation - I'd just put the ra4 stickers on ... just my opinion.

This is a rare opportunity to document and preserve one element of the true history of the vehicle. Since the original owner is around, have him produce an affidavit as to the authenticity of the picture and the as-delivered state of the vehicle. Then put the "Ram Air" decals back on it. One of the purposes of "restoration" is to preserve this history.

Caveat: Be sure the car was not wrecked early on, or that the dealer didn't have to repaint the hood for some reason, even before delivery to the original owner.

My $.02

Hey Doug -

Great car! Have you made any progress yet?

BTW - that was Hurricane Camille that hit Mississippi. My grandparents' house was about 200 yards from the beach. It survived Camille, but Katrina completely washed it away.

Scott

Hey Doug -

Great car! Have you made any progress yet?

BTW - that was Hurricane Camille that hit Mississippi. Gust of 212 mph was recorded. My grandparents' house was about 200 yards from the beach. It survived Camille, but Katrina completely washed it away.

Scott

Both my IV judges 69 did not have RAIV, only Ram Air decals. I have pictures of the one that was raced back in 1969 just like the one in yours. The second Judge still wears its original hood with original paint, ram air on it.

Doug has been busy assembling parts... it's ironic that most of the panels he has assembled for the car are Limelight Green!