[MCronkGTO]

Starting a new thread since I mistakenly titled the original thread as a 68. Some may recall the discussion about the number of options on the car vs the build sheet options. As was pointed out there are a couple of options that the factory would not install together, specifically AM-FM stereo with reverb, 8 track and rear window defogger. This was originally born a 350 2bbl car with rally gauges, A/C, power windows, PS, etc.... It currently has many more options that would not be easy to install such as tilt wheel, cruise control, Power front disc brakes, etc... As was discussed all these are correct for the year and application, function correctly, appear to be in same condition as the factory installed options.

I did purchase the car and will post pictures as soon as the weather allows. It is a 77k mile car and I have since done some research regarding the previous owners and possibly how all these options ended up on the car.

There is a plate on the console that says "This car built especially for TL Devecchio by Pontiac Motor Division". Over the years I have seen may decals/plaques/tags put on cars by previous owners for various reasons. However this has me intrigued because of the many options on the car.

Upon research of records/receipts that came with the car Mr. Devecchio was the original purchaser and very meticulous about record keeping and care of his car. The car was bought at Stan Olsen Pontiac in Omaha Nebraska. The salesman was a Mr. Lee Couch and a photo copy of his business card showed a line drawing of a sofa/couch and the words "rest assured". The owner promptly moved to California and kept meticulous records of every oil change, warranty repair, maintenance and even gas mileage records from original purchase till he sold it in 2000. He must have been an accountant or engineer. He created his own hand drawn maintenance and gas mileage tables that included information such as VIN of car, engine type and HP, tire rotation diagram, tune up information, etc... Let's just say he was quite "anal" about his car. It appears the car was used very little from 1981 to present only racking up less than 2,000 miles. This explains the like new condition but obviously not restored. The car stayed in California with a Mr. Tom Castell until May of 2012 when a local (East Central Florida) purchased the car and had it shipped. Mr. Casteel hardly drove the car putting maybe 1,000 miles on the car in 12 years. I purchased it from the person who bought it from Mr. Castell after he owned it for a little over a year. Technically I am the 4th owner.

The car is a time capsule and has had some light detailing done but not restored. I am hoping to speak with the second owner, as he is still in California, to determine when all the options were installed on the car. I have a couple of "theories" of which one is simply a previous owner added them. However they all seem to have been on the car from very early in it's life and there are no receipts or records of the original owner purchasing them. He was so meticulous with records (even has receipt and installation instructions for the air shocks he purchased at Sears in 1980) that if he had purchased them there would have been an entry in his logs. I also have receipts from the second owner for maintenance work on the car and no indication he added the options. The third owner was local and a good friend painted the car and knows exactly what the third owner did to the car. My other "theory" is that the dealer, upon request from the original purchaser, added most of these options that are not on the build sheet. I am hoping to possibly get a copy of the original sales contract are at least get some confirmation from the second owner.

The tag on the console is very interesting. It appears to have been put on the car since new. More to come as I research this and I will post some pictures soon.

Mark C