[Baron Von Zeppelin]

In other news , a friend from BaT sent me a couple pages from a 2017 book called
Musclecars in Detail - #8 - 1964 GTO .

An article by John V. going into some detail about the 3.90 M21 cars .
At that point in time , John only knew of one documented car .
Maybe he can share any further details about it with us.
Evidently the car was no more - but they had the M21 tranny with VIN stamped on top and the original window sticker.

I know the car that I looked at in Daytona/Port Orange FL in 95 or 96 was a 76X8 car.
Up to that point all the 64 TriPower cars I had ever seen in person were 76XW.
Had bought/sold two 76XW engines up to that point also.
I knew X8 and X9 codes were a thing - from literature , but had never seen one in person.
The X8 stuck with me.
I have never seen or had any X9 pieces or cars at all.
Really don't think I am confused about it.

Car was basically an untouched survivor - and complete. Worn out original paint with minimal rot behind all 4 wheels. Stored indoors for almost 2 decades. Not started in over 10 years.
Owner knew exactly what he had and confirmed it was M21 3.90
He was just behind the times on value.

I was down there on a 2 week visit.
My uncle knew all about my Pontiac disease and told me it was for sale in the morning paper.
I wasn't into 64s for personal pleasure , but never passed up good 64 parts or cars to resell.
Could have doubled my money on that car easy , maybe close to triple.
But was going to let a good friend get it.... For $3000
He was seriously looking for a 64 TriPower GTO of his own.
I was the first one to the car.

He got on the owners nerves over a 64 in-dash Tach he thought he had but couldn't find yet.
My friend in NC didn't want to put up a penny until he found that Tach.
Owner got fed up with him and said no longer for sale , dont call anymore.

I went back to the guys house , and he told me basically the same thing.
That was that.
More to the story , in the middle , but that's how it landed.
He FKkD Up

About 3 weeks later at Charlotte Auto Fair swap meet , we were heading up an aisle where some guys from Georgia that specialized in Oldsmobile parts new and used always set up.
Sometimes some Pontiac stuff too.
Always stopped and shopped and talked.

Youngest guy , about same age as me , spots me and hollers for me to come over.
Asks why I didn't buy that Blue 64 in Daytona
?? How do you know about that ??
He had bought it - he was next in line.
My friend about croaked on the spot.

I told him how it went down , and why.
He laughed through the whole story.
Then said - oh yeh , I got the Tach with it too.
My friend walked off to have some moments in silence.
He Fkkd Up on that deal.

And now it looks like it was a gold plated needle in a haystack.