Car: 69 SS 396 convertible
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In my late teens, I admired the Chevelles but could not afford one. In about 1972 or 73, I was in the market for a '68 or '69, but a deal for a '69 2+2 Pontiac came up that I couldn't pass up. I traded my 64 SS convertible plus $1600.00 and acquired the one owner Pontiac with 17,000 miles. Although the Pontiac was nice, I always yearned for a '69 Chevelle.
Then came marriage and raising two children, so my dream was on hold. After the children left the nest, I began searching for a 69 SS in the fall of 1995. There were plenty of 68's and 70's, but 69's were few. By April of 1998, I had a stack of Classic Auto Traders to my chest, which are pretty expensive at $5.95 per copy. In the April 1998 issue I could not believe my eyes. I showed my wife the ad picturing a 69 SS 396 convertible, four speed, red body, white top, black interior. exactly what I wanted !!. The only other compromise I would have accepted was a white interior, but there it was in Beresford, New Brunswick and I was in Two hills, Alberta. Kept telling myself it was too far away and probably a rust bucket being an eastern car. Over the next several weeks my wife would notice me in deep thought and forever in the Auto Trader looking at the ad.
She insisted that I phone and get some info to put my mind at ease. I made the call and a very pleasant man described his car to me and offered to send me some photos. When the four or five photo's arrived, I was smitten. We made several calls to each other from April to August. On the Sunday of the long weekend in August, I decided to go to New Brunswick to see this car. Because of the short notice (a co-worker cancelled his holidays, that I was able to take) no flights were available and a train would have taken a day longer and a couple of hundred dollars more than the bus. I boarded the bus at Vegreville, Alberta and endured a grueling four-day trip to New Brunswick, arriving on Thursday afternoon. I immediately sought a motel and a shower. You can't imagine what I felt like four days and nights on the bus with only a couple of short stops at Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Montreal. I had many thoughts of turning back in Winnipeg and Ottawa not knowing what the car would be like as pictures can be deceiving. When I saw the car, inspected and test drove it, I knew the trip was worthwhile.
The people in Bathurst are so very friendly and helpful. The seller was very nice and flexible on his price. He showed me all the documentation and had me over for a BBQ. The day after I purchased the car the guys at West End Alignment shop were very accommodating, by securing a differential with better highway ratio and installing it for me on a busy Saturday afternoon. when they were very busy with regular customers. They even invited me to go boating with them after the shop closed. A great bunch of people that I really admire and appreciate. But I had to head back, so I left Bathurst at 4:00pm Saturday and drove through the night to Montreal, arriving in Ottawa at 5:00am. Had a couple of hours sleep in the car till Canadian Tire opened up. Bought a couple of mud flaps, then breakfast and a few pictures of my car by the Parliament Buildings. Then it was on the road again till I arrived at North Bay at 3:00pm totally exhausted. I then got a motel and slept till 4:00am and hit the road again to Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Upsala where the time changes.
Beautiful weather driving with the top down, after a sleep in, Upsala another beautiful day to Foam Lake, Saskatchewan. Did not encounter any highway construction or wet tar. Had to wash a lot of bugs off. Left Foam Lake in the AM and another beautiful day to Two Hills, arriving home safely. A wonderful trip home, which made up for the bus trip.
This entire trip was made with no spare rim, jackstand or wheel wrench. I encountered plenty of admiring looks and even a few offers to purchase which of course, I declined. In 1999 we moved to Vegreville, Where I built a 28 x 32 shop with underslab hot water heating which is home to the Chevelle. We use the car mainly on weekends from April to November going to Edmonton, Red Deer and other car shows in the area. We are looking forward to possibly going on the trip to Oshawa with Club Members. Also hoping for a nice summer in 2003 and taking in a few car shows in the Okanagan, and Radium, BC.
Garry Rusnak