Can't wait to get started!

[brassmonkey]

Hi guys - Brass Monkey here.

When I turned 16 y dad (the best dad in the world) bought me a 1970 Malibu convert. It was a rust bomb, but we had it painted & it looked good for a few years before bubbling & rotting some more.

Anyway - what did I care I was 16 cruising a pussymobile. What I didn't know at the time was how rare, unique & valuable that car would become. I sold it when I joined the army. To be honest there wasn't a lot left of it - but still...I digress.

So now I'm rolling through my midlife crisis & told my wife I should get a Harley or a girlfriend. She didn't like the girlfriend idea too much so she let me get the softail. I've had it for a couple years now & really love the bike. It's quite custom & freakin cool. But riding alone sucks & the lady is afraid our kids will be orphaned if we both get splattered.

So...Long story I know...I decided to sell the bike & get something else cool but with 4 wheels & at least 2 seats.

This brings me to this forum. I received an offer of even trade for a 1971 chevelle Malibu (hard top). It is a southern car that is nearly rust free. I live in north central Illinois & any car more than 5 years old that is rust free is a gem. The owner use the car as a dragster - has a roll bar, HUGE tach etc etc. Says he has $5k in the engine & a decent amount in the tranny too. Original AC car & everything (lights, blinkers wipers etc) still works as original.

Too good to be true right? Well here's the catch. While the car is mostly free from rust the paint is completely shot - warn through, thin & cracked. The worst part is the car is green. Green interior, greed dash, green kick panels green, green.

I can paint the car. I've painted others. With little rust (1 spot on the front quarter) I can have it cleaned up & in fresh color in a week or two.

But what to do with the interior?

That isn't the only issue either. It's manual drums. I know easy fix to add power brakes, but you see, I'm now starting to add the $$$ to the car pretty fast.

$1000 paint
$200 power brakes
$1500 Fix the AC - the car originally had it but the guy removed it because 50lbs of useless weight slows dragsters down
$$$ Green interior - what another $1000 - or $2000? I've never done an interior before so I don't know.

But the car is SOOO cool. & it runs low 11's!!! & I can have it looking great in a very short time.

We did the deal in a couple weeks. I told the owner I wanted all the AC parts so he is trying to source them, but says he won't get the airbox (too expensive).

I'm starting to get excited!