Bob (IL) 1971 Chevelle - Hey!

[BobKnake]

Finally getting around to dropping in to say hello. I've been snooping around for a bit and figured it was time.

Bought one of the last cars on my "BUCKET LIST."
Ever since was a little kid... I always wanted a Chevelle. An older kid in town had a 71 Malibu (candy apple red) in the 80's, I was probably 12 or 13. I always admired that car.
I had the chance to talk to him a few months back... He still has/had the car (had no idea he still owned it)... Well, last week he passed away - Cancer.
I got to tell him about me loving that car... He just smiled (he was pretty advanced by the time I talked to him)....
Another kid I knew in high school had a 72 chevelle. not as cool as the 1st car.. but still a chevelle.
Later GearHead Dad's brother (re: below) had/ still does a 71 Malibu/SS clone.
And one of my buddies has the 71 SS he bought brand new. Has around 30000 miles on it. It's a time capsule for sure, but I absolutely loved that car.
I've been around them for a long time... just didn't think my family would go for them. I was wrong.

Well, as the story goes... I wasn't really looking for a car to buy... at least not right this very moment. But sitting at one of my daughters soft ball games this year... I was talking to a gear head dad. I'd asked him about his TA and if it was still for sale. Told me it was all gone. He also has a chevelle (66) - not for sale. Told him I had huge respect for them, but I like 70-72s.
He told me to call another friend, Mike. He always knows where there are good solid rebuildable cars in the area.
Well, as luck would have it... Mike had a 71. It was/is in boxes, but the car is way solid for ILLINOIS. He wanted/needed to sell it ASAP. Reason is... he bought a 56 belair and need it gone before his wife knew also he needed the room.

A deal was struck. The following day... he delivers it to my house.
Found out after I bought it... it was originally sandlewood beige and had the beige interior with cloth (originally). It came with a 350 2Bbl, TH350, Power Drum Brakes, Power Steering, and A/C.

So now the decision of how and what to do with it began.
It doesn't have front fenders (inner or outer), nor a drive-train.
But on the plus side, the car arrived with a cowl induction hood and tons of extra parts. Mike's original plan was to convert it to a 70 SS clone.
While I love quad head lights... I love 4 round tail lights more, so it's going to stay a 71 (front and back).

Motivation for the car??? 350/350 was 1st plan... Then a 396 w/4spd feel into my lap. GearHead Dad found it on Craigslist locally and immediately called me. The 396 & 4spd came out of a 68 Impala SS. They were within an hour. The price was right. And prior to removal from the car last winter.. it ran.
So yes, I know.. the 396 wasn't actually available in 71, it was a 402. And I also know that the only car that came with c.i. hood was the 454 in 71, but hey it's my car... right? Maybe 1 day... it'll have a 454.... Maybe.

The plan is to kind of make it look like an SS, but w/o SS badging, just stripes and maybe SS rims. It's going to have disc brakes. Converted to BBC and 4spd. Eventually A/C. Leaving the sweep dash, add a tach... and the bench seat.
Interior is going to be black!
The Exterior... well, that's still up in the air - I'm a huge fan of Lime Green and Dark Blue, also like silver.

<<<<<ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE>>>>>

This project is supposed to be a daddy/daughter(s) project.
I have 2 girls - 13 & 8. Both have the love of old cars and both love muscle cars. So a lot of the work will be done with the girls around and helping.
The girls came up with RAT-FUCHSIA as a name for the car.

So the fun begins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!