Crazy 409 Search question

[rmedelson]

My name is Bob and I'm writing from Central New Jersey. I was hoping to get some help from some other 409 hunters/enthusiasts. In 1963, my father bought a new Impala SS 409/425 from Flatbush Chevrolet in Brooklyn, NY. It was Honduras Maroon. The worst part is that he traded it in for a Toyota Corona in 1969!!! The only thing I know about the car was that he had plumber pipe cut-offs on the exhaust and that it was stolen and recovered twice in the mid 60's. I have been trying to see if there are ways to perhaps find this car. Does anyone know where I could begin? Thanks!

[DonSSDD]

Do you have a serial number or any other details or description?

Don

[walkerheaders]

vin# and title # come to mind first.

[rmedelson]

As of right now, no I don't. I've been digging around my parents house hoping to find something. Is there a possibility that the NYPD may have some old records pertaining to the two times it was stolen? Perhaps the records would contain serial #? Any thoughts?

[rmedelson]

Don -- the only other description related issues I can think of right now is that when my father traded it in, he had taken the "409" number off above the flags on each fender (i guess thinking that people wouldn't know what it was). Other than that and the plumber pipe cutoffs, I'll have to ask him. Any ideas?

[oil4kids]

i purchased my 1963 in 1972 from a NY guy and it had "plumber pipe cutouts" on both exhausts and was repainted red from Honduras maroon color

was a real Impala ss 4 speed car but the motor was switched to a 327

had 409 springs in it orig, see avitar have a bigger pic if needed

if you have your vin number i can see if it was the same

paid 500 for it back in 72 sold it around 74

[BROOKLYNSS409]

My Red 1962 SS 409 Convt was purchased for $50 around 1967 in Brooklyn NY.

It had to be pushed home 4+ blocks. It needed a hood & grill replacement. The Dual quads were set up all wrong so that the plugs were fouled easy and the battery dead from trying to start a fouled engine.

Soon afterwards the cops would come to my house alot and the car had to park at a different yard.

I dont remember exhaust cut-outs. Just 2 pieces of Flexable exhaust pipes and a handy wrench.

[rmedelson]

Hey Mark. Thanks for the reply. Wow that's interesting...I believe my father traded in the car in 68 or 69. Can't imagine why someone would pull a dual-quad 409 out of the car unless it was blown. Anyway, I know he told me that he removed the "409" emblems that usually sit above the crossing flags on each fender. The only other specific things I know about the car was that it was stolen from my father 2 times and once hit a person at a gas station during one of the thefts. I have not had success as of yet locating the serial number...my father is really bad with keeping stuff so i'll keep my fingers crossed. Do you know anymore history of your car?

[oil4kids]

was orig 4 speed trans, the car had no 409 badges but had orig 409 springs in it so sat up with the small block- also had big fuel lines and replaced rear-end 327
3oohp usually dont wreck rear gears



do you know what color his interior was? i know the motor was replaced and had a 327 with 2 differnt heads i still have the vin number somewhere

[rmedelson]

Mark - let me ask you this...do you remember if there were holes above the flags as if there was a 409 badge there? My mother told me that she remembered it looking dumb with holes left where the 409 emblems were. I guess maybe if it was re-painted red that they could have filled those holes. It was definitely black interior. I'm going to talk to my father tomorrow, I'll ask him if he remembers any specifics unique to that car. Thanks for the info.

[oil4kids]

right fender had holes above the cross flags filled in with putty i looked when i changed the fender because of bad rust behind the wheel and never looked at the drivers fender

however interior was red and looked orig so i guess its not the same car

[rmedelson]

Does anyone know if there is a way I could search this car out with the old license plate number? I came across a picture of the car tonight which was clear enough to make out the plate number. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[rmedelson]

Ok guys...I've found a really cool picture of my father washing his car in Brooklyn just a few months after he bought his car new. Best part about it is that when he bought it, it took the dealership 6 months to get the car. When he picked it up, they told him it had Z-11 heads & a Z-11 cam. Oh man I hope this thing still exists. If it does, I'm going to find it.

To all you 409ians, I actually found a picture of the license plate - does anyone know if having his old license plate # might help me locate this car??? Thanks.

Bob.