Break open those piggy banks!!

[impalamike.com]

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/chevrolet/impala/179493.html


1963 RPO Z-11, Red with Red Interior, RPO Z-11 Came Factory Equipped With More Racing Components Than Any Other RPO/COPO In Chevy History. 20 Pieces Of Lightweight Aluminum (Hood, Fenders, Bumpers, Bumper Brackets, Splash Pan, Fan Shroud etc) It Had A Special 409 Style 427 CU IN Engine 13.5 to 1 Compression That In Reality Made 550 HP. In 1963 Z-11's Won AFX, Indy, And The Winter Nationals Running High 11's at 120+ MPH. There Were Only 50 Z-11 Cars Produced. Only 13 Complete Cars Are Known To Exist. Orginally Raced As Chevy Town And Later As AFX Mothers Worry. 1555 Orginal Miles, Purchased From CK Spurlock In 1999. Frame Off Restored With An Orginal QM Block And All Correct Parts. Serious Inquiries Only $250,000.00 :doh Call 770-539-9111 or www.ciacars.com

[Tom Kochtanek]

I always wondered what those babies were worth (or what people would ask for them) and now I know :). I wonder if they would trade for a condo, a wife, and a first born male???

One of my many unachievable goals in life is to have a 1961 Impala SS and a 1963 Z-11. And not sell anything I already have (except for the wife!). I have the lesser one "in between", the '62SS. Now I know where to set my sites. Aim high and you'll hit something. I generally "hit' the rustbuckets, but you never know if you don't have a dream and you don't try :).

Best,
TomK

[johnnyrod]

My sites are on a 348 tripower that dont eat cam shafts I am pretty sure I have got the dream nailed this time. I am a slow learner but I do catch on. We where at the Portland swap meet a few years back and a guy there had the whole front end in alluminum GM boxes and all for $2500.00. We thought it was not a bad price but who needed it. Ha Ha John

[SS425HP]

To think I could have bought one of those in 63 for a little over 4 grand. Wish I had, but knowing me, I probably would have sold it for some stupid low number a couple years later. Who knew???????????????

[tripowerguy]

Fred a list of cars I had and should have kept, 35 Ford coupe, 40 Ford coupe full race flathead, 40 ford coupe 283 chevy engine, 55 Buick Century, 55 Chevy with 364 cu. in. small block, 58 315 hp super stocker, 64 SS 409 4speed, 63 Ford Falcon Sprint 4-speed. All these I should have kept, loved everyone of them and now they are all worth their weight in unobtainium. In my old age I have learned one thing if you have been able to purchase something that you like, never sell it. Find storage for it but don't sell, you will always be sorry.:cry Roy

[Tom Kochtanek]

Roy, I couldn't agree more. I don't have that great of a "list from the past", as I spent most of early formative years trying to figure out how to pay for eight years of college at a private university, but I did have favorites from that era. I have found out that going back and acquiring those cars, then restoring them to some semblance of their original design is quite an undertaking, and quite expensive.

Most folks aren't collectors of multiple cars. They buy one classic vehicle, focus on that (to varying degrees), and either keep that for some time, or sell to acquire a new project. I respect and totally understand that. I seem to be the opposite. I buy lots of clunkers and then select one for my efforts and begin. The others wait until I get more time or space to do them. I have two done and four in the queue. Sometimes I add to that queue without getting an existing project done. I guess if I were to run for political office I would be labelled as a "flip-flop" :). That's why my real estate purchases have included residences with storage or tracts of ground with barns. So I can hide my projects-in-waiting :).

After all these years I need a central place to keep all the good stuff. Some stuff stays in those barns (for example, parts cars). Hate to think what my wife will do when I go! She doesn't really know the extent of what I have acquired and what I have in them. Seeing how there are some half dozen "W" engines mocked up on engine stands in the basement, I think she has an idea...

The boys have been instructed to keep the cherries (finished cars and other valuables) but the wife rules the roost. Luckily they are coming of age and will have lives on their own soon. As soon as I centralize everything I bet I begin to distribute them out to the boys :). Lucky them, living my dreams! But I rest assured that they will take care of me in my later years, strapping me in my 409 cars and taking me for a thrill ride once every other Sunday :) :) :).

So for now all I can do is make a dream list, put some space together for long term storage, and figure out how to make enough extra cash to make those dreams a reality :). I'll always believe in that "idle hands" creed from the Bible...

Cheers!
TomK