Original Owner Interviews.

[mockingbird812]

I'm having a hard time getting this out of my head...

"1. Ask if their Mom or Dad ever had to drive it for them. My Grandmother (on my Dad's side, a sturdy Polish woman) had to take my Uncle's '70 SS350 4sp Camaro (w/sidepipes and L60 or M50-15's on slots) on an errand once and got pulled over by a cop. My Grandfather (on my Mom's side) took my other Uncle's '68 Coronet R/T out while the son was in Vietnam. He, too, was pulled over by a policeman, because by the time he gave it enough gas to "even out the idle" he was 20mph over the limit. Both Grandparents were let off with warnings by the surprised officers. (I would KILL for a picture of my Grandmother driving that Camaro)"

The visual imagery is PRICELESS!

[Verne_Frantz]

It's funny you should ask about an original owner interview, as I'm planning one now. Here are a few of the questions I'm going to ask:
>What factors made you decide to buy that kind of car?
>What options did you choose and why were they important to you?
>Describe any changes you made to the car through it's life and why.
>Describe the days events when you picked up the car.
>What was the first driving experience like?
>Describe some of the times when you "played" with it on the street.
>Did you even take it down the track, and if so what were the times? Did you save any time slips?

That's just a few ideas for you.

Verne

[mockingbird812]

Excellent tips Verne. Thanks!

[PeteLeathersac]

And don't forget to ask if they have any old files and/or paperwork from the car also spare parts that may still be around...those original bias ply tires Dad hated and swapped also dead alternator etc may still be in the shed?.

Good luck Sam!.

~ Pete

[3macs1]

[ QUOTE ]
And don't forget to ask if they have any old files and/or paperwork from the car also spare parts that may still be around...those original bias ply tires Dad hated and swapped also dead alternator etc may still be in the shed?.

Good Point Pete on the parts. I remember talking some years back to the original owner of my 66 showing him some pictures. He came out with that is not the original air cleaner or tension pulley. I almost jumped and said yes they are since they were 100% 66 l-72 correct.I said what do you mean.
He said they look like the ones that were on her new but I took them off they are on the wall in the shed we will get them before you leave they belong back where they came from.
He kept them all those years and would not take a penny for them even aftre telling him what they were worth back then. I ended up mailing him a gift cert to a local restraunt. since I just could not take the idler and this air cleaner for nothing.
You never know what some people have kept off their cars.

[Keith Tedford]

After we bought our '69 SS396, I got in touch with the original owner. He told me that it was the best phone call that he had received in years. We later met him at the Waterdown, Ontario car show and had a great visit. He had built another '69 when the tracking down of his original car reached a dead end. Our car had about 12 previous owners and I have spoken to four of them. Never had any problems. The guy who was forced to sell his Chevelle might be a little bitter, but you never know until you call.

[Verne_Frantz]

Hands down, the BEST original owner interview would be with a guy just like that, who is thrilled to hear from the present owner..............and he "wants" to take a trip down memory lane.........

After I bought my one owner '62 a few years ago,(the owner had died a year earlier) I tracked down his best high school and post-high school buddy in Jersey City. I drove up there in my other '62 that I've owned since '68, picked him up and brought him back to my place to see the car again. I wanted him to sit in front of a '62 dash board again for an hour to get the old memory muscles working again. I recorded everything he could remember while he was here, either at the kitchen table with photos or in the shop walking around the car. What an experience!!!!

Verne