So, I met this guy ....

My Frontier needed tie rod ends, an alignment and its annual Inspection, so I made a date with Fat Boyz downtown.  Dropped it off in the morning and walked the home.  They called at 5:00 to say it was ready, I asked if I could pick it up in the morning.  

They always have nice stuff hanging around, their parts chaser is a '64 Impala beater.  Strolled down the 3 blocks, there was a BEAUTIFUL 1970 El Camino outside the building, running while the head fat boy was putting in freon to the AC.  As I admired the 454 a little guy strolled up, "Is this you?"  Yeah.  This is my daily.   The other ones are nice.    I tried not to turn green.

"I mess with cars, but I could never have anything this nice".  What are working on?  I told him about the LaSalle and he said it was a rare car.  I offered to show pictures but didn't have my phone.  He asked if I live nearby, yep; gave him my address and he showed up when he finished at the shop.

Angelo showed up but I could hear the car ass he turned on to my street!  We chatted, I showed him the LaSalle and he was giggly, "This is a rare car!  Keeping it stock I hope".  Oh yeah, the 322 Caddy engine should work out fine once refreshed.  I explained how I bought with a frozen engine.  After looking around at the crap on my walls ad the block on a stand, he asked if I was handy.  Not ASE Certified handy, but I know some stuff.  He said he had an issue with his '38 Chevy, needs new springs.  Easy enough.  He light up.  Want to take a look?  OK.

He gave me his address about 5 miles south and I told him I would be down within the hour.  We shook hand and he excited a few teenagers on departure.

OK, I got lost twice, his house is in a development carved into the woods in the 1970s, windy roads that made no sense, but his was in a cul-de-sac.  Other homes were 1/2 acre, his was pie shaped with the front doo at pointy end and his rear fence on the crust end, he had almost 2 acres.

Dayum!!  I got a garage?  His is 3 bays wide and at least 4 cars deep.  Storage and an office up above, it's heated and air conditioned.

Chevelle with a 502 and a Tremac 6 speed.  Wilwood brakes.

1951 2100?  Don't recall the model.  The wood box he hates holds a fuel cell, I suggested just moving it.  Angelo explained that he's not handy, he hires everything out.  Everything.

He's got restamped hood and fenders upstairs.

The 1938 Chevy is odd, no back seat but the trunk goes right up to the back of the front seats.  You could literally use it to sleep in!  He wants to put new springs in this because there's a clunk sometimes.  He also hates the way it shifts, slams hard kicking you in the back, he likes smooth.  I suggested taking out the shift kit, as far as the clunk, call me someday and we'll go for a ride and figure it out.

He apologized for the Ford there, but at one time he was into boats and needed it to haul them.  He has a 1,000 hp big block on a stand in the office looking for a home.

The Chevy is probably a 'business coupe', designed for traveling salesmen. Lots of space in it for product or samples.

Oops.

Love the Elky.  I've always PREFERRED El Caminos and Rancheros over their less rare and less utilitarian cousins.  But the market doesn't agree and for once that's fine with me.

Only thing I'd change on that '70 is the wheels (including the one behind the dash).  

In reply to ddavidv :

Exactly.

Very nice!!!

My friend had a '36 Chevy street rod.  He showed me how you could lay down the seat and sleep comfortably in it with your head or feet in the trunk.  When it was modified in the mid '70s it was done just for that - to take on dates.  Sort of a van without all the free candy jokes.  With Pinto rack and pinion and a 307 / Powerglide it drove surprisingly well and had no problem keeping up with traffic when I got to take it for a spin in the mid '90s.  Oh, and chicks dug that car which seriously surprised me- this was before everyone went around isolated in their own little bubbles.  

This is the perfect case against built versus bought. Hes a car guy, through and through. Ha knows he dosen't know, so he hires people who do.

This is also why I talk. I talk to people. A lot. You never know what opportunity awaits, simply from chatting. 

Appleseed said:

This is also why I talk. I talk to people. A lot. You never know what opportunity awaits, simply from chatting. 

Agreed.  Angelo and I talked just before I left and agreed we had met somewhere before.  I suggested the Saratoga Auto Museum, nope, never been there.  Car shows?  Don't go to them anymore.  I remember him, remember his voice but can't remember where; neither can he.

If I can help sort a few things out and take a break from my automotive frustrations at the same time, why not?