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garyboehm · 05-06-2008, 06:42 PM

This story is so sad that I almost hate to share it...almost. My wife and I ordered a 69 442 and took delivery in the fall if 1969. We enjoyed the car for two years, until kids and a shrinking budget caused me to trade it in on something more...ah...family oriented. It was a 4 speed, factory air, 8-track Meadow Green over Gold (which must have been special order - according to the books I have now, Meadow Green over Gold wasn't possible).

In 1999 I started to look for a 69 442. All I could find were finished cars that I couldn't afford, rust buckets, or non-factory air cars. In 2001 a new co-worker told me of a guy that had a bunch of 'Cutlasses or something' not far away. My wife and I drove all over that area, but couldn't find anything. The co-worker finally got his number and I called him on a Friday afternoon. I told him I was looking for a 69 442, factory air project car. He said he was looking at one right in front of his shop. I said, no you don't understand, a 69 442 factory air project car. He said, right, it's in front of me. I told him I'd be there in an hour. My wife and I met him, and we bought the car. It had a 455, auto tranny, interior was shot, but the body looked good, only one rusted out section on the left rear quarter. He and his wife were in the business of rebuilding cars, and we struck up a deal. He would make this car into a driver, new interior, & paint. Then I made a fatal mistake, over the next two months, I paid him 100%. They were about our age (old enought to know better) and I thought I could trust him.

Two years later, he had not touched the car, it still sat in front of his shop. I had since gotten the title, and found out that I was the official second owner of a Texas car! Neither he, nor the young man that bought it from the original owner had changed the title, so I'm second.

Then I made my second fatal mistake. I told him that I wanted to take the car to the Woodward avenue show that was coming up in several months. He said he wouldn't let me. LET ME! HUH? Then he said not unless we did a frame off restoration. I asked him what that would add to the price, and he said $800, and add two weeks. TWO WEEKS??? Anyway, I thought it might push him, so I said do it. In about 1 month I drove by and he had taken the body off the frame, sat it on rims, and I couldn't find the frame. After several months, (forget Woodward) I asked him about my frame. He said it was in a frame shop, I asked which one, and he said he wouldn't tell me, because I might cause trouble. (Yup, he got that right!). After about another year, I decided it was time to pull the plug. I contacted a lawyer, and was advised I was wasting my time. The guy probably didn't own anything. I'm sure all the cars in his yard were owned by someone else.

The lawyer sent him a letter, but it didn't do any good. So I contacted the Sheriff, and was told it I wanted to 'take' my property, I'd have to do it when he wasn't there. So, I gathered up all my male kin, 9 of us, and we loaded my body on a trailer. When we got there, there was a rolling frame sitting next to my car. My nephew said, 'Isn't that your frame?'. I don't think so, I said. He said 'I think it is'. I said, maybe it is! So we took it too.

The next morning, the guy called me, calling me every name that's unprintable. I told him I'd swap frames.

After several days dealing witht the Sheriff to make sure the swap happened, I took his frame and swapped for my frame. He gave me my front fenders that day. I asked him for the rest of my parts, but he refused.

So for the past 2 years I have been slowly replacing the parts, and licking my wounds over the money I lost.

The frame has been powder coated and is now being re-assembled. The body work is almost done. In about a month I'll have the body on the frame, then I'll start on the interior. I bought a 400 engine a year ago, and it has been rebuilt and painted and I found a rebuilt M22 4 speed.

When this car is done, I'll have more money and emotional energy in it than anyone in their right mind would do. But I'm determined to drive this 442 one day and spit in the eye of that thief!

05-06-2008, 06:42 PM	#61 (permalink)
garyboehm Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 16	69 442 from @#$%$## This story is so sad that I almost hate to share it...almost. My wife and I ordered a 69 442 and took delivery in the fall if 1969. We enjoyed the car for two years, until kids and a shrinking budget caused me to trade it in on something more...ah...family oriented. It was a 4 speed, factory air, 8-track Meadow Green over Gold (which must have been special order - according to the books I have now, Meadow Green over Gold wasn't possible). In 1999 I started to look for a 69 442. All I could find were finished cars that I couldn't afford, rust buckets, or non-factory air cars. In 2001 a new co-worker told me of a guy that had a bunch of 'Cutlasses or something' not far away. My wife and I drove all over that area, but couldn't find anything. The co-worker finally got his number and I called him on a Friday afternoon. I told him I was looking for a 69 442, factory air project car. He said he was looking at one right in front of his shop. I said, no you don't understand, a 69 442 factory air project car. He said, right, it's in front of me. I told him I'd be there in an hour. My wife and I met him, and we bought the car. It had a 455, auto tranny, interior was shot, but the body looked good, only one rusted out section on the left rear quarter. He and his wife were in the business of rebuilding cars, and we struck up a deal. He would make this car into a driver, new interior, & paint. Then I made a fatal mistake, over the next two months, I paid him 100%. They were about our age (old enought to know better) and I thought I could trust him. Two years later, he had not touched the car, it still sat in front of his shop. I had since gotten the title, and found out that I was the official second owner of a Texas car! Neither he, nor the young man that bought it from the original owner had changed the title, so I'm second. Then I made my second fatal mistake. I told him that I wanted to take the car to the Woodward avenue show that was coming up in several months. He said he wouldn't let me. LET ME! HUH? Then he said not unless we did a frame off restoration. I asked him what that would add to the price, and he said $800, and add two weeks. TWO WEEKS??? Anyway, I thought it might push him, so I said do it. In about 1 month I drove by and he had taken the body off the frame, sat it on rims, and I couldn't find the frame. After several months, (forget Woodward) I asked him about my frame. He said it was in a frame shop, I asked which one, and he said he wouldn't tell me, because I might cause trouble. (Yup, he got that right!). After about another year, I decided it was time to pull the plug. I contacted a lawyer, and was advised I was wasting my time. The guy probably didn't own anything. I'm sure all the cars in his yard were owned by someone else. The lawyer sent him a letter, but it didn't do any good. So I contacted the Sheriff, and was told it I wanted to 'take' my property, I'd have to do it when he wasn't there. So, I gathered up all my male kin, 9 of us, and we loaded my body on a trailer. When we got there, there was a rolling frame sitting next to my car. My nephew said, 'Isn't that your frame?'. I don't think so, I said. He said 'I think it is'. I said, maybe it is! So we took it too. The next morning, the guy called me, calling me every name that's unprintable. I told him I'd swap frames. After several days dealing witht the Sheriff to make sure the swap happened, I took his frame and swapped for my frame. He gave me my front fenders that day. I asked him for the rest of my parts, but he refused. So for the past 2 years I have been slowly replacing the parts, and licking my wounds over the money I lost. The frame has been powder coated and is now being re-assembled. The body work is almost done. In about a month I'll have the body on the frame, then I'll start on the interior. I bought a 400 engine a year ago, and it has been rebuilt and painted and I found a rebuilt M22 4 speed. When this car is done, I'll have more money and emotional energy in it than anyone in their right mind would do. But I'm determined to drive this 442 one day and spit in the eye of that thief!