Hidden Treasures
Photos/Video/Story: T-Bone
Lately I have been thinking a lot about how things were “back then”. Most of the time when we look back to our past, we see it as a simpler time. And you don’t have to go that far back anymore. For example, looking back just to the ‘70’s and there was no internet, cell phones, and other techno-distractions. When you wanted to see someone you went over to their place. You made a call and if they weren’t home, you might leave a message, IF they had a machine. There were no gas stations. They were Service Stations. You pull up and drive over the rubber hose and “Ding, ding” the attendant would come out and service your car.
Dave Lindsley has a Ding, Dinger. He has a bunch of other cool stuff too. His garage has a Service Station specialty. Some call it Petroliana. Gas station memorabilia. There are a couple of incredible muscle cars to boot. Let’s take a stroll shall we?
First up is a 1969 L-78 Nova. In November of 1969 Dave ordered a Nova very similar to this one. With a 375 hp 396 ci powerplant, Super TH 400 transmission and bench seat. This car was found in Upstate New York, just miles from Dave’s hometown in Erie, PA where it remained into the 1980’s until it found it’s way to Southern California. The car was meticulously restored at American Muscle Cars, Inc.
Dave was highly inspired by the events of 1969. A time of wonder, imagination and incredible feats. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon and returned safely home. The Vietnam War is in full swing and the Brady Bunch premiered on ABC. What a tumultuous time.
That brings us to the beautiful blue/white ’69 Camaro Z/28 Cross Ram. One of only a few hundred and restored to it’s original glory. It features a rare Cross Ram (2) four-barrel carbs and developed for the S.C.C.A. Trans Am racing and helped the Penske/Donahue Racing Team win in 1969.
Yet several years earlier it was a different time. In 1966, Chevrolet introduced the L78 SS 396 Chevelle in response to Pontiac’s GTO and sent Chevrolet deep into the Musclecar Wars. Dave’s car is a very rare SS396 with the RPO L78 396/375 option. A numbers matching full frame-off nut/bolt restoration.
We dig all the signage, catalogs, advertisements, memorabilia, and accessories throughout the shop. Take a look at our video tour on BlacktopTV.