Talk about a feeling of pride. I followed it all the way to the paint shop. It was like it was on display on a pedestal! Have you any idea how many heads turned in its direction? I laughed all the way down to the body shop. 
I'm not sure how to describe the moment when you've done all you can do and now you, in escence, hand it over to someone else to fiddle with it. It's like nerve wracking, exciting and scary all at the same time. For the last day or so, every time I've opened up the garage door... it's like something important is missing. It's like sending out one of your kids to a stranger's house for weeks where... who knows what will happen! In my case I've been working on the car almost as long as my daughter's been alive. It's been a fixture in my garage forever. And now it GONE! The garage looks HUGE!
Here's the future owner of the Camaro already set to take it out for a test drive. Since the car came from my wife's side of the family, I think it will continue down the women's line... AFTER I'm done with it! When my son gets older... If money permits, we'll choose another classic for him when he's 14 or 15. So, hopefully it will be ready for him when he's ready to drive. I hope that if he puts enough of his blood, sweat and time into it, he'll treat it well instead of treating it like the proverbial first car junker.
Say what you will about the 69 camaro... I still think the 67 & 68 are far superior in style and design. The 69 was MADE to look racey. The 67 and 68 just were... from the get go. Whether they were meant to be or not, they were just a killer design that took the world by storm. I'd like the rear of my 67 to be a little lower than this but there is something to be said about that classic hot rod rake. I hear, though, that with time the new Hotchkis suspension will settle down a little as I drive it more.
Have you ever just thought... "am I EVER going to be done?" I can see the light now at the end of that tunnel. I like the look of the new hood on the car. I'm not going to cut up a perfectly good original trunk for a rear spoiler but I am gooing to add an origianl chin spoiler. Together with the cowl induction hood... man I just can't wait!
I havent's seen the trunk closed in... I don't know how long. By the way... the easiest way to align and install the hood is to tack it on loosely, shut it, align it so that the gaps are just the way you want it, then reach in through the tail light holes and tighten the bolts. Easy Peesy!
The car is WHOLE!!!! Pulled out with all its sheetmetal and under its own power since it was taken apart the first time. The ride around the block was ... AMAZING! ... especially since it doesn't have a windshield yet. HAHAHAHA! Talk about feeling the speed!
After having sat dormant in a box for almost 2 years I finally unpacked the NPD (National Parts Depot) hood and installed it for the first time ever. Gramps' old car just doesn't have the same feel anymore.
So I decided to go for the solid paint look like the newer cars and take the look of the pro touring cars... though mine is not that advanced and powerful. In order to do so, I decided to remove all chrome and stainless trim items. So I spent weeks welding up all the holes for the trim screws and rivets, then applied Rage Extreme (bondo) and block sanded till the spray on guided coat showed few to no low/high spots. Soon it will be up to the paint shop to perfect my job and give it that coat it's been wanting for years now.
Today was the first time both fenders have been installed in over 3 years!
After a long week of sanding, blasting and stripping the front clip (with my wife's help- thanks babe!) I finally got some sealer primer on all the components. Plus I also undercoated the wheel wells.
