Well a minor score....FINALLY A 71 owner!!!
Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:22 pm
Well after about 3 years of searching for just the right 71 (to replace my 71 RR that I had in 1991 that I drove to high school), I finally bought one. Only the car is just a Satellite Serbring Plus. But the story is way to cool.
My Dad and I had gone looking for a new daily driver to replace my 93 Ram truck. We were out looking at the car lots. We had looked at pretty much all the normal places in the town where he lives so I decided expand my search to the smaller outlying towns. So my Dad and I are going through a small town (about 2000 people if that many). He said "Hey turn right here and I will show you were I bought my 60's Vette back before you were born." So we drive by the house where he bought it. Then we go down the main road for a bit longer. My Dad then said "Hey turn right here." So I said "Why". He replied "Well there used to be an Orange Satellite at one of these places." So I asked "How long ago?" My Dad said "Well that was when I was delivering for Sears and I tried for years to buy it but they would not sell it." Now keep in mind my Dad has not worked for Sears in about 28 years. Well I turn where he told me to. I asked him "Which house was it?" He said the very last house." Well I get about three houses from the househe said....... AND
I just blurt out "THAT CAR IS STILL SITTING THERE" So as we make a block to regain our senses my Dad tells me about a few of the times he stopped and asked about buying the car. Well Dad goes to the door and talked to the owner. My Dad told them about trying to buy the car nearly 30 years ago and then ALL I RECALL IS "Well I have been thinking about selling it". So my Dad and I look over the car and decided that with all the history of the car (my Dad trying to get the car so long ago, my Mom and Dad had a 71 Satellite when I was born and I have been searching everywhere for a 71 anyway) so I bought the car. We go back the next day to get the car. One of the owners relatives was telling us. "Well back about 81 he drove the car in the yard after getting a new car. I bet if you put a battery in there it would crank up!" Well we didn't want to try but that told me a little more history on the car. Anyway we haul the car up to the local car wash and start cleaning it out. Well three hours later we had the interior looking a little better. I found a newspaper ad dating 1981 and some service records on the car. ALSO found a SEARS ROEBUCK delivery slip (ironic since my Dad delivered for Sears when he tried to buy it long ago). Anyway. We get the car back to my Dads place. I started digging for the build sheet!! AND BINGO!!! STILL IN PERFECT SHAPE!!!!!!! Plus a buildsheet for another 71 Satellite. So I decided to open the owners manual that was still in the glovebox. HOLY CRAP there's a piece of the original window sticker. Once the shock wears off. DANG THERE IS THE ORIGINAL BILL OF SALE AND THE CAR CAME FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT MY PARENTS BOUGHT THEIR 71 SATELLITE NEW IN 71. Not a big deal but I thought it was very ironic!! My car was bought in Aug and my parents bought theirs in June or July.
Well after digging through all the paperwork, looking the car over. It appears that the car has 42k miles on it. It still has the service chaulk marks on the air cleaner lid showing 33k (something) miles and 37k (something) miles. Along with paperwork showing mileage through the years it all seems like it is sure 42k miles.
Once my computer gets repaired (having to use my wifes work computer) I will post some pics of the car to see what you all think about it. Keep in mind that the car is not even driver quality. It has rust in the lower 1/4's and a little in front the rear wheels. A couple of the windows had been broken out.
Anyway the car still wears its 1981 inspection sticker and its 1982 tags. I think most would say it is a parts car. However with the history and all the ironic twists in with the cars history I am thinking I will "restore it someday".
My Dad and I had gone looking for a new daily driver to replace my 93 Ram truck. We were out looking at the car lots. We had looked at pretty much all the normal places in the town where he lives so I decided expand my search to the smaller outlying towns. So my Dad and I are going through a small town (about 2000 people if that many). He said "Hey turn right here and I will show you were I bought my 60's Vette back before you were born." So we drive by the house where he bought it. Then we go down the main road for a bit longer. My Dad then said "Hey turn right here." So I said "Why". He replied "Well there used to be an Orange Satellite at one of these places." So I asked "How long ago?" My Dad said "Well that was when I was delivering for Sears and I tried for years to buy it but they would not sell it." Now keep in mind my Dad has not worked for Sears in about 28 years. Well I turn where he told me to. I asked him "Which house was it?" He said the very last house." Well I get about three houses from the househe said....... AND
I just blurt out "THAT CAR IS STILL SITTING THERE" So as we make a block to regain our senses my Dad tells me about a few of the times he stopped and asked about buying the car. Well Dad goes to the door and talked to the owner. My Dad told them about trying to buy the car nearly 30 years ago and then ALL I RECALL IS "Well I have been thinking about selling it". So my Dad and I look over the car and decided that with all the history of the car (my Dad trying to get the car so long ago, my Mom and Dad had a 71 Satellite when I was born and I have been searching everywhere for a 71 anyway) so I bought the car. We go back the next day to get the car. One of the owners relatives was telling us. "Well back about 81 he drove the car in the yard after getting a new car. I bet if you put a battery in there it would crank up!" Well we didn't want to try but that told me a little more history on the car. Anyway we haul the car up to the local car wash and start cleaning it out. Well three hours later we had the interior looking a little better. I found a newspaper ad dating 1981 and some service records on the car. ALSO found a SEARS ROEBUCK delivery slip (ironic since my Dad delivered for Sears when he tried to buy it long ago). Anyway. We get the car back to my Dads place. I started digging for the build sheet!! AND BINGO!!! STILL IN PERFECT SHAPE!!!!!!! Plus a buildsheet for another 71 Satellite. So I decided to open the owners manual that was still in the glovebox. HOLY CRAP there's a piece of the original window sticker. Once the shock wears off. DANG THERE IS THE ORIGINAL BILL OF SALE AND THE CAR CAME FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT MY PARENTS BOUGHT THEIR 71 SATELLITE NEW IN 71. Not a big deal but I thought it was very ironic!! My car was bought in Aug and my parents bought theirs in June or July. Well after digging through all the paperwork, looking the car over. It appears that the car has 42k miles on it. It still has the service chaulk marks on the air cleaner lid showing 33k (something) miles and 37k (something) miles. Along with paperwork showing mileage through the years it all seems like it is sure 42k miles.
Once my computer gets repaired (having to use my wifes work computer) I will post some pics of the car to see what you all think about it. Keep in mind that the car is not even driver quality. It has rust in the lower 1/4's and a little in front the rear wheels. A couple of the windows had been broken out.
Anyway the car still wears its 1981 inspection sticker and its 1982 tags. I think most would say it is a parts car. However with the history and all the ironic twists in with the cars history I am thinking I will "restore it someday".
But like I said the car is not even in daily driver condition so it is nothing special. It is just so nice knowing that I FINALLY have a 71 again. 
