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Topic starter
30/10/2024 11:09 am
I was thinking about a parts car that I came upon with unusual (but cool) factory and dealer installed options. Anyone who has read my posts knows I’ve always been a Pontiac guy. About 20 years ago I was looking for a posi rear end for my ‘63 Cat, and let the word out. One of my friends I worked with at Timken told me that his dad was an avid camper and that he had a ‘64 Bonnie that was set up for hauling so it was probable it had the rear end I needed. His dad apparently never got rid of his cars because when we got to his place there were a dozen cars in a field. It was a bitch getting under the car, but it did indeed have the little aluminum tab on the pumpkin bolt, so the arduous task was on. Here’s the punchline, the car was a 4 door With bucket seats, a console with vacuum gauge with a 3 speed manual, and dealer installed trailer brake. With selling all of the parts, I actually got the rear end basically free. It will be interesting hearing of your experience with unusual features.
30/10/2024 1:57 pm
A friend of mine almost bought a late '60's Galaxie station wagon because it had a big block, manual trans, buckets, etc... It looked like a family car, but all those factory options made it a hot rod.
My 1957 Dodge Coronet Lancer was built in CA then shipped to Hawaii. Despite being an otherwise nicely equipped hardtop, it was a true factory-heater delete vehicle with NO heat, blower motor, or window defroster. Apparently, the firewall mounted platter-sized delete plate alone was worth some bucks.
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Topic starter
30/10/2024 5:20 pm
@chris I seem to remember an article about a late 60’s, early 70’s Ford wagon with a 428 or 429 and 4 speed, all factory. It was amazing what you could order on your new car back in the day!
30/10/2024 6:53 pm
Years ago a friend called and said he wanted to come over to show me his new purchase. His uncle had passed away and he bought his 1960 Corvette at the estate sale. Turns out the car did not have a single option on it. The engine was the base motor 230 HP, three speed manual transmission with no syncros into low gear, no posi, no radio with delete plate,, no heater, dog dish hubcaps, soft top only and no tutone side coves which was a $16.15 option and black wall tires. Because the car had no radio, it also didn't have the ignition shielding.
30/10/2024 7:06 pm
@kevins Yep, a car like that is what he ran across in the mid-late 1980's. I remember well our discussion, "Just because something is rare doesn't necessarily make it valuable." My friend thought it over but passed. I'm not sure what something like that would be worth today. 🤔 🤨
30/10/2024 7:15 pm
Turns out the car did not have a single option on it.
Wow, great story! You KNOW that was ordered....it's rare dealers stock base versions of anything.
In late '92 I bought a 1993 Plymouth. I specified only a few options. I'll never forget the sales manager's call, "Well Chris, I really thought we'd have to order this for you, but we found one 500 miles away; I'll have to send a man to pick it up..... are YOU sure you want this?"
30/10/2024 8:53 pm
I've always liked unusual factory-equipped cars as well as neatly executed clones or tributes and offer photos of a couple of examples.
1962 Chevrolet Bel Air Station Wagon - 409 - 380hp (single 4bbl. carb) and a 3-speed manual transmission. The picture(s) quality isn't great but you can see some detail:
1962 Chevrolet Biscayne 4-door sedan - 409 - 380hp and a 4-speed transmission:
I have several more photos of other, some extremely rare cars and will share them on occasion, if you wish.
Thanks for posting your Pontiac story, I enjoyed it.
Topic starter
30/10/2024 9:25 pm
@tldaly Thanks for sharing, these are some great examples, and great cars. I love seeing this stuff!
30/10/2024 11:27 pm
Very nice. Yes, indeed! Show us more!
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
Christopher Moroni and Tony Perrone reacted
31/10/2024 6:40 am
Got to believe these unusual optioned cars would have to be fully paid for in advance of the order being place as these cars would be almost impossible to unload if the buyer did not complete the purchase before delivery.
John Bono
North Jersey
Christopher Moroni and Tony Perrone reacted
31/10/2024 6:54 am
Got to believe these unusual optioned cars would have to be fully paid for in advance of the order being place as these cars would be almost impossible to unload if the buyer did not complete the purchase before delivery.
Thinking back on the new cars I actually ordered, they took a considerable amount of time to receive and I'm sure others who did so may have had buyers remorse and wanted out of the order process. That's when the dealer would want money up front. I usually had to put money down or sign a contract to trade a car in for the new order.
Not sure you can even order one today. The makers websites have a "Build & Buy" availability so I suppose it is still a viable means of getting what you want. Plus now they have several 'levels' of option packages that the dealer orders making it easier to pick one out at the lot when they have abundant stock. Sure miss those good old days!
John Bono and Christopher Moroni reacted
31/10/2024 7:14 am
Not sure you can even order one today.
I my case, the last 2 cars I ordered new (trying to get a red interior is like pulling teeth... but it can be ordered ) was without ANY money down AND it was stipulated that if I changed my mind, even on delivery day, I was under NO obligation. Neither vehicle took longer than 5 weeks from build-sheet to delivery. I thought that was more than reasonable & fair. 😀 😀 And NO, I didn't overpay.... it took weeks/months to find the best deals. 😉
John Bono and Tony Perrone reacted
31/10/2024 7:22 am
Not sure you can even order one today.
I my case, the last 2 cars I ordered new (trying to get a red interior is like pulling teeth... but it can be ordered ) was without ANY money down AND it was stipulated that if I changed my mind, even on delivery day, I was under NO obligation. Neither vehicle took longer than 5 weeks from build-sheet to delivery. I thought that was more than reasonable & fair. 😀 😀 And NO, I didn't overpay.... it took weeks/months to find the best deals. 😉
VERY cool Chris. My 1st new car (64 GTO) I took from the lot. 2nd new one was ordered - 1970 Nova 350. 4 speed, posi, A/C, power this and that, and a couple things I don't remember. Eight weeks. Then a 1972 Stingray - 11 weeks from ordering in the dealership to coming back to pick it up.
There were several others after that and all much quicker but still over a month. I ordered over 60 cars as part of our fleet deal when buying company cars and they were all between 4 to 6 weeks to process. We had to get pre-bids from Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler before ordering from the cheapest one.
John Bono and Christopher Moroni reacted
31/10/2024 8:28 am
The only car I ever ordered was my '65 Impala SS...nothing unusual except for the oversized 825x14 WW tires...IMO the oversized tires improved the stance and made it appear as if it were "409" powered. GM labor was on strike at the time, I had to wait about 10 weeks for delivery.
John Bono
North Jersey
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