We’ve all heard stories, seen ads, or have witnessed the proverbial, “one owner, little old lady” car. Most of us want the one that has only been driven to the market and then church on Sundays. The problem is, those little old ladies are dying, and the cars are ending up with family that doesn’t want them, doesn’t care about them, or worse, think they will restore them “someday.” Well I’m here to tell you there’s still one left, as this ‘69 Chevelle proves.
While on the way to the 2009 NHRA Winternationals I spotted this gem pulling out of a parking lot. I did what any self-respecting junkie would do, and followed it. As I pulled up close, I realized there was in fact a little old lady driving. While trying to snap pictures, I ended up following her about a mile and a half into a grocery store parking lot. I was giddy like a school boy, and this must have been evident, because she didn’t freak out when I was standing in front of the car taking pictures while she parked it.
I quickly introduced myself, and apologized for intruding on her grocery getting trip, at which time she introduced herself, said it happens all the time, and then thanked me for not asking if she would sell the car. I explained to her that I was entirely too poor to buy the car, but that she would find nobody who appreciated it more than I. This was when the story got good.
As I was walking around the car, getting all the pictures I could, and drooling uncontrollably, the 77-year-old retired school teacher told me the car’s history. In October 1969, she was in the market for a new car and went to the dealer with her husband. After sitting in a couple of Dodges and not feeling comfortable she looked across the street, and saw this blue ‘69 Chevelle. As she described sitting in the car the first time, she lost all 40 of the years she’s owned it. She was delighted. The car was a demo and had 5,000 miles on it when she bought it.
It has 170,000 miles on it now and runs mint thanks to a rigorous six-month maintenance schedule at the same shop she’s been going to for the last 20-plus years. She is having a very minor tear repaired in the near mint, black, bench seat, non-air-conditioned interior and has talked to a body shop about a fresh coat of paint. It’s been painted once before, but you would never know it, and doesn’t have even a speck of rust anywhere. The original 250hp 350, Turbo 350 and 10-bolt still get her from home to the store or to run errands 3-4 times a week where she carefully parks it to avoid door dings. This car is “little old lady” fresh times 10. I want it bad.
