Ah yes, the GR8PMKN. If you have been around the chevelle forums and sites over the last few years you have probably heard and or seen the 1967 Chevelle SS that was the GR8PMKN. I'm a little biased when it comes to this car as it used to belong to my dad . So I will tell you my quick story of this car and then let him tell you his.

It was some 20 years ago when Dad brought home the Chevelle. I was 14 or 15 at the time and while dad has had several Chevelles in the past this was my first real experience with a real American muscle car. I remember a green 69 that had when I was 2 or 3, but that is nothing more than a faint image in my mind.

This car though had me mesmerized with its classic black paint job with flames. I remember thinking it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I was there for most of the build up of this car, especially through its phase II life. I remember the very frequent visits by the UPS man bringing engine parts, trim pieces and other items that first sat in boxes in the garage waiting their turn for assembly. I missed the day that dad got the engine built and fired up the first time (away at grandmas :-) ), but I do remember one of the first test runs when he put in a new clutch. We lived on the edge of town and there was this little road not far from the house. We went about a 1/4 mile or so down this road, turned around and with a simple "hang on" he flew through the gears before I realized what was going on. When he let off the gas I remember him saying to himself something about the clutch slipping a little and all I could think of was two things. How does he know that and can we do it again!

During that period we spent most of the summers going to cars shows in southern Oklahoma with a couple trips up to Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and northern Texas. Everything from local shows to World of Wheels events where I experience nice street rides and all out show cars. It was during those summers that I learned that a hot rod should be driven. Big block, old Muncie four speed, no air conditioning and only the only music we listened to was the gentle roar of that rat.

Very, very fond memories indeed.

By time phase III came along, I wasn't living at home anymore but I kept in touch as much as I could and followed the progress of the build. I remember several of Dad's wild plans for the car but I never invisioned what it would finally become, and I loved it. It was just plain different. My wife and I went to several big shows down in Nashville with dad and amongst the sea of hundreds of Chevelles his was one of several that truly stood out. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of nice rides at those shows but few went to the level that the GR8PMKN achieved and were still street cars. Did I mention that it was driven to every single show? Yep, never trailered.

I'm going to close out my little introduction with one final thing. It took 16 years or so before I got to drive that thing. I was 30 before dad gave me the keys and I got pretty lucky for my first real drive. He planned on attending another show in Nashville but had work repsonsibilities and couldn't get the car there in time. So he brought it up to me in Kansas City and my wife and I drove it for him until he could get there. It was the best road trip I ever had, and I'll never forget it.

So, for the actual story on the car I'll let him tell it in his own words. Oh and Dad, thanks. For everything.

The car was originally purchased in 1986 in Dallas, TX. from an advertisement that simply read "67 Chevelle for sale". It turned out to be a real SS 4-speed car with a very tired small block. After driving it home in the rain, about 175 miles with only 4-gear (no clutch either), I began planning its resurrection. The suspension was completely rebuilt first. The car was then towed to a body shop to have the sheet metal done. Meanwhile, I was getting the parts together to rebuild a 396 I found from another 1967 SS donor car.

That engine turned out to be from a 1969 Chevelle and it was already bored .030. Since the car was to be a daily driver, a mild Competition Cams kit was installed. A cleanup bore to .040 over and a balanced crank/rod/piston assembly from PAW was used. Topside, the heads were modified for unleaded fuel by installing hardened exhaust seats. The Edelbrock intake, 3310 Holley and Accel dual-point ignition topped it off. Hooker headers took care of the exhaust.

All chrome pieces available at the time were replaced (grille, side trim, etc.) while others were replated (bumpers, taillight housings etc.). Since I also owned a 1985 Buick GN at the time, the interior was redone in the same silver/black cloth colors over the stock seats and the trunk was recarpeted at the same time. The body was painted GM code 15, medium gray. The custom wood dash was added in 1992 and housed 7 AutoMeter gauges, while a VDO electric speedo and GM Bowtie Monster tach are mounted underneath. Since April of 1992, I kept a daily log of the mileage and the car has seen 32,000 very reliable miles and averaged around 11 MPG. In its 10 years, the brakes have been replaced once and one broken rocker arm replaced. It's been very reliable indeed. The car was pretty much a daily driver except during Oklahoma ice storms.

The paint was beginning to show wear and tear and I felt overall the car was in need of a makeover. So in the fall of 1998 I set out to redo the Chevelle. The first step was to strip the old paint, gut the interior and go just a little wilder this time. The exterior was treated to a pearl orange with gold ghost flames and a single white flame down each side. The interior was completely overhauled with a custom dash and Dakota Digital gauges, 4 bucket seats, full length center console and all recovered in a tan tweed. Other amenities included power windows, shaved door handles, and remote control for windows up or down and electric door pulls.

The engine was still lively and so it was pretty much left alone...until I got the opportunity to purchase an Accel digital fuel injection unit complete with MSD ignition setup. Naturally the stock SS hood wouldn't clear the fuel injection so a new Glasstek hood was ordered, installed, and painted to match. Over the next few years additional changes were made such as Baer 13" disc brakes, Vintage Air air conditioning and 17" American Racing wheels.

The car was still a driver and I not only drove it to work often but made numerous trips from Oklahoma to Kansas City, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Nashville to attend car shows. Sadly, after 17 years, all good things must come to an end. The car was sold to a couple in Kentucky where I hear is still being shown and driven.

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