The garnet red paint on Grant Yeater’s 1969 Chevelle Super Sport has been well taken care of during the nearly 50 years he’s owned the car.
Jim Krumel | For The Lima News
CAREY, Ohio – Someone’s unlucky day turned out to be a good day for a then 16-year-old Grant Yeater.
That’s when he bought a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport for $400.
Yeater still has that car today, almost 50 years later. It’s in prime condition. He’ll never forget the day he came across it in 1975.
“The owner blew an engine in it while racing,” Yeater recalled. “I found it parked in a garage. He took $400 from me when I bought it, which was a lot of money for a 16-year-old kid at the time. Over the years, though, it’s proven to be quite a bargain.”
The Carey, Ohio, man and his grandson, 13-year-old Kalen Puckett, had the Chevelle at the Western Buckeye Region Vintage Chevrolet Club of America Show held in Lima in June.
The car has been completely rebuilt. He did a frame-off restoration in 2004, working on the vehicle for six to eight years.
“I did almost everything but the painting,” he said.
What sets his Chevelle off from others is the bench front seat.
“You don’t see that in a lot of other Chevelles. Most have bucket seats,” Yeater said.
Under the hood of his Chevelle is a four speed, 396 cubic-inch engine with 325 horsepower.
The Chevelle was one of Chevrolet’s most successful nameplates from 1964 to 1977. The 1969 model year was marketed as “America’s most popular mid-size car.”
General Motors will get no argument on that claim by Yeater or his grandson.
“Have you ever seen a car shine like that?” He asked. “It’s been a great car for me.”
GET YOUR CAR FEATURED
The Lima News publishes photographs of vintage cars, 20 years or older, free of charge in Real Wheels. It is easy to get your car featured:
• Mail: Real Wheels, Newsroom, The Lima News; 205 W. Market St., Suite #100A; Lima, OH 45801.
• Email: [email protected]
• Include: Photograph of your car; year of car, make and model; how many years you have owned the vehicle; car’s history; best memory of car; your name, address and telephone number (the phone number will not be published).
If you have further questions, contact The Lima News newsroom at 419-222-6397 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.
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