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When someone starts a job of fixing up a car, he or she has to have the gumption to stick with it and see things to the end. Property manager and former GM mechanic Dawson Yeager had such an experience when he wound up purchasing this 1969 Chevelle SS from a Californian.
This mint-condition 502ci V8 was found by chance at an estate sale. Talk about lucky!
“I had a friend who had a line on one in Bishop, California, in 2009,” said Dawson. “It was a single-owner car, bought new back in 1969. It was a little on the high side of mileage with 72,000 miles on the odometer, but I couldn’t pass it up.
In a dash of good fortune, this same friend also had an “in” with the good folks at Classic Dash, which happened to be a skip and jump away from Dawson’s residence in Carson City, Nevada. The company graciously allowed Dawson his pick of the catalog, and he came upon his perfect choice: a GT-Series Carbon Fiber dashboard panel with Auto Meter gauges. It made for a fitting complement to the frame-off, rotisserie restoration that Dawson had been busy working on for the past four years.
Dawson opted for a carbon fiber dashboard with Auto Meter gauges to complement his TMI seat covers and Vintage Air A/C system.
“I really like the dash and gauges,” Dawson commented. “The finish looks great, and the speedometer has a GPS sensor. I’ve never had to regear or retune anything. It’s gone a long way toward making my interior beautiful.”
Dawson’s fortune came into play with the drivetrain too. His wife found a 502 cubic-inch GM crate engine at an estate sale, complete with the intake, ignition, and wiring. “About the only thing I did to the engine was reprogram the ECU and add an oxygen sensor to it,” said Dawson. It was mated to a 700R4 transmission and a Pypes 2.5-inch exhaust system.
If you’re thinking this muscle car is a dream to drive, you’d be right. “It’ll go down the highway at 65 mph, while turning 1,600 rpm,” said Dawson. “I get 16 mpg, and the Chevelle is so smooth and comfortable to drive, I love it.”
Dawson’s care and respect is something that we can all appreciate, and Classic Dash was indispensable in making the restoration a success. If you’re interested, we recommend you find your next interior revamp by checking out the provided contact information below.
