[wheelspin]

Well, after watching the surface rust on old GTO's horizontal panels worsen each year, and the original interior split and fade to the point where even my wife said "it's time to restore the Goat", I pulled it apart and took it to Auto Perfections in La Habra for a body on restoration. Having been assembled in Fremont CA and never leaving SoCal, the rust free (w/ the exception of surface rust on the trunk floor, the front footwells, and the bottom of the rear window) sheet metal should be an easy job after the usual door dings are pounded out.

First surprise on this original car was that the front clip had been replaced w/NOS panels @ some time in it's past (see black primer vs red oxide on body). No visible frame or cowl damage, or anything else to indicate a collision, leading me and my bodyman/painter to surmise that it may have been damaged on the assembly line or in transit. Whatever happened, my painter said that the entire car was painted in laquer, presumably after the front clip was replaced.

Gonna miss my "Survivor" .

Les