Searching for parts car

Choptop · December 04, 2006, 10:56:41 PM

Hello Guys,
Haven't been here in a while. Been busy with other things.

A couple months ago, I bought a 1961 chevy belair bubbletop
(project car). The car was dismantled, and a full restoration
started by one of the previous owners. By the time I took ownership
of the car some of the parts were missing.

I need a 1961 chevy 2 door hardtop parts car.

Some of the parts missing are : All 4 headliner bows, all the channel
that attaches to the roof for the side glass to seal against when rolled
up, all heater components, wiper system, some of the window regulators.

I don't need any sheetmetal, bumpers, glass, engine, or trans.

I've been looking all over for a 2 door parts car in the midwest area.
I've been watching e-bay, looking in the auto-rv magazine, & looking
all over the internet. Nothing in the midwest.

Can anyone here please help me in my quest to locate a parts car
preferably not too far from northern Indiana? (One you may have
spotted sitting in an old salvage yard, or maybe behind a garage)?

I'll try to attach an image of my project below.

Thank you.

Crosley.In.AZ · December 04, 2006, 10:59:58 PM

good lookin car in the photo.

i mentioned to Janice about a year ago that I wondered where all the 61 & 62 chevy cars went to. I owned a 62 hard top in 1970..... run the tar out of it with a 302 chev in it....

blksheep · December 04, 2006, 11:18:25 PM

Maybe,......this man can help you.
He has dismantled over 60 '62 models and has or had '61 models and parts as well.
C.C. Antique Cars, Lenoir, NC
Mr. C.R. Coffey
Ph. 828-758-7069

blksheep...in Charlotte

Choptop · December 04, 2006, 11:24:30 PM

Thanx, Tony.

I've had a few bubbletops in the past. Well, actually, waaaay back!!!

My 1st one was in 1969. I was 18, and bought a 1959 corvette 4-speed car
right out of high school. Had that car about 1 year, and traded it EVEN
for a hondourous maroon 61 Impala bubbletop 4-speed 348/350HP/solid
cam. The car was from California. I loved that car. I put a 4:88 in it and
had a blast(Sunoco 260) on friday night with a pocket full of gas money!!

About 5 years later, I bought a midnight blue 61 belair bubbletop 6 banger
3-speed on column. I put a 327/365HP, 4-speed, and a 4:56 in that one.
Had that one for a couple years.

I've had a couple others, but the two first ones were the most fun.

I really like these cars, they are big ol' boats, very roomy, comfortable,
big trunk, and no blind spots. Nice body lines too. Well, in my humble opinion anyway.

Choptop

enjenjo · December 04, 2006, 11:24:54 PM

There is a junkyard near Portland Indiana that had several 61 Chevys. It's on Indiana 28 about three miles west of US 27. Can't remember the name of the place. I haven't been there in a couple years.

Choptop · December 04, 2006, 11:26:46 PM

Quote from: "blksheep"Maybe,......this man can help you.
He has dismantled over 60 '62 models and has or had '61 models and parts as well.
C.C. Antique Cars, Lenoir, NC
Mr. C.R. Coffey
Ph. 828-758-7069

blksheep...in Charlotte

Thanx, blksheep.

Choptop

Choptop · December 04, 2006, 11:42:32 PM

Quote from: "enjenjo"There is a junkyard near Portland Indiana that had several 61 Chevys. It's on Indiana 28 about three miles west of US 27. Can't remember the name of the place. I haven't been there in a couple years.

Enjenjo,

I just looked at the map & see Deerfield & Ridgefield. Does that sound
like either place?
Thanx.

Choptop

enjenjo · December 04, 2006, 11:57:21 PM

It's out in the country. Hough Charles S Auto Salvage 2159 W State Road 18
(260) 726-2036

Choptop · December 05, 2006, 06:05:06 AM

Quote from: "enjenjo"It's out in the country. Hough Charles S Auto Salvage 2159 W State Road 18
(260) 726-2036

Enjenjo,

THANK YOU !!!
I'll call him today.

BFS57 · December 05, 2006, 08:13:29 AM

Hello;
Nice looking Chevy. You could do as I do and go to EBAY and type in 1961 Chevy and see what pops up! You may be suprised

Bruce

tomslik · December 05, 2006, 08:50:30 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/61-impala-for-parts-1961-chevrolet-chevy_W0QQitemZ110062524143QQihZ001QQcategoryZ39405QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY-CHEVROLET-IMPALA-1961-ENGINE-POWERGLIDE-NR_W0QQitemZ330057402559QQihZ014QQcategoryZ6783QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

i KNOW there was a perfect candidate for ya on ebay a few days ago but i can't find it now

exsedan · December 05, 2006, 12:48:18 PM

I think if you can find someone with an interchange manual, that the '60-'61 Chevy, Olds, Buick and Pontiac "bubble top" sheetmetal, posts, glass and associated parts were all the same. Sure is worth a try.

All I can find are some pics in a book and they look the same. I am helping a friend on a '60 Olds hardtop and the '60 stuff is all the same.................EXSEDAN

Slick 50 · December 05, 2006, 01:26:15 PM

I think I just saw the glass channel stuff in a Steele Rubber Catalog if it's the same stuff you need.
It is an insert thingie that probably goes into the channels you are hunting.

purplepickup · December 05, 2006, 02:28:18 PM

I've got a friend that's been working on a '61 for about 10 years and I thought he had a parts car. I called him to ask and he said "Yeah I've got a parts car....the red one. I'm getting tired of looking at it."

I think it's more than you're looking for

Choptop · December 05, 2006, 05:27:20 PM

Enjenjo,
I called that salvage yard by Portland today. Fella I spoke with didn't know if he has a 61 chevy on site. Said he'd return my call tomorrow
to let me know.

Guy's,
I know about ebay. I'm all over it, every day. Mostly inflated pricing,
but even with that in mind, still haven't found anything close enough
to me (Northern Indiana).

Exsedan,
I like your idea of a "interchange manual". That thought never crossed
my mind. Don't know where I'd get one though. Have to do some checking.

Slick 50,
No one is reproducing (to my knowledge) this metal channel.

Thanx, everyone. Still looking..........
Choptop