#30 BB-Crashed, Bashed & Thrashed-Looking Good, Going Strong

[68 RSSS Ragtop]

I found this car somewhat neglected in a used car lot in Columbia, SC. I negotiated for the car for more than 6 weeks. All the while I was documenting it's authenticity, history and rarity.



When I came across it there were mounts for tube lighting under the car, the original battery was gone, the compression plaque on the console, floormats, key fob, the numbers on the windshield and rearview were gone. It had BF goodrich G-force tires, now replaced with the Eagle F-1's. It took me 6 weeks to document the car because Matt and the gang were at SEMA and then off to other parts of the country at the time I was looking to buy.



Once I did buy the car, I drove it back to Matts and he went through it and got me everthing the car was missing. He even added the rear GMMG badge. He told me it's 1 of 2 Black 2002 convertibles.



I met the original owner a few years back at the Varsity in Altanta. He told me the story of how he got sideswiped by a toyota camry and why he gave up the car due to a stroke and the car being a 6 speed.



This past spring I returned from the Middle East on a Sunday Evening. Moday morning I went to start the car- dead battery. So I jump started the car, told the wife to hop in so we could go to the dealer for a new one and I'd buy her lunch. 2 blocks from the dealer, sitting at a red light- WHAM rear ended by a City of Columbia F150 by a guy texting. Broke the tail ight and pushed in the rear valance a little, but didn't get the bumper. Now all skillfully repaired.



I've owned the car going on 6 years now. When I purchased it it had 61,000 miles on it, the odo now reads somewhere in the 82,000 range. (Are there any higher milage ones out there?) It's been put through it's paces a few times at the 1/4 track and around the Carolina Motorsport Park course. (The 380 on the hood lead to me being scoffed at by a new 2 SS 426hp owner- what he didn't realize was the 600 pound weight difference was going to allow me to chase him down in the straights every time! He was frustrated. :dance: )The car is signed by Scott Settlemire, F-body VP at GM, and Matt Murphy. It's nicknamed HABU- which is what the skunkworks engineers and pilots called the SR71 Blackbird aircraft.





























2007 Best Of Show- Charles Potter Racing

[NCGuy68]

Great story and Way Too Kool photos...... ......



AND, that 68 RS/SS Drop-Top has got to be a BLAST to drive! .....I wish I still had my Numbers Matching Van Nuys built 68 RS/Z28 with the factory installed 4:10 rear gear. But, thats another story......

[daytonajim]

Great story - love the BB - welcome. Jim

[68 RSSS Ragtop]

Coming up on 86,000 miles. Will be adding about 2,500 to 3,000 this summer when my son and I do the Hot Rod Power Tour, man this is a fun car to drive.

[2002Z4CSS]

Looks good!

[68 RSSS Ragtop]

@2002Z4CSS wrote:Looks good!

THANKS, yours too.

[CETABlackbird4]

I'll see you on the Power Tour. Driving to NC from WI with Jim Smith and my cousin Bob Connor. Taking CETA BB4.

[Damien Scott]

I love the history and personality each of these cars have. I just turned over 95,000 miles, still looking great and going strong.

[68 RSSS Ragtop]

@CETABlackbird4 wrote:I'll see you on the Power Tour. Driving to NC from WI with Jim Smith and my cousin Bob Connor. Taking CETA BB4.



Great, looking forward to cruisin' with another BB. I've only been at the F-Body Gathering with 3 other BB's, but we were static.



Damien, Your car looks great. I'm glad I'm not the only higher mileage one too.

[daytonajim]

Following Mayhem (Charley Lilliard) & Dennis Barker (Nickey)







On the road video (click photo)











@ Dells







With Trigger & Tami







With BB Owners - Mike, Bob, Aaron & Jim







Aaron & Bob