How many L79s in existence now?

[KENSSL79]

In a related thread about L79s with AC, Scott from NovaResource said that 5481 1966 L79s were built, of which 3547 were 2 dr SS models.
My question (even though it's hard to know for sure) - how many 1966 2 dr SS L79s are in existence today? I'm very curious.
Please give me your best estimates.
Thanks
Ken

[patman]

Judging by eBay, about 10,000

[CdnL79 Registry]

Ken, there are so many variables there's no way to know if an answer to your question would even be close.
Here in Canada, they built 195 L79 Chevy IIs, about 100 of which were SSs. Through the Canadian L79 registry, which I administer, we estimate maybe 20- 25 are still around in various states of existence. Ten GM Canada documented L79 SSs are in the registry and it's estimated that maybe 10 more exist in Canada and a couple in various parts of the U.S. Using the same formula, if 25% of U.S. built SSs still exist, that would be almost 900 cars. Seems high to me. What do you think?
Bob

[KENSSL79]

Bob:
Thanks for your reply. A lot of what I've read over the years seem to emphasize how much it was valued as a drag car with its high horsepower/weight ratio and, obviously Grumpy Jenkins was one of the L79's best salesman. With its low cost compared to the hemis that it raced against, my initial impression is that a lot of them were bought, made in full race drag cars, raced to the max, then parted out or sold for cheap to some guy on the street who kept it for awhile, got tired of it, and sold it for $200 or left it in his backyard under a tree. Even a person who bought a 2 dr SS for his personal use wouldn't have known its unique place in Nova history - it was a cool and cheap vehicle.
There was no L79 mystique in the late 70s and 80s, and even the early 90s, so very few people really valued that model to safekeep it.
I went to HOT August Nights in Reno, NV four years ago, there were 8,000 cars and I never saw an L79.
My guess is that 10-15% are still around but who knows?
I would appreciate it if those of you around the country can share your recent L79 sightings over the past two years so we could come up with a better guess.
Thanks
Ken

[JR]

I try to look at a bunch but what is a pretty good indication that it is a L79 if the eng. has been changed out. Mine had a 327 when I got it. I think it has the 3/8 line running outboard of the driveshaft. It is a SS w/4spd hump. Stupid me change the rear and swaped the one from it to a station wagon which I sold:eek:
What else can I look for on mine and others?
JR:)

[Cage]

I would appreciate it if those of you around the country can share your recent L79 sightings over the past two years so we could come up with a better guess.


Rudy at Modern Performance sold his L79 about a year or two ago. He would be a good guy to come up with an estimate. Next time I see him I'll ask.

Mark

[undercvrSS]

My dad had an SS L-79 about 3 years ago, then sold it. It's now in Oceanside Ca. It was a Black on black car, and matching numbers.

[james 64]

I would appreciate it if those of you around the country can share your recent L79 sightings over the past two years so we could come up with a better guess. Quote


I have friends that went to Auburn, Indiana Kruse aution last fall they said they autioned 5000+ cars not one L79 or even a clone.

[66nogo2]

Bob Meals-(Finishing Touches) says he has one in need of restoration. Ebay ID okmusclecar AKA-chevyray says he has one in the garage. Ebay ID novabilder says he owns one. Have not seen them, but they all seem honest and good guys.
EDIT- HOW MANY DOES NOVADOUG OWN?????????

[JR]

Is there a list of what to look for that narrows it down?:)

[Mordorman]

Had one show up at the Northeast Nova Show.Black/Black combo.Never got a chance to talk to the owner.He was a local that showed up stayed a couple hours or so and left.I know for a fact theres at least 3 in NJ.Getting them out is another story.

[undercvrSS]

A buddy of mine has a Butternut yellow / black interior SS. Documented car, but has'nt seen the light of day for probobly 10 years. A freind restored it to probobly as close to 100 points as you can, sold it to another freind, who just parked it. It has about 15 miles on it. Sad huh?

[l79Nova]

My L79 has been sitting since 1984. My friend owned it in the early 70's in high school. He pulled the block in 72 or 73 for a supposed crack and oil in the water. I bought the car in late 74 with a full race 302 and drove it till 79. I pulled the 302 and put in a 283. I parked it in 84. I found the original block back in the early 90's from the guy it was sold to in 73 that was going to be put it in a 55 Nomad. He never did and sold it back to me for $50. The block has rust and the oil filler hole at the manifold is rusted out on the inside but solid on the outside. It may be fixable. I need to find a good engine builder that can go thru it and see if it is salvageable. The car is Marina blue with Bright blue interior. I live in Redondo Beach California and I used to cruise the beach and hang out back in the 70’s where Ruby’s restaurant in South Redondo sits now. Collin, with the red 67 convertible Camaro and late 60's Chevy Shortbed, is one of the guys that helps head up Ruby’s cruise nights and cruised with me back then and keeps bugging me to sell it. A few people still remember it from back then. It needs a good restoration now.

[CdnL79 Registry]

I would appreciate it if you guys in the U.S. could keep your eyes open for Canadian built L79s that have slipped across the border over the years. The Canadian L79 Registry has 5 cars that are now in the U.S. and we know there are others. Canadian built cars will have body color firewalls and trunks (if they haven't been incorrectly restored), will say GM Canada on the door jamb VIN plate and the VIN will start with a '6' (the year designation was at the beginning of the VIN on Canadian cars). If you come across any, let the owner know there's a Registry for Canadian L79s, get an e-mail address or phone number and PM me with it. Thanks Guys.
Bob

[Craigert]

I ran into a fella in Turlock, Ca. who had a Marina Blue L79 who said his car had the original paper sticker adhered to the rear of the passenger head. What was the number/letter designation there? Was it 2Z or something?

[bartsl79]

I have owned my L79 for 18 years now and the only other local ones I've seen was a Madiera Maroon SS at Vettefest in Chicago about 6 years ago. it was roped off so I couldn't get close enough to check things like vin numbers, though the owner assured me it was all numbers matching.
Tom

[duecemark]

I can verify my own and one and a half more. There is a gm dealer parts manger near me who has a l_79 that he was bracket racing with the Harmons restoration guys in Geneva,In. The car does not have the original motor but the history of the car is very authentic. He wants to find a correct motor and restore it. The other 1/2 L-79 set in my garage on the engine stand all machined and ready to assemble. It needs the correct car. The block has the vin number and I ran it thru the In. BMV but no titled car found. MARK

[JR]

What are the tell-tell signs it is an L79. I am going to Super Chevy the 21 Apr and gonna look around for one?:)

[Brett]

JR, if you're going to the show at Huntsville, if you'll contact me, I'll take you to a guys shop that owned one and he can tell you every detail. He's about 30 minutes from Huntsville. He's still got one of those year models, BUT, it's not an L-79....
Plus, I'll show you my dog ugly rust-buckets I own...
Brett in Ala.

[66nogo2]

JR thats a good question. You have asked twice but no one seems to have an answer. I would like to know also. We all know paper is part of it. What about the Sport Coupe version?

Edit: JR Look at page 12 under Originality this has been hashed out before. Title is - New member with questions about a '66 Nova
DanK

[JR]

JR, if you're going to the show at Huntsville, if you'll contact me, I'll take you to a guys shop that owned one and he can tell you every detail. He's about 30 minutes from Huntsville. He's still got one of those year models, BUT, it's not an L-79....
Plus, I'll show you my dog ugly rust-buckets I own...
Brett in Ala.

I will probably come to that one too. I will give ya a yell as it gets closer:)
JR

[JR]

JR thats a good question. You have asked twice but no one seems to have an answer. I would like to know also. We all know paper is part of it. What about the Sport Coupe version?

Edit: JR Look at page 12 under Originality this has been hashed out before. Title is - New member with questions about a '66 Nova
DanK

Thanks, I will look it over:)

[CdnL79 Registry]

JR thats a good question. You have asked twice but no one seems to have an answer. I would like to know also. We all know paper is part of it. What about the Sport Coupe version?

Edit: JR Look at page 12 under Originality this has been hashed out before. Title is - New member with questions about a '66 Nova
DanK

It's becoming harder and harder to identify real U.S. built L79s. It's different in Canada because of the GM Canada documentation service that's available. Every car in the Canadian L79 Registry is GM Canada documented.

Dual snorkel air cleaners, 490 intakes, 3/8 fuel lines, HD rads and 12 bolt rears were all L79 indicators, but now these are showing up on all kinds of 1966 Chevy IIs. There is no way to tell an L79 from the VIN or cowl tag, nor are there any identifying features on the interior or exterior. Check for signs of passenger side factory exhaust mounts. Again, this is not a sure indicator, because the 220/283 had dual exhausts, too. Most L79s were 4 speeds, but the odd one came out with 3 on the tree. There were no automatics. L79 327 engine suffix codes ended in ZI, ZG, ZH, or ZJ and should have the VIN stamped on the same pad. Most people are very wary of cars that don't have at least one piece of original paperwork indicating factory L79. That could be a build sheet, dealer invoice, POP or window sticker. Hope this helps, guys.

[JR]

So if it has a 3/8 fuel line that looks original is it safe to say it might be L79?
And needs further scrutiney:confused:

[66nogo2]

JR my 66 with the L30 275HP 327 has the 3/8 Fuel line.

[CdnL79 Registry]

So if it has a 3/8 fuel line that looks original is it safe to say it might be L79?
And needs further scrutiney:confused:
Yes, it might be, but also might not be (see 66nogo2 post) Further study of the car would be in order. Few people show their L79s without display material that substantiates the car's claim to fame. I'm sure any L79s you'll come across at Super Chevy will be well identified.
Bob

[FunkyNova66]

ok what is a 1967 l-79 worth, with all paper work to back it up
http://www.novaresource.org/production.htm

Being only 6 L-79 were built in 1967, I would say a LOT of money.
Tell us about the car as there were specific details about the infamous 1967 L-79 Novas that were not consistant with the 1966 built L-79s. I'd also be curious to know what kind of paper work you have to go with this car.

[Betzer 66]

There's two in my town, my Sport Coupe and my friends S.S. He also sold another L-79 a few years ago to a Canadian, black with bright blue interior. There around but paperwork is key. Ron....

http://photobucket.com/albums/e341/9187/
Merry X-mas to all!!!

[66nogo2]

Last edited by 1967 nova l-79 : Today at 01:16 PM. Reason: QUESTION- ON THE FIRE WALL TAG WHAT IS THE 2L STAND FOR


That the car came with a 4 speed. We need pics;)

[CdnL79 Registry]

it has the original window sticker along with another thing that lists what the car came with, I am not a CHEVY guy but a beer buddy came over and decoded the car for me, his words were holly =%*%$#@, so i am going to sell car or put it back together i just need to now if it would be worth it, the factory paint is yellow and the VIN is 118377w178813

I'm not sure what your 'beer buddy' decoded, because the VIN and cowl tag will not identify an L79. There is no decoding required to read a window sticker. If 'RPO L79' shows up anywhere on your paper work, that seals the deal. It would also be good to have the body build date off the cowl tag. Thats usually at the top and will be numbers and a letter (Example: 12D would be the 4th week of December, etc.).

As for deciding to sell or restore, even if it is a 1967 L79, most of the value is gone because the original engine is no longer around. L79s are all about the engine. The body and most other mechanical parts are not L79 specific.

I would encourage you to post as much info here about the car as possible. It's believed only 6 L79s were built in 1967. It would be great to know if this was one of them.

Bob

[NovaRich]

I just picked up a 66 L79 engine, matching 4 speed, and matching 12 bolt 3:73 posi, that someone put in a 63 nova. I would like to find the car it came from.
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8220/dsc02331zu3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/7163/dsc02329tw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[CdnL79 Registry]

when i say he decoded car he checked the car for numbers to check if it was numbers matching, i the mean time i have made some calls to talk the the ex that raced the car, he said he still has the original block but it needs a new cylinder put in block and may need all of them because block has been sitting outside for years, but all he has is the block he thinks, i called my brother and asked him to send info on fire wall tag

046 4

67-11837wrn7827

780- y-y

2L

I will add pics and paper work when i get home

For sure I'd be claiming that block. Get all the numbers you can off it. If it's an L79, you'll want to do whatever is necessary to try and make it useable. Again, the paperwork is going to tell whether this is an L79 or not, so get that first.

The 04 on the cowl tag stands for April, but where the '6' is should be a letter from A to D (and sometimes E). Check that out to see if an error was made in reading it.

Bob

[Dave B.]

I wonder if anyone in the U.S. is interested in starting an L79 registry? I'd like it, but we'd have to find the right person to administer it.

I've owned my '66 L79 SS since '72. It had been in one family since new (the original owner traded it in on a new Chevy in '69 and his brother-in-law bought it). I was very lucky to find the build sheet behind the rear seatback.

Mine is lightly modified, but I'm planning to return it to near 'stock' condition in the next few years (now that I'm finally close to completing my new shop...).

[duecemark]

Still looking for a good count on how many L-79s are still around. I just picked up another one, and its correct except carb and fuel pump. I'm willing to put together a list of site l-79s only. That would be a good start. If you wish. send me your info and I'll get as accurate count as I can. This list could be the base number for L-79s owners to use for that always asked never really answered question HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE STILL AROUND. Send info and pics www.msrestoreit.com. THANKS MARK

[batman09]

My guess is that 10-15% are still around but who knows?
I would appreciate it if those of you around the country can share your recent L79 sightings over the past two years so we could come up with a better guess.
Thanks
KenI saw 2 this weekend at the nova mini nats.bm

[64PRONOVA]

I wonder if anyone in the U.S. is interested in starting an L79 registry? I'd like it, but we'd have to find the right person to administer it.

I've owned my '66 L79 SS since '72. It had been in one family since new (the original owner traded it in on a new Chevy in '69 and his brother-in-law bought it). I was very lucky to find the build sheet behind the rear seatback.

Mine is lightly modified, but I'm planning to return it to near 'stock' condition in the next few years (now that I'm finally close to completing my new shop...).

How could you have a 'registry" in the United States unless it was only for cars that still have full documentation? And even then a lot of the documentation can be faked. In Canada it's different. They can trace theirs. In the U.S. there is no traceability. That's why there more fake ones than real ones and L-79s are coming out of the woodwork nowdays for any sucker to buy.

[1963wagonman]

here is a new site for finding lost cars, engines,documentaion etc...(link below)
this is criticle in getting cars and their drivetrain components back together again.i myself saw a 67 car with a
66L-79 drivetrain installed.beautiful car.
this http://www.lostandfoundcars.com/ site has been fun to watch! i have seen some high dollar cars get there drivetrain components back!!!

also it is a stevesnovasite group effort to report any vin stamped components found at ebay,local craigslist ads,local paper ads.

MODERATOR,we need a section for this to work.a lost and found section on this site.

[PDMD2911]

If you registered every authentic L79 in the country with original drivetrains and bullet proof paperwork in my opinion, it would be a very small number.

[taz3]

In 69 the L78 SS's were close in production #'s to th L79's and I got to be honest,there are a lot of documented L78's still alive w/#'s matching drive trains,so why does everyone think these #'s should be so low?

Please don't take offence to my comment,I do realize there are alot of cloned L79's out there,but if so many L78's survived why not the L79's?

[Aztec Bronze L79]

Hey Guys,how many people have come forward with a car to count?Does anyone have a guess as to how many L79'S with A/C or with out A/C might still be around?The car we have is a factory A/C ZJ-L79 SS.Does anyone have any idea what one of these cars might have cost in 1966?Such as the cost for factory A/C, plus the cost for the L79 package,and the Super Sport option?If someone knows please list,something I would like to know.

[CdnL79 Registry]

Hey Guys,how many people have come forward with a car to count?Does anyone have a guess as to how many L79'S with A/C or with out A/C might still be around?The car we have is a factory A/C ZJ-L79 SS.Does anyone have any idea what one of these cars might have cost in 1966?Such as the cost for factory A/C, plus the cost for the L79 package,and the Super Sport option?If someone knows please list,something I would like to know.
Factory a/c was a $310.70 option. The L79 engine was an additional $198.00 and 4 speed $184.00. The SS was a specific model, not an option package. The L79 SS that Car Life Magazine tested in 1966 had a price of $3662.00 'as tested.' The list of options on that car included 4 speed, a/c, PS, PB, so it was pretty well loaded.
Bob

[mrrepodude]

according to all the listings on ebay on any given week, I would say 10,557:awkward::eek:

[Als 70 L78 SS]

I owned this 66 L79 a few years ago that was a Canadian built car. Check out the body plate. No questions there. L79M20

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/Interior110.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/16.jpg

[duecemark]

Again, I'm willing to compile a L-79 list. I would need the support of this site's members, and their honisty. The requirements would be at least one piece of documentation, and pics. I know this list would not be creditable with out at least these qualifacations. To those without such, a non documented list would be compiled, and those would still require pics. No NOM L-79s considered, sorry no wannabees. A list will come about sooner or later. I know of no better source or place for that to happen than here on this site. This would require those that have L-79s to trust that their info #'s are secure and not going to be used to clone more L-79s or worse locate their car for theives to get at. I would like to get this started on my site WWW.MSRESTOREIT.COM MARK

[CdnL79 Registry]

I owned this 66 L79 a few years ago that was a Canadian built car. Check out the body plate. No questions there. L79M20
Al, your car and the one I had are the only Canadian L79 Chevy IIs I've ever come across with the engine code on the cowl tag.
There was a Canadian L79 built so close to mine that it had the same engine suffix code, but it didn't have L79 on the cowl plate.
Any idea where the red car is now? I still have it in the Registry, but have lost track of the ownership.
Bob

[1967 Nova L-79]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/2568000-2568999/2568836_3_full.jpghttp://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/2568000-2568999/2568836_1.jpg http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/2568000-2568999/2568836_2_full.jpgsorry it took so long

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/2568000-2568999/2568836_4_full.jpg

[72NovaSSman]

Ive seen 2 here in SWVA 1 is blk w/ white interior I know 1 other was wrapped around a tree in the 70s
And 1 was sold didnt have motor but was supposed to be one. BUT
There is 1 67 SS l79 near here in a garage disassembled I have tryed to buy it some days yes most are no and if you get there on a yes day its no by the time you get there. Maybe one day!
RV

[ss396nova69]

there were only 6 built in 67 and a friend has one