New car fever set in again in 1968 wheh I found out Chevrolet was offering the Chevelle SS396 with a 375 HP engine....just had to have one! I traded my '67 Plymouth GTX in.....sequoia green, 2 dr HT, solid lifters, 4 bbl, 4-speed. I thought the GTX was powerful, but I believe the Chevelle had it beat! You could wind this baby out in first gear until the tach hit 7000 RPM and beyond and not blow the engine. I know 'cause I did it a few times!

One little tidbit is worth mentioning here. The first week I had the Chevelle, we were partying at a club we frequented (now closed) and I had partied a bit too heavily that night. My friend was there with his girl friend and I asked them if they wanted to take a spin in my new car. They said yes and off we went (I did not need to be driving!). We left out of the parking lot and headed down the highway. I wound the engine high in first gear and got ready to shift to second. What happened next was awful! When I depressed the clutch and began to shift (second gear was at the upper left position of the shifter), I guess I missed the gear and instead must have moved the shifter to the right and hit reverse! A very loud explosion was heard from under the car. Then just the silent idling of the engine as we coasted down the highway. I pulled over and stopped. I had had blown up the clutch and tranny! A big hole could be seen under the car. I was sick, not only from what I had just done, but from the night of partying, too. When the wrecker came, my friend had to do the talking..I was bent over behind the car, losing my supper. Fortunately, I was able to get the repairs done under warranty, but was told in no uncertain terms by the salesman that it would NOT be covered again (they suspected the problem had not been a result of defective parts). I never made that stupid mistake again ever!

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Below pic taken in October, 1969, at my parents' house, Clarke Co., MS. I moved back to Clarke Co., MS in 1967 (Transferred from Brookley AFB, Mobile, AL to NAS Meridian, MS.)

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Below photo is another view taken same date & place.

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Below pic same as above.