The 1969 Firebird 428 convertible we secured for our test drive this month “was a total rust bucket,” says owner Gene Mendez. “It originally came from San Diego, and from what we saw, had lived its life at the beach.” After 10 months of restoration (including some intense bodywork) by the team at All About Classics, the shop Mendez co-owns with Dave Bartz, it’s a whole ’nother story. The car recently took second in the “Favorite Muscle Car” popular vote at the 2007 West Coast Meet hosted in San Luis Obispo by the Freewheelers Car Club and Great Autos of Yesteryear this past July. “The entire car is stock,” says Mendez…with one exception: “The only significant upgrade is something that was traditionally done by muscle car enthusiasts in the early 1970s.
“In 1969, Pontiac offered a 428-cubic-inch motor in its big car models—the Catalina and Bonneville. It quickly became popular to pull 428s out of wrecked cars and put them in Firebirds. When I found a 428, I decided it was a worthwhile change.” Let’s see if our agrees…How many classic cars do you own? What are they?
I have a 1964 1/2 Mustang convertible, a 1961 Corvette, a 1966 Mustang and a 1981 Mercedes 380.
What intrigues you about classic cars?
They’re fun to drive, easy to repair and they bring back great memories!
What three words describe this car?
Flashy, fun and fast.
Where did you go?
I drove around town to show it off to friends, then stopped at a few Exchange Bank branches and told the employees it was the bank’s new courier car.
Was there anything unique you’d never seen?
The RPM gauge is mounted in the hood.
What was your least favorite aspect?
The car has the original radio, which is true to restoration standards. However, the original radios never did work well. Adding a modern radio is the one concession I make in restoring a classic car.
Were you immediately better-looking while driving the car or even just standing near it?
Absolutely! You get all kinds of looks and shouts of encouragement—from both sexes and all ages. Every guy over 55 likes to drive a car over 35, because it makes him feel like he’s 25.
What surprised you about the car?
Often, cars with big engines like this run very rough at idle. This car was relatively smooth. Of course, the guys at All About Classics had tuned it perfectly!
What kind of car do you normally drive?
I drive a Camry from Freeman Toyota. It’s a very “regular” car, which is why driving classic cars is so much fun.
How did you feel when you had to return the car?
I enjoyed returning the car, because I got to see the other classics being restored at the shop. They have a beautiful 1953 Buick and several other cars in various stages of restoration.
What was your impression of the guys at All About Classics?
The owners, Gene and Dave, are both passionate and very knowledgeable about their business. It’s always fun to check out other cars and talk with people who share your interest. I would definitely take my cars to All About Classics.
