[78 Bonanza]

So I've been collecting and restoring odd ball vehicles for over 20 years now and can tell you that there are some strange ones out there. I just sold an 88 Ford full size Bronco with the 302 HO mustang motor in it. Factory speed package in a full size Bronco. But the body and interior were just a plain old XLT. Not supposed to have been made but it was. I was the second owner and the guy who had it before kept every single piece of paper work for it. That was the only way to prove that it was factory. It took alot of digging around on my part to find the story on it and when I did it was worth the trouble. Very rare vehicle. But I hate fords so it went. My daughter owns an 82 Limited Edition Z-28 with every single option and a 350 in it. Wait GM didn't drop 350's in the 82's only 305's. Right??????????. The car is basically a Corvette in a Camaro's skin. I'm currently restoring a 78 GMC HD with a factory LS6 in it. But like the Camaro it doesn't exist. I've also been trying to pickup a 72 Charger with a 426 in it. But Dodge didn't offer a 426 that year. Then I am the proud owner of a 78 Bonanza Blazer fully loaded with a 400 and it is all original minus one repaint. When I tell people about it most tell me that there was no such thing and I show them the badges and the glove box options sheet. Then there is the oh I guess they did make those.

Point is that with thousands of each vehicle coming off the line there were a few that were odd balls. So unless someone worked for Chevy and watched every single build and sell then who's to say that the truck isn't legit. With the craze over high end rare cars there are alot of fakes out there so be very weary and check everything. Just do your homework and ask the guy for documentation. Tell him to send you the work up on it with the VIN marked out if that would make him feel more comfortable. If he is the second owner proof should be simple to obtain. It is when you find one that 6 or more people have owned that it gets tricky. And don't bother calling GM because they will have no idea and most don't even want to bother with helping you out. And yes I have seen 305 only trucks come from the factory with a 350 and every imaginable option that shouldn't be there. Remember that even in the 80's money could still buy a 350 when a 305 was supposed to go in. Officially it didn't happen but it did.

I have a fellow builder and close friend that worked for chevy from the early 70's until the 90's and he could tell you guys some stories of what they did for people to make a few extra bucks or to help a guy out who wanted something special. GM is so micro managed now that I doubt they would get away with it but it used to happen. At that time alot of gear heads still worked for the big three and still loved hot rodding and would pull some crazy stuff. If you get anymore info post it and I'll try to help you out. I love doing this stuff and would be interested to verify this one and add this truck to my list of rare finds. I plan on publishing a book in a few more years with pics and stats to help disspell the "those never existed" vehicles that are really out there. Good luck and thanks for posting!