BIG IDEA

In 1970, Charles Knoll purchased a Matador Red 1968 Chevrolet SS 427 from Dick LeBrick, a manager at the General Motors Fisher Body plant in Flint, Mich., where they worked. Dick ordered the car and followed it through the assembly process. He drove the car for two years, then offered to sell it to Charles. With its massive 427-cid V-8, the SS 427 Custom Coupe was more of a muscle car than the family car that Charles really needed. However, the asking price was just $1,000 and Charles knew the car had been meticulously cared for. Since it was such a great deal, the SS 427 found its way into the Knoll family garage.

After the car arrived, Charles parked it in the garage, went into the house and called it a day. Unbeknownst to him, his 9-year-old son, Chris, had to find out what kind of car his father had brought home and went into the garage for a peek. After going over every inch of the car and