By: Patrick Smith
         
The first thing you notice is the color. It's Cypress Green.
    Ivo Pazella is a lucky man. He managed to get his classic car when it was only a few years old has had possession of this 1966 Chevellle hardtop since 1969! He bought it from the previous owner and started enjoying it immediately. Usually most people either sell, trade in or somehow lose cars of their youth. This didn't happen with Ivo. The car stands out in a quiet stately way withe unusual factory finish of Cypress Green paint. This is more often seen  on large sedans and luxury vehicles, not youth oriented speed buckets. The common colors for Chevelles was Butternut Yellow, Red, Black or maybe a light metallic Blue. Cypress Green is relatively uncommon, but once you see it, you wonder why more weren't ordered.
 
The engine bay is clean and relatively stock except for he air cleaner and modern version of Carter AFB.
    Ivo's car came nicely equipped with power steering and power disc brakes driven by a four barrel 327 V8 running an Edelbrock Performer polished carb. In the old days that would've been called a Carter AFB. The transmission is a four speed manual gearbox. Inside there's a black vinyl bucket seat interior with console, radio and two spoke steering wheel. a number of period accessories are still with the car including a gauge trio mounted under the dash and an 8 track player hidden in the glove box. That little unit beside the gauges is the control for an aftermarket reverb unit. Completing the period look are a set of chrome reverse mag wheels front and back on raised white letter tires out back and black wall tires up front.

Ivo has owned this hardtop since 1969.
   The car has a clean, simple look augmented by choice use of chrome and stainless steel trim. The wheel well moldings join the rocker panels together and a set of crossed flags with engine displacement adorn the front fenders. Out back the Chevelle rear deck lid trim joins the two brake lights in a unified whole. It is classic design done without gaudiness. Ivo's car appeared at one of the Georgetown Cruizers shows held at Nashville North on Thursday evenings. Ivo recently had the car repainted the original shade. The car gets driven a lot and it draws attention where ever it goes. Seeing this and then looking at a Chevy made today just makes me shake my head. The new ones might be better safety, more convenience, and better mileage but they sure don't have soul.
 
Console, buckets, reverb and gauge trio are part of the visible add ons.
   That comes from use. A series of owners passing the car down through time or one owner making it his own gives a car character. The one thing a perfect, factory restored car doesn't have is that personal touch. They look great but there's no unique identity. That's why customs and resto mods are so popular. Making the car your own is a big part of the hobby. It becomes your 16 foot calling card that can be heard 2 blocks away.Old cars have soul.

The deck lid filler panel ties the brake lights together.
 * Article (c) 2015 By Patrick Smith, Images (c) 2015 by PHS MEDIA