Guys.. Mark from Florida has a 69 that he's about to start restoring. I hear this car was the Sprite give-a-way car? Would love to hear more about that!
Anyhow ,Marks got questions and would also like to hear some advice on how to tackle his restoration. I know you 69 guys have a lot to teach so I offered to start this post for him

If you guys could lend a hand that would be great!

Mark: maybe you could tell us about your intensions and post up a few pictures so these guys can get a better handle on your wants & desires

Welcome....

Thanks for getting this started for me Tom. I appreciate it.
I purchased my car over 27 years ago from the original owner. She won the car (believe it to be one of the Sprite giveaway cars) when she lived in Indy back in 69. I have done the title search and it checked out. It is a 350/300hp with automatic on the column, PS, PB (disc on front) and a power top (no A/C). I have the protecto plate and a postcard from Nankivell Chevrolet where she took delivery of the car. For the last 27 years I haven't done much to it other than keep it running so I could drive it, putting 28,000 miles on it. She had some body work done to it before I purchased it. The quarters have 80% patch panels installed, there is some bondo in the doors and fenders along the bottom. The paint is a mix of some original paint with a lot of repainted surfaces. A few weeks ago a lady backed into me (see photo) which is really why I'm starting this process after 27 years. The trunk pan area is one area that I'm divided as to replace or restore. The motor is numbers matching and has never been apart. It could use refreshning as it has some compression loss. I can still see some of the letters on the firewall from when it went down the assembly line. So as you can see I have a mix of original items and restored. I do want to be able to drive the car when I'm done, so a total ground up is not practical. I'm also seriously considering adding vintage air as I live in Naples,FL where it is hot, currently 90 degrees on Oct 30 at 4:45pm. Let me know what you guys think. All suggestions are appreciated.

Ouch! That' hurts too see that on such a nice car - I feel your pain!

Thanks Steve. My car is an 03E built car.

Mercy, she hit ya in an expensive part! First of all did you get a good insurance settlement? I see a few grand in sheet metal alone. Sounds like you are looking to do a ground up restoration to keep it as a nice driver? I'd like to see under the hood if you can get it open? The car seems to have good provenance and could easily justify a superior restofication.

I was pissed that the insurance company would only pay me for aftermarket parts because they are so readily available, whereas NOS parts can be 10 times more. I got $5,700 which is the seed money for this project. I want a nice car but I don't want to be afraid to drive it in the rain. I won't mind putting 100,000 miles on it before I check out. The header panel is curled over the front of the hood still but I hope to get it open this weekend.

That's a bummer Mark. Who is her insurance company and is/was the Z-11 insured on an agreed value policy at the time of the accident?

Did it damage the hood? Hard to tell from the angle of the photo - looks like it might have been spared ?

Mark. The first thing I'd be doing is calling the insurance co. adjusters supervisor and damand $$ for NOS which you can find from real reputable vendors like Camaro Specialties for a baseline price they MUST accept! Ask Mike Rossi.. He had an accident a few years ago and got NOS pricing

No need to loose on this deal so the Ins. Co. can give the CEO a bonus with money YOU deserve

I agree, tell them just to put it back to pre accident condition. That is supposed to be their objective, and yours too.

I was working thru my insurance agent (JC Taylor) which is insured thru Foremost Ins, a division of Farmers Ins.
How do I get ahold of Mike Rozzi?
The hood was pretty much spared and we were able to get it open today (photo attached).
I also took pictures under the hood which are attached as well as soon of the spots that will need repaired. You can also see the french locks on the manifold bolts in one picture and the letter P on the firewall over by the cowl ID tag.

Not sure how to add more than one picture at a time.

Passenger fender

Passenger fender, older damage

Passenger door and quarter