Image: QuarterMilestones.com

Image: BangShift.com

Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins first began to get noticed due to his prowess building cars that were setting national records. But it was as an independent driver of a ’66 Chevy II that we saw the beginnings of what became known as “Grumpy’s Toy.”

That little Chevy with the L79 327 was giving HEMIs fits and set the class record at 11.66. Over the next few years – this time with corporate sponsorship – he built successive versions of Grumpy’s Toys and now you can own his “Grumpy’s Toy VI” ’69 Camaro (which ran in Pro/Stock and Super Stock) for the rock-bottom price of $3,000!

Except there’s one catch: You gotta go back to 1972.

This ad appeared in an issue of National Dragster back then. Let’s put three grand in perspective – for a grand more, you could have had a brand-new Chevelle SS 454 LS5.

Okay, so Grumpy’s Toy VI didn’t come with one of Grumpy’s famous engines, but “prices available for car with engine,” according to the ad. Drop in an engine and it practically was a turn-key racer.

To own a pedigreed race car like this today would probably cost you 100 times what Grumpy was asking. The Chevelle? Maybe 10 times. No one’s sure where the car ended up so, those of you near Philly, better get started with the search!

Image: QuarterMilestones.com