Latest news with #BillFinley
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
After 53 Years in Hiding, Teen's Rare Camaro SS396 Makes Show Debut
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious In 1972, Bill Finley was just 17 when he walked into a Chevrolet dealership and ordered a brand-new Camaro SS396. What he couldn't have known then was that the muscle car he chose would become one of the rarest of its kind—and that more than half a century later, it would finally take the spotlight at one of the country's most prestigious collector car events. Now 70, Finley and his Mulsanne Blue Camaro made their first-ever public appearance at the 2024 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN), marking the debut of a one-owner survivor that has only clocked 71,000 miles in 53 years. 'I always knew it was special,' Finley said in a video interview with automotive YouTuber Lou Costabile. 'But I never expected it would be this rare.' Only 970 Camaro SS396s were built in 1972, as a United Auto Workers strike cut production short. The 402-cubic-inch V8 engine under Finley's hood—still labeled '396' for marketing—produces 300 horsepower and remains mated to its factory Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic transmission. The car retains much of its original equipment, including rally wheels, soft-ray tinted glass, air conditioning, and a Positraction rear end. Though Finley passed on the tachometer option, the total cost of his upgrades added over $1,500 to the base price of $2,879—a sizable investment at the time. Restored in 2019 with a focus on authenticity, Finley oversaw every detail, sourcing correct-date parts to match the car's original specs. After decades of private enjoyment, his long-preserved Camaro finally drew applause on the show floor, a fitting tribute to one man's lifelong bond with a true American classic.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Business leaders brainstorm ways to grow Mercer County
GROVE CITY, Pa. (WKBN) – An economic summit with business leaders took place in Mercer County Thursday morning. The event is held every year by the Penn-Northwest Development Corporation. Speakers are discussing housing, education, manufacturing and healthcare, hoping to find ways to improve and grow. It's also a place for valuable discussions and networking opportunities. 'We're doing a really good job of marketing Mercer County as a great place to live, for people to move to — between remote work, our close proximity to Pittsburgh and the Mahoning Valley, Cleveland area. There's just no reason not to be here,' said Mercer County Commissioner Bill Finley. The keynote address was from Secretary Rick Siger from the Department of Community and Economic Development. All proceeds from this summit will benefit Penn-Northwest's Homegrown Initiative. Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Teen Buys Rare 1972 Camaro SS396, Keeps It for 53 Years Before First Car Show Appearance
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious When 17-year-old Bill Finley ordered his brand-new 1972 Chevrolet Camaro SS396, he couldn't have imagined that more than half a century later, it would become one of the rarest muscle cars of its era—and that it would make its show debut over 50 years later. Finley, now in his 70s, brought his cherished big-block Camaro to its first-ever car show at the 2024 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in Rosemont, Illinois. The appearance marked a long-awaited moment for both the owner and his meticulously maintained classic. Only 970 SS396 Camaros were produced in 1972 before a lengthy United Auto Workers strike shut down GM's Norwood, Ohio, assembly plant, making the model an ultra-rare piece of muscle car history. Of those, far fewer remain in one-owner condition with the original drivetrain and factory options intact. Finley's car is powered by its original 402-cubic-inch V8—still marketed as a '396' for name recognition—and a Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic transmission. Finished in its original trim and boasting a long list of factory options, including air conditioning and a Positraction rear axle, the Camaro has logged just over 71,000 miles. That averages out to a modest 1,344 miles per year. 'I've always loved this car, and I never wanted to let it go,' Finley said. 'But I never got around to showing it off—until now.' The Camaro underwent a professional restoration to bring it back to show quality, and despite its age, it still sports its original engine. Notably, Finley skipped the tachometer when ordering the car but splurged on extras totaling more than $1,500—over half the car's $2,879 base price at the time. The MCACN debut was made possible by classic car content creator Lou Costabile, who featured the car on his YouTube channel, marking the first time the car has ever been captured on film for public viewing. With just 6,562 SS Camaros built that year, and the big-block version representing only a fraction, Finley's survivor is not just a rare machine—it's a time capsule, and one that finally had its moment in the spotlight.
