Messages

256

General Discussion / Re: highly-optioned vs well optioned vs very highly-optioned

« on: March 14, 2021, 07:31:11 PM »

I remember when someone commented that my 1970 Mustang didn't have power windows.  I laughed and told them it doesn't even have power steering!

257

General Discussion / Re: highly-optioned vs well optioned vs very highly-optioned

« on: March 14, 2021, 06:48:15 PM »

driver88 - Nice 1968 Camaro.  I imagine it is a great car to drive on a hot day!

258

General Discussion / Re: Amazing how a car can go from "restored" to "original" in just a few years!

« on: March 13, 2021, 08:10:21 PM »

I doubt that the gas tank on this Camaro looked that nice when it rolled off the assembly line at the Norwood Plant.  I wish the exhaust on my 1979 Trans Am looked as good as this car, and it has been in California since being built at the Van Nuys Plant.

259

General Discussion / Re: 67 RS/SS convertible - back in the game.

« on: February 26, 2021, 02:36:54 AM »

CantRepeat - My friend's first car was a 1968 Z28 that he bought in 1970 and although he remembers the CA license plate, neither of us ever looked at the trim tag.  As for the photo of you in inform, I recognize that you were a 1st Sgt. as my dad held the same rank when he served in the US Army during WWII.  You have a very nice Camaro that was built at the Van Nuys Plant, where I once worked. - Mark

260

Garage Talk / Re: Test Drive of 1983 Z28 HO Built at GMAD Van Nuys

« on: February 25, 2021, 03:52:52 PM »

GM developed the ZZ3 350 engine package that was emission-compliant, even in California, as a replacement for the 305 HO:

http://www.camarotech.com/engine-ZZ3.html

261

Garage Talk / Test Drive of 1983 Z28 HO Built at GMAD Van Nuys

« on: February 24, 2021, 09:35:45 PM »

I got to take out one of the first production 1983 Z28 High-Output production Camaro that was built at the Van Nuys Plant.  I was surprised on how well the 305 HO engine performed and although I did not abuse the car as it was to be delivered to a customer, the exhaust made quite a rumble when decelerating.  The manual 5-speed was easy to shift and I thought the Z28 handled great.  Unfortunately, I had just purchased a condo in nearby Arleta and couldn't afford to buy a new Z28.  The photos were taken in the parking area below my condo unit.  I sure enjoyed working at the Van Nuys Plant!

262

Garage Talk / Herbie Hancock and the AC Cobra 260

« on: February 20, 2021, 07:15:26 PM »

Jay Leno did an interview some years ago with Herbie Hancock:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1SQn4stkXA

One of my friends saw the AC Cobra 260 at a Shelby car show in Santa Monica and said that the owner was such a nice guy and talked with him for some time about the car.  When I told my friend that the enthusiast he was talking to was Herbie and was just as famous as the Cobra, he laughed!

263

Garage Talk / Re: Is this the end of GM?

« on: February 18, 2021, 11:05:02 PM »

I lost whatever small input I had with GM when Fidelity, who took over administration of the retirement program for GM salaried-employees in 2003, sold all my shares of GM stock the day before the company went Chapter 11 for $1/share.

264

Garage Talk / Re: Taking Your 1969 Z28 to the Local Cars & Coffee

« on: February 17, 2021, 01:23:54 AM »

I have another friend who had bought a 427 Cobra Semi-Competition years ago and said he would bring it to our Cars & Coffee.  I gave up asking him about the Cobra, only to find out that he drove it to the show one day and parked it and walked away.









There are so many replica 427 Cobras around that only one enthusiast knew my friend's Cobra was a real 427 S/C and my friend just laughed!

265

Decoding/Numbers / Re: Another Black 69 Z28

« on: February 13, 2021, 12:41:11 AM »

There was a recent case where it was found that the seller had removed the trim tag from a 1969 Z28 and changed the tag to show that the exterior color was black:

http://www.vintageautomotive.net/?tag=trim-tag

Although I didn't start working at GMAD Van Nuys until we were building the second generation Camaros and Firebirds, I can't recall a time when someone had to replace a trim tag.  I actually had the opportunity to make a few replacement VIN tags that were damaged in the assembly plant, but we would only do so if we were given the original VIN tag first as we had to account for each tag and send the damaged tag back to GM in Detroit.

266

Decoding/Numbers / Re: Another Black 69 Z28

« on: February 12, 2021, 11:25:35 PM »

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/chevrolet/camaro/2460207.html

267

Garage Talk / Re: Taking Your 1969 Z28 to the Local Cars & Coffee

« on: February 09, 2021, 08:16:52 PM »

I have photos of the original documents, which include the window sticker, warranty card, and the maintenance invoices, but I am not going to post them.

268

Originality / Re: Cowl Tag 01A X33, Is it original or for entertainment purposes?

« on: February 09, 2021, 02:55:03 AM »

I thought someone would have commented that the rear sway bar was added to this 1969 Camaro.  As for the license plates, I've had the California Highway Patrol check to see if my 1998 Z28 had a front license plate as I drove down the freeway as it is required in CA.

269

Garage Talk / Re: Taking Your 1969 Z28 to the Local Cars & Coffee

« on: February 09, 2021, 02:48:05 AM »

This 1969 Z28 does not have the JL8 option, but has the following options:

floor mats - $11.63
defroster rear window - $22.15
console - $53.75
spoiler front rear - $32.65
positraction - $42.15
rear axle 4.10 ratio - $2.15
transmission M21 - 4-speed - $195.00
sport tilt - $45.30
power steering - $54.80
steering quick ratio - $15.80
special instruments - $94.80
AM/FM radio - $133.80
front bumper guards - $12.65
special ducted hood - $79.80
rally sport package - $131.65
special performance package - $473.05
custom interior - $110.60
undercoating & rust proof - $40.00

These options and prices are from the dealer and were typed on their invoice on 2/24/69.

270

Garage Talk / Re: Taking Your 1969 Z28 to the Local Cars & Coffee

« on: February 09, 2021, 12:32:16 AM »

Here is my 1998 Z28, parked next to another friend's 1971 Ferrari Daytona Spyder.  I couldn't believe he would drive a Daytona Spyder on a rainy day to our local Cars & Coffee!