25 Camaros For Sale at Estate Sale

[firstgenaddict]

Dave Beem went out there and got at least one and helped load another 28ft enclosed trailer loads...  end of last summer...

[HawkX66]

Hey Vince!

I knew Merle and got to be one of the first on his property! I bought the car in July it took a while before the estate could sell cars as state had to okay it! Yes car is very original numbers matching! Merle sold to Paul walker & Roger Rodas from Fast & Furious in 2011 They took it to have a 100K resto done and bought a orig Cross Ram for it and car was in line to be restored! Before they did anything they paid Jerry McNeish to verify it as it's a Van Nuys Car! They had their fatal accident Nov 2013 and family asked Merle if he wanted it back  so he went to ID and picked it up and kept till his passing! Whats really strange is Merle brought it to my house I think in 1982 when he bought it to show it to me and 35 years later it's back in my driveway and I now own it! Also when guys on this site see it they say you need to restore it and save it! This car is saved! It is unreal to drive it runs perfect! Guys think its a rust bucket It's not the car sat for 20- 30 some years in the desert under a car port the elements blew over it and it got surface rust but you open doors and still orig carpet dash not cracked and trunk perfect it was all saved by car port! No rust through any where! It will be very hard to find a original Z28 RS Endura Bumper Camaro in this shape! Tks for the interest and Mr Merle Duprey I Thank You! Bill

Such a cool story and history on your Z. I love how you're keeping it the way you found it. If you're able to do it in your climate great. Around here and down south you probably wouldn't have a car left after a while. RIP Paul Walker...

[Jon Mello]

I got a '68 from Merle's estate. It was an original LeMans blue '68 Z with 714 interior, repainted Nantucket or Grotto blue at one point and finally black somewhere along the line. An 07B car, VIN 124378L347636 , the NCRS report says it was sold new at Dana Chevrolet in South Gate, California. Title looked like Merle got it in 2001. Blue CA license plate ( 388UEG ) shows registration expired in 1989. I don't know any history prior to Merle's ownership but would love to find out. The car had slot mags prior to the 5-spoke mags.

[ZLP955]

Nice car Jon! Any of the original drivetrain present?

[Jon Mello]

Thanks, Tim. Just the original BU 12-bolt with 4-leaf springs. I bought a CE engine for it from a guy who used to drive the parts delivery truck for Dana back when he was 18 years old.

[ZLP955]

Now that's a cool connection to the original selling dealer!

[janobyte]

Jon, didn't you cut your teeth, so to speak, on a 68 Z? Plan on creating another masterpiece with it? Or more of a "gear grabber?" Or both, lol.

[Jon Mello]

It's going to be a fun car I will not be afraid to drive. No worries about wounding an original engine. It will not be 100% stock but will be period correct for late '60s/very early '70s. It will run headers with no smog and I have an original design Hurst shifter for it. There will likely be a few other goodies but I have NOS stock Z valve covers for it and will run the stock Z air cleaner. It is a non-spoiler car, which is a look I prefer. I have dated DF wheels and a few sets of mags to change up the look if I feel like it.

[BULLITT65]

Looks cool in the pic, with the Torq Thrusts. I will look forward to you and Darrell with these 68Z cars on the road in the future.

[70z28lt1]

Hey Bullitt!

No!!! I hate clear it stays in a garage and likes the paint job NATURE gave it! Plus when I take it out everybody asks when RU going to restore or paint it! I would get bored if I didn't have to answer all the same questions! Tks! Bill

Natures "racing stripes"

[VINCE Z28]

Great find Jon, did you pick up any parts for the Z at Merle's auction?

[68 Ragtop]

I must have run into this Merle guy at some point in the 90's. I used to attend Pomona and Long Beach swap meets all the time. Does anyone remember if he had a regular spot selling at the swap meets?
I do know another guy that bought a car from him and was not so lucky. He didn't know as much about Camaro's as ol' Merle did, lol.
I also used to get up early on publishing day and go get all the Recycler's to look for Camaro's, long before Craigslist. Lost out on a few deals to a guy that showed up with a trailer just before me. Maybe it was him too.

[VINCE Z28]

I think he was more into selling the cars and keeping the parts,

[68camaroz28]

It's going to be a fun car I will not be afraid to drive. No worries about wounding an original engine. It will not be 100% stock but will be period correct for late '60s/very early '70s. It will run headers with no smog and I have an original design Hurst shifter for it. There will likely be a few other goodies but I have NOS stock Z valve covers for it and will run the stock Z air cleaner. It is a non-spoiler car, which is a look I prefer. I have dated DF wheels and a few sets of mags to change up the look if I feel like it.

That is going to be one very fun car and like how Jon is working it that as a "fun car to drive." Love them 68Z's!

[Jon Mello]

Thanks, guys.  Yes, I did also buy some parts from Merle's estate sale but not nearly as much as my friends did.