ZLP955 Racing BITD

[janobyte]

,,,,and A/C.....

I think that would be a good bet on the wheels.

Looked like all the stockers were running the same size front runners. For a reason. Decreased rolling resistance, every thousandths of a sec shaved helps. And a taller tire to
help leave a little higher on the amber. So,,,gonna be what you can fit under there without rubbing.

Wow, discovering those pics really warmed this story up a bit👨‍🚒

[ZLP955]

ARE ANY OF THE ORIGINAL GRAPHICS UNDER THE CURRENT PAINT - wondering about the colors?

James all the exterior is still in as-found paint (the 1999 photos) because I've been focussing on rectifying the mini-tubbing and flaring. So all panels except the quarters have the second paint job as per my avatar. It is very checked and faded, and in places where it is flaking, I can clearly see the Cortez Silver underneath and it looks in good shape; so I'm now wondering about methods to carefully take back the repaint, in particular on the side panels, to try and reveal what is shown in the photos at the start of this thread.
Any suggestions?

[BULLITT65]

I would bet they are 15x4 on the front and 15x7 on the rear in the '71 pics.

I also am in the camp that votes to return it to it's racing livery, etc.  I much prefer the '71 paint scheme over the later one but it's all personal preference and you are the owner.  I don't think there is a wrong answer, except for an LS engine transplant.

x2

[ZLP955]

When I bought Fiasco, it had quite a few custom-fabricated parts on it, including square traction bars, a driveshaft loop, subframe connectors, offset adjustable spring shackles, and the tow tabs visible in the 1971 photos. The VE3 bumper was notched a little to fit the tow tabs, and I may just leave that detail now rather than repairing it. Story I got upon purchase was the original owner lived in Hollywood and used to flat-tow the car down to Lions, after it got too serious to be street-friendly.
It also still had an electric fuel pump and filter mounted inside the trunk, and the front disc brake system had been swapped out for a non-power drum system with a Hurst line-lock. Fortunately I've kept everything, with the exception of the narrowed fuel tank (stupidly I sold it about 5 years back, never thought I'd reuse that).

[Mike S]

Tim,
     If you are between Sydney and Canberra, I'll stop by to see the car and crack open a few beers if I get there before I decide to retire from work.

Mike

[ZLP955]

Mike, I am in central NSW. Actually bought the car from a Canberra suburb! If you're ever over here, beers and BBQ on me!

[68camaroz28]

I would bet they are 15x4 on the front and 15x7 on the rear in the '71 pics.

I also am in the camp that votes to return it to it's racing livery, etc.  I much prefer the '71 paint scheme over the later one but it's all personal preference and you are the owner.  I don't think there is a wrong answer, except for an LS engine transplant.

Agree with several on taking it back to when it was raced early on! And what is neat about that it can be a street legal car as well. Love the race history.

[Jon Mello]

Tim, I am rethinking whether it had a cable driven tach or not.  The chances are much more likely it had an electrically powered tach instead.

[70L34]

Incredible finds. And those pictures are KILLER. Congrats.

[WorkinProgress]

Hey Tim, great picture find! I like the "CAMARO" lettering on the front spoiler. To solve your dilemma over restoring it to original or in its race colors, how about you paint it all original. Then get the vehicle vinyl wrap for the sides of car showing the way it was raced. Then you can always remove the vinyl and you are stock again. Just a thought.

                                                    - Warren

[ZLP955]

Great idea Warren! I definitely lean more towards the silver with 'additions' than the full warpaint.
Jon, no worries about the tach, just wondering what gave you cause to rethink? The dash has a custom plate over where the factory tach and heater controls were, with SW gauges (from memory, oil pressure and temperature), so an additional tach would have been required, just a question of mechanical or electrical.
And thanks again to all who have commented so far, I am really happy about this development of my custodianship of Fiasco!

[BULLITT65]

So the car had the console gauges and tach from the factory?

So the hood tach was used for line of sight I am guessing.
(I thought fuel pressure gauges were the only gauge that had to be mounted outside the passenger compartment)

Also, even though the car was sold through Clippinger Chevrolet, and they oddly ran the front plate and frame, I am guessing it was not tied into the dealership at all?

[BillOhio]

I liked the wrap idea too. Doesnt look to hard to do either

[ZLP955]

Austin, yes this was a dash tach, centre clock and console with gauges car. I dont think they stayed in place for long though. There's a couple of holes in the cowl panel vent ribs, right in front of the driver, so at some point there must've been another gauge fitted there, or the tube tach got moved.
As for any association with Clippinger aside from selling dealer, no idea but somehow I doubt it; no sign of any logos elsewhere on the car in either paint scheme. They probably left the plate frame visible as a gesture towards the dealership's reputation.
I have a copy of a race program from Saugus Speedway which describes the original driver (he moved on from drag racing to speedway) as holding an AHRA class record for 3 years, so would like to pursue that line of inquiry.

[69Z28-RS]

So the car had the console gauges and tach from the factory?

So the hood tach was used for line of sight I am guessing.
(I thought fuel pressure gauges were the only gauge that had to be mounted outside the passenger compartment)

Also, even though the car was sold through Clippinger Chevrolet, and they oddly ran the front plate and frame, I am guessing it was not tied into the dealership at all?

The additional 'hood' tach was probably used so the driver *actually* knew what the engine was turning; the factory tach wasn't/isn't suitable for a racing application where one really needs to KNOW what the engine is turning RIGHT NOW (not a couple seconds ago)...