Friend's 1968 Z28 Camaro

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

My oldest friend bought a 1968 Z28 Camaro from someone who worked with him at his uncle's Union 76 gas station in Los Angeles in 1970.  I believe the Z28 was ordered from Harry Mann Chevrolet and was British Green with a black interior.  The owner had modified the Z28 for road racing and had changed the camshaft, installed headers, with Goodyear F60-15 tires mounted on American Racing alloy wheels.  As this was my friend's first car, he had the camshaft changed back to the original one as it was not suited for the street and the 4.56 gears were switched with someone who owned a 1969 Z28 which had a 4.10 rear end.  Although I am quite certain that the Z28 was built at the Van Nuys Assembly Plant, neither of us ever looked at the data plate as back in those days no one paid attentions to such things. 

My friend sold the Z28 for $1200 and bought a new 1973 Z28 Camaro, which had an automatic transmission and air conditioning.  We both wonder what happened to the 1968 Z28!

My first real job out of college was at the GMAD Van Nuys Plant in 1978 and although I wasn't there when the first generation F-cars came off the assembly line, I was there for the second and third generation cars.  Wish I could have bought my friend's 1968 Z28, but didn't have the money! - Mark 

[Jon Mello]

Sounds like a very cool car.  Post some pics if you have any.  We would love to see them.  Do you remember the letter/number sequence on the original license plates?

[bcmiller]

I agree with Jon. Post pics if possible. The cars with 4.56 axles were not common.

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

I know my friend remembers the license plate number as we've talked about it, but I didn't write it down and will have to contact him, and will also ask if he has any photos of the Z28.  I was there when they switched the differentials and didn't know at the time that it took a special order to get a 4.56 ratio on a 1968 Camaro.  The original owner also didn't like the stripes and had them painted over. - Mark

[x66 714]

4.56 were not very common at all. My z has 4.56 from the factory & I have a friend that has a 68 z with 4.88s....Joe

[169INDY]

Mark was it an "RS"?

[crossboss]

Mark,
Not to hijack the thread, I know you used to work at the Van Nuys plant, was wondering IF you knew my past neighbors father, Francisco Reyes? He worked from the late 1960s through mid/late 1980s.

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

Jim - My friend's 1968 Z28 was not a RS.  It did have a M-21 transmission and no console.  I unfortunately never drove the Z28 as I didn't have a driver's license as the family was struggling financially.  Many years later, my friend drove a motor home to Crowley Lake which is near Mammoth Lakes, CA for his parents and I followed him with my 1998 Z28 to bring him back to Los Angeles.  I was amazed that the Z28 got about 30 mpg, even though we certainly didn't drive it economically.  The LS-1 engine with the T-56 6-speed is a fun car on the freeway when there is no traffic, but will only get about 13 mpg driving on surface streets. - Mark   

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

crossboss - Where did Francisco Reyes work in the Van Nuys Plant?  Was he a hourly or salary employee?  I still remember the names of a lot of people I worked with as I started in the financial department in hourly payroll. - Mark

[crossboss]

crossboss - Where did Francisco Reyes work in the Van Nuys Plant?  Was he a hourly or salary employee?  I still remember the names of a lot of people I worked with as I started in the financial department in hourly payroll. - Mark

Mark,
I do know he worked the assembly line…where on the line I do not know. His son Juan (John) ordered a new 1978 Z/28 and Francisco actually built part of it while Juan watched! Neat story.
-Scott aka 'crossboss'

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

Scott - I'm sure your friend and I crossed paths at the plant as I covered the paint shop dept. 15, trim dept. 17, cushion dept. 18, inspection dept. 70, and emissions lab dept. 71, which meant I had to walk just about every area of the facility.  I also replaced the only female timekeeper and for months, everyone kept asking me what happened to Connie! - Mark

[Vince]

Just thought you guys might like to know that I still own a 1978 Z28 I bought new that was assembled at the Van Nuys plant the 5th week of June. 

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

I remember when we built 1979 Z28s for the California Highway Patrol.  I also own a 1979 Trans Am that was built at Van Nuys, although I bought it used in 1986 as it wasn't available new in California as it had the Pontiac 400 engine that wasn't certified for sale in the state.  The Pontiac engines were built in the previous model year and stored at the plant.  I would walk by the area and watch as the inventory of engines gradually go down as the Pontiac 400 engines had chrome valve covers.

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

The California license plate for my friend's 1968 Z28 Camaro was XCR771 and he sold it to a private party in Los Angeles in 1973.  Unfortunately, we have no information on the VIN number of the Z28.

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

My friend's 1968 Z28 was probably built at the Van Nuys Plant as I remember that when he replaced the door jamb vent grill on the driver's side, the door striker was not painted.