dealer release date for '69 Z/28s ?

[group/7]

 A bit of topic 

What was the date that '69 Z's were for sale at dealers, and available to the public. was it the same all across the country (U.S) or

 was the roll out different depending on the zone ?

Asking because I'm trying to date a photo (image below) that the caption says it is 1968, It's supposed to be Courtland, Alabama,

there is a Daytona Yellow ? '69 Z on the grid behind the Shelby Mustang.  This all has to do with identifying where and when for

 Ferrari to the left of the GT350 (Charlie Kemp..5R538)

PS: sorry 'bout the size of the pic, tried to make it as small as possible, scroll right and left to see the whole image .

Mike

[69Z28-RS]

The Courtland AAF was a training field for training pilots in WWII.  I'm not sure when it was abandoned by the military, but I found a reference for drag racing on the strip dated May 1968 saying that drag races were held every Sunday, so your photo could have been from anytime in late '68 (or thereafter).

That strip is still used occasionally for auto activities, and very occasionally for air shows, although I'm unsure as to what it's condition is.

I don't recall '69 Chevrolet introductions being any different than 'normal' for the time, which was usually around mid September...

[william]

According to The Great Camaro the 1969 model year intro was September 26, 1968.

[bcmiller]

The Z28s were built on day 1 just like all other cars and should have been available everywhere at the same time (roughly - the shipping time would vary by a few to several days based on location).

I don’t think the pic you posted is going to help you figure out a date, just based on there being a 69 Z28 in the pic. Need more to go on.

[SMKZ28]

The Camaro appears to have the normal hood and not the Super Scoop hood which was introduced as an option in early calendar year 1969.  If it had this hood there would be no way it could be dated 1968 but since it does not appear on the Camaro the date could still be 1968.

Everyone is wearing jackets and they look quite cold.  Also, the vegetation is quite brown which leads me to believe that it is late fall or winter.

[SMKZ28]

Here is a list of the SCCA National races that took place between the time the 1969 Camaro was introduced and the following Spring and I don't see Courtland, Alabama on the list.   Perhaps the location is wrong or maybe it was just an SCCA Regional event and not an SCCA National event.  It seems Courtland hosted its last SCCA National event in 1967.

https://www.oldracingcars.com/results/racelist/?CategoryID=SN
https://www.racingsportscars.com/track/archive/Courtland.html

SCCA National (Colorado Region) Continental Divide 29 Sep 1968
SCCA National (Alamo Region) Clear Springs 29 Sep 1968
SCCA National (Indianapolis Region) Indianapolis Raceway Park 6 Oct 1968
SCCA National (Northeast Oklahoma Region) War Bonnet 6 Oct 1968
SCCA National (Arizona Region) Phoenix International Raceway 13 Oct 1968
SCCA National (Texas Region) Green Valley Raceway 16 Feb 1969
SCCA National (Cal Club Region) Stardust International 23 Feb 1969
SCCA National (Cal Club Region) Willow Springs 23 Mar 1969
SCCA National (Gator Region) Fernandina Beach 30 Mar 1969
SCCA National (San Francisco Region) Sears Point 30 Mar 1969
SCCA National (Washington Region) Marlboro Motor Speedway 13 Apr 1969
SCCA National (Charleston Region) Savannah International Raceway 13 Apr 1969
SCCA National (San Diego Region) Holtville Aerodrome 13 Apr 1969
SCCA National (Arkansas Region) Stuttgart Airport 20 Apr 1969
SCCA National (North Carolina Region) Virginia International Raceway 27 Apr 1969
SCCA National (Mid South Region) Shelby County International Raceway 4 May 1969
SCCA National (Arizona Region) Phoenix International Raceway 4 May 1969
SCCA National (Alamo Region) Austin Raceway Park 4 May 1969
SCCA National (Savannah Region) Savannah International Raceway 11 May 1969
SCCA National (Steel Cities Region) Cumberland Airfield 18 May 1969
SCCA National (Chicago Region) Meadowdale International Raceway 18 May 1969
SCCA National (Northwest Region) Seattle 18 May 1969

[Kelley W King]

For Alabama that brown landscape would be very late 68 if 68 at all.

[69Z28-RS]

For Alabama that brown landscape would be very late 68 if 68 at all.

Yep...  Nov or Dec if '68...

[VINCE Z28]

 Courtland  had SCCA National event in May 26th 1968.