I have been reading in Jerry MacNeish's Appraisal-Certificate of Authenticity reports that he removes the RS backup lamps to inspect that the holes are stamped in the lower valance panel. He also evaluates the location of the wiring grommet holes thru the truck pan to compare with his extensive research and photo documentation on 1st Gen Camaros. I have been on JM's schedule since August 2021 to evaluate and certify my '69 RS Z28 Camaro, along with two (2) other '69 Z28s in my area.
My '69 was assembled in Norwood in 05A. I purchased my X33 D80 Z28 in 1995 with just over 45K miles, and spent 5 years restoring it (1995 - 2000) back to as original as possible. After reading several JM cert reports recently about how he validates an original RS, I recalled that during my Camaro restoration, that the holes in my lower valance panel where rough cut and not cleanly stamped. I recently removed them and took pictures of the holes as shown below. I also found it interesting that the shifter hole in my floorboard was also a very rough cut hole. The hole in the firewall for the RS vacuum hose grommet appeared to be in the correct and original position.
My RS tail light housings #5961747 and #5961747 (with no hole for the backup light in the center of the housing for non-RS tail light housings) appeared to be original to the car, as well as my rear body "RS" wiring harness #8721693 appeared to be original to the car. The tag shown below was on the original harness and I transferred it to my reproduction replacement harness. The balance of the RS components: front headlight doors and mechanisms, vacuum actuators, the RS vacuum reserve tank, and the control valve all appeared to be original unrestored parts. Finally, I found what appeared to be a "X3" on the interior rear bulk head, and on the firewall sheet metal (along with 2X, 10, and D8) when I attempted to carefully remove the layers of paint. I understand that "X33" was for the Style Trim and that all Rally Sport Camaros by default included the X33 trim option. There is no way with absolute certainty to confirm if a '69 Camaro was originally an RS car without an original window sticker or build sheet. I do have the NCRS Shipping Data Report and contacted the original dealership to see if they had any documentation on my Camaro. Unfortunately, the dealership had a warehouse fire and lost all their old records. That was a big bummer!
During the restoration, I replaced the driver's side rear quarter panel with an NOS panel and replaced the trunk pan panel due to rust. It appears the passenger side rear quarter panel had been replaced at some point by a prior owner. There is no noticeable sheet metal date code in the panel as often seen on original rear quarter panels. I cannot be certain if the lower valance panel was ever replaced by prior ownership, but it looks like the original panel. I have read the CRG info showing holes that were stamped.
Questions:
1.) Is it possible at the Norwood Assembly Plant, that some Fisher bodies were incorrectly released from the body bank targeted to be RS, but had to be corrected "down the line" on either the Fisher Body side, or Chevrolet final assembly side of the operation?
2.) Does anyone else have an original '69 RS with rough cut out holes for the backup lamps?
Thanks!
