Classic DREAMCARS Mount Dora, Fla. (352) 385-1945 www.classicdreamcars.com

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A Certified Milestone Car

1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS Z/28 - JL-8 / CROSSRAM SPORT COUPE

A GORGEOUS, LOW MILEAGE (TRUE 38,220 MILE) ORIGINAL Z/28 , RESTORED AND FINISHED IN AUGUST 1999. ONE OF THE RAREST, MOST SOUGHT AFTER CAMARO'S IN EXISTENCE...A 1969 X-33 Z/28 RALLY SPORT WITH A CROSSRAM 2-4V MANIFOLD, GLASS HOOD, PROP ROD AND FOUR-WHEEL-DISC-BRAKES. THIS CAR FEATURES ALL MATCHING NUMBERS RIGHT DOWN TO THE COLORS, MOTOR, TRANSMISSION, REAR AND EVEN THE HEADRESTS. IT ALSO CARRIES A SET OF DATE CODED 2-4 CROSSRAM MANIFOLD / CARBS. IT IS FINISHED IN HUGGER ORANGE WITH BLACK DELUXE COMFORTWEAVE BUCKETS AND BLACK LEMANS STRIPES. IT FEATURES IT'S ORIGINAL REMOTE MIRROR, OPTIONAL FRONT BUMPER GUARDS, REAL (ACTUAL WOOD) ROSEWOOD STEERING WHEEL W/ MATCHING SIMULATED ROSEWOOD DASH, CONSOLE W/ GAUGES, CLOCK, 8,000 RPM TACH, FIBERGLASS COWL INDUCTION HOOD W/ PROP ROD, CHAMBERED EXHAUST, D-80 SPOILERS, POWER ASSIST STEERING, JL-8 POWER FOUR-WHEEL-DISC BRAKES, 12 BOLT 4:10 POSITRACTION REAR, TINTED GLASS, CORRECT GOODYEAR R.W.L. TIRES ON RALLY WHEELS, AM PUSHBUTTON RADIO, AND EVEN A 'SPACE SAVER' SPARE. OUR CAR HAILED FROM PA. AND WAS TOTALLY RESTORED ROTISSERIE STYLE IN TEXAS, THEN DOCUMENTED BY FIRST GENERATION CAMARO. THIS CAR IS NOW PART OF OUR MUSEUM COLLECTION.... SORRY, THIS KNOCK-OUT BEAUTY IS NOT OFFERED FOR SALE.

THE STORY:

This is a year that will always be remembered because, 1969 held many surprises and disappointments that will be hallmarked in history forever. Expecting 100,000 concert goers, promoters were shocked to find 400,000 peace loving souls standing at the gates of Max Yasgur's farm. As security was completely overrun, promoters finally declared the "Woodstock" Festival a 'freebie'. It will always be remembered as, not only a paramount musical event but, a time when hundred's of thousands of people came together in peace and harmony without burning, looting and destroying the event ( as in the last Woodstock Celebration). Famous luminary Rock and Folk groups appeared like; Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Sly and The Family Stoned, Joe Cocker, Joan Baez, Canned Heat, Ten Years After, Crosby-Stills-Nash- & Young, and more. Had Tommy James -The Shondells and The Rascals not turned down the opportunity, their names would also be added to the hippie history books. Meanwhile, in Top-40-Land, the radio blurted out Moog music by Walter Carlos in "Switched On Bach", The Beatles "Get Back", The Archies "Sugar..Sugar", The Fifth Dimensions' "Aquarius", and Sly and The Family Stone's "Everyday People".

In Altamont, California, the Angel's landed...but, not from above. The Rolling Stones hired the Hells' Angel's motorcycle gang to act as security ( for $500 in beer), and Meredith Hunter paid with his life...stabbed to death, after foolishly pulling a gun on one of the Angel's. Because of that, this "Age of Aquarius" Concert will go down in infamy as the last 'free love' concert.. On the bright side, Sesame Street debuted on National Television and Big Bird, Ernie, Bert & Oscar became permanent boob-tube fixtures in America. President Nixon was inaugurated that year, Vietnam War deaths reached 33,641 and B-52's dropped over 3,000 pounds in bombs on the Cambodia Border. The Modern Day Gay Movement kicked into first gear with a raid on the Stonewall Bar in Greenwich Village, New York and the Apollo 11 Mission landed on the Moon July 20th.

Jack Nicholson began his film career in "Easy Rider" with Peter Fonda and Joe Namath became an American Sex Symbol playing Quarterback for the New York Jets. The Nation was racked by strife as millions of American's, Conservative and Liberal, protested the U.S. involvement in Vietnam while General Motors shored up for a debilitating strike by the U.A.W., that crippled production of most Chevrolet products.

One of the hardest Z/28 Camaro's to find in today's marketplace, is an RS (Rally Sport) equipped Z/28. No exact figure is published or known as to exactly how many were actually factory built but, many appear today offered for sale that do not have the mandatory headlight washer system, proper plumbing or are not X-33's, and thus, are termed bogus cars. Option Z22 included a Special Grille, Concealed Headlamps w/ Headlight Washers, Black Body Sill (except on 4 colors), Wheel Well / Drip Moldings & Gill Chrome, Sport Striping (unless RPO-Z28 was ordered), Back-up Lights (separate from the tail lights / under the bumper) and an RS Emblem on the steering wheel (unless substituted by the Rosewood), and 'Rally Sport' fender nameplates. Normally dealer's 'favorably' ordered the Custom Interior but, it is known some Standard Interiors creeped through. The headlight washers carried a ribbed hose system to function and the headlamps doors were designed to expose the headlight beam... even if they didn't open. The 1969 Z/28 RS had both Z and Rally Sport fender emblems. There were 243,095 Camaro's built in 1969 yet, only 15.5% of production were RS equipped. Extrapolating the Z/28 build from these figures would show a possibility of only 3,146 RS Z/28's being built out of 20,302 yet, one almost never sees a real one for sale.

Unlike today, when nearly every single, mass -produced-car manufactured carries a 4-wheel-disc brake system, in 1969, Corvette stood alone. They only became available on Camaro's in March of 1968 so, Chevrolet could qualify for FIA Racing. It was intitally called the limited production "H.D. Service Brake Package" and was viewed as not only remarkable but, expensive. Dealers charged $500.30 to $630.50. These cars were built in small batches by the factory, not only to keep costs down but, to comply with the 'minimum 200' established by the S.C.C.A. / FIA. Since production was not well documented the exact number is still unknown. Most books speak of 206 made but, there is also talk of the figures being inflated to meet minimum requirements. the option was officially canceled July 16 1969. Our car was built and all codes / casting numbers are in April/ May.

Since the Ford Mustang was soundly tromping Camaro's buttocks in the 1967-68 race season, Chevrolet brainstormed the multiple carburetion concept and the Cross Ram 2-4 barrel Setup was born. These units were never installed by the factory but, were shipped to the dealers and installed, or were installed by a private concern, hence the "in the trunk option" myth was born. A handful of dealers were aware they were even available and sold them over-the-counter (like Benz Chevrolet, Lake Worth, FL) but, most warned that installing them would void the warranty. This set-up would require a much hotter cam and radical tuneup, idling at nearly 1,300 r.p.m., This carb set-up is strikingly beautiful in symmetry and proportion of design as it carries a bright chrome - black base, long oval air cleaner ( with AFP66 air filter) and requires a special ducted hood to clear the top. The manifold is stamped #394007 and was first offered in December 1967 under the ambiguous title of "Heavy Duty Service Option". The release of this equipment began a Winning Streak for the Camaro on the track and in the showrooms of Chevrolet Dealers all across America. Although the tunnel ram idea was claimed to be new and revolutionary, it was actually developed by Chrysler in the early 60's and called RAM or the Ram Manifold. This ram effect was intentionally designed by Chevrolet engineers to "lie low" as it was mandated by the S.C.C.A. and NASCAR "that the manifold and carbs fit under the stock hood" ( the Cowl Induction or Air Induction Hood option was obviously soon to follow). This staggered carburetor configuration allowed the use of two, monster Holly carb's with fully metered bodies and allowed easy jet and bowl changes. This also, coincidentally, allowed the 302 motor to develop 7,200 r.p.m. ( and a reputed 458 horse) using the optional "140 cam" and Tuned headers. Today, these manifolds are seen selling on eBay and Hemmings @ $21,800, complete with rebuilt carbs and correct air cleaner.

Finally, worth noting is the 1969 Camaro "Super Scoop", RPO-JL-2 "Special Ducted Hood". This design was implemented to not only increase cold, fresh air inducted to the carbs and as a functional high performance piece of equipment but, as a functional piece of beauty, as well.. Doug Roe (Engineer) and Vince Piggins found a dramatic gain in performance by taking cool, dense air from the base of the windshield and ducting it to the carburetor. Since horsepower is boosted 1% by every 11 degree drop in temperature...taking a 350 horsepower motor and dropping the temp by 43 degree's would compute to 14 more horsepower. Larry Shinoda began design on this concept in May 1967. But, it wasn't until the the 1969 Racing Season that they loosened restrictions enough to allow for the air scoops. Chevrolet immediately issued (11/25/68) 1000 optional metal hoods to qualify, and today, nearly every 1969 Z/28 Camaro you see has one ( even some SS350 and 396 models!). The rare counter part, Fiberglas 2/4 hood was then issued as a heavy duty equipment" option, once again, for use in the TransAm Series. [ Chevrolet engineers were Master of Manipulating the Rules of interpretation when it came to ergonomics]. Hence, the glass hood came to replace the flat metal hood on the TransAm cars and even some privately owned cars. In showrooms, Chevrolet pocketed a handsome $79 extra sale and ended up selling over 10,026 production metal, "Special Ducted Hoods" in 1969. Due to exorbitant high production costs glass hoods numbered only 100**. Many of these are seen today to have some slight warp age due to 34-35 years of heat and use.

With all of this, you can imagine our excitement, to add this great Milestone car to our permanent Museum Collection.

 

** See camaro-untold-secrets.com