Jon Mello's 67 Z/28 Survivor

[Belair62]

" Sorry this one is late....Photobucket was down with system problems.John has another very interesting Z/28 that we will feature also"

Jon Mello’s 1967 Z28 “survivor”

I bought this car from the original owner in 1998. He bought it new from Mustang Chevrolet in San Angelo, Texas on July 31, 1967. The original owner was a motorcycle racer and told me he bought this car with the idea of doing some racing with it. Once he got the car, he decided he did not have the money to make it fully competitive so he pretty much left it alone. He did do some street racing, with the occasional trip to the local drag strip (Wall Dragway). I don’t know what he raced against but supposedly the only car that beat him was a Stage 1 Buick. You can tell the car was meant for racing. The car has the cowl plenum air cleaner and the factory headers. It also is a factory radio and heater delete car. This is the only documented ’67 Z28 to have that combination of options (or non-options). The car also has the J56 HD metallic brakes, 4.10 posi gears, HD battery and is the only known Z with the HD 61-amp optional alternator. It is equipped with the very rare shoulder belts and is supposed to have headrest seats but the factory screwed up and did not install them. They are shown on the window sticker and cowl tag but on the sales invoice, it shows a credit. The headrests were shipped with the car but there were no slots in the seats to install them. I attribute that to the fact that the car is less than 60 cars from the end of production and maybe things were getting a little lax at that point. The car was taken off the road in the early ‘70s and I think that was due to the gas crisis. It was not brought out again as far as I know until the late 80s and very little mileage has been put on since that time. It has all its original paint except for the header panel and lower valence (I still have those pieces). The original exhaust manifolds came with the car and they are like brand new because the headers went on immediately once he took delivery. The plug wires, radiator hoses, and distributor cap were all original but I took them off and put them away in a box. Even the shocks are the originals. I have left those on but it sure would ride and handle a little better with some new ones. I did have to rebuild the brakes as it had the typical leaky front calipers. I have the original boxes for the cowl plenum air cleaner and the rally wheel caps. The trim rings and caps had never been installed as the car got 5-spoke ET mags pretty quickly. The color combination is very unusual to say the least, Mountain Green with a gold standard interior. It is not everybody’s cup of tea, but I like it. It is the only known Z with that color combo. I have heard of some plain-Jane cars in that color scheme though. All-in-all, I really love this car. It is hard to beat the originality and I really like the way it is optioned. I try to respect the originality of the car but I also like to enjoy driving it to some of the local shows. When you nail the gas and run through the gears on an early Z (even with the crummy Muncie shifter) that really brings a smile to your face. It is hard justifying leaving a car like this in the garage.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/X%20%20%209-15-04%20Jon%20Mello%2067%20Z%2028/MelloZ28flowerfields1.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/X%20%20%209-15-04%20Jon%20Mello%2067%20Z%2028/tn_MellogreenZinterior.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/X%20%20%209-15-04%20Jon%20Mello%2067%20Z%2028/tn_CPinstallationinstructions.jpg

[Belair62]

This car is sharp.I don't recall ever seeing Mountain Green.I'm sure Jon will fill in a lot of the mysteries about some of the pics...

[JoeG]

Talk about a coincidence--I just got back from that area---The color matches the country side perfectly http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif---Very nicely set-up------------- http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Pantera]

Were they putting '68 taillights in '67's late in the model run? Perhaps they were added later? Boy it has been a long time since I have seen that color!

Nice to see a car so original and in such good condition like this one.

[hvychev]

VERY freakin cool car!! WoW!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif Hey Mustang Chevrolet is where Wilmasboys new 5800 mile 1970 Nova was sold at! What are the odds that two incredibly original cars like that survive from an obscure dealer! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Don_Lightfoot]

Agree, this car is so, so, SO http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif. Definitely optioned out for track use http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif. Nice to hear it does get driven a bit http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Supercar_Kid]

Very cool car with a neat selection of options and a lack thereof. In this instance, less is certainly more. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[TDW]

Very nice car Jon. I like the different color combos.
Can you tell me the backspace on the wheels and what size tires are on them? Thanks.

[DarrenX33]

Cool car Jon! I love the color combo. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[firstgenaddict]

Does the Window sticker show heater delete? There has been an ongoing debate on the boards about heater delete not being available on any domestic Camaro's. This could help put that debate to rest.

[68l30]

Wow! Very cool ride http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif Great color combo and I also love the non-spoiler rear.


Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Belair62]

I think the heater delete debate pertains to 1969 vehicles ? Government mandated defrosters or something....someone will chime in for sure..Jon this is a very cool car...the picture of the fellow standing next to the car is the original owner I believe. Those wheels definitely belong on that car...

[Steve Shauger]

68l30 spoilers were not available in 1967. Jon what a great car, and a true survivor. Jon I think you should share the car with us on the east coast, by bringing it to the Camaro National @ Carlisle. That is a perfect car for our Vintage Certification program. Thanks for sharing such a cool car with us. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Steve

[1967Z28]

Thanks to everybody for the compliments on the car. Yes, the window sticker does show the heater delete and the negative dollar amount for the credit. The heater delete is also denoted on the cowl tag and the UOIT sheet. I believe '67 was the last year for a factory installed heater delete on a mainland USA car. 1968 had new vehicle standards to meet which included heating and defrosting. It may be possible that a '68 built prior to Jan 1, 1968 could have had a heater delete but I have never personally seen that. Regarding the lack of rear spoiler, I don't believe any '67 had a factory installed spoiler that year. I asked the original owner and he told me he wouldn't have ordered a spoiler with the car even if they were available because he didn't personally care for them. That is the original owner standing by the car in front of his house in the photo above. I also included a picture of the RH exhaust manifold and partial exhaust pipe to show that they are like new. I have a pretty good feeling that the header gaskets are the originals but if anybody knows different, please let me know. The spare is original and I have two other original tires from off the car but the sidewall is damaged from sitting in the garage for all those years with no air in them. I figure the other two tires went up in a cloud of smoke. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

-Jon

[1967Z28]

I forgot to mention that the tail lights are the correct '67 pieces. I guess the shade or angle of the car makes it a little hard to tell.

-Jon

[68l30]

Paceme,no kidding http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I think they were added to WAY to many cars since 1967.It's refreshing to see a 67 that does not have a rear spoiler added. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Belair62]

Jon...what is the piece of paper you found ?

[Zedder]

The only truly unrestored, non-fluffed '67 Z that I know exists! Great car Jon, congrats http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[68TopStock]

Jon,

It is nice to see this car and read about it. I am still impressed that this car survived so well over those many years. A very special car in its own right. I also enjoy that color combination, the gold interior is unusual. Good to hear you are driving it occasionally, how about some slicks, open headers and a "test and tune" session at a local track to see what an original car will run! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[1967Z28]

The large piece of paper above is called a UOIT (Uniform Option Identification Tag). I found it under the carpet of the car in the driver's side footwell. My UOIT shows the AS1 (headrests), AS2 (shoulder belts), C48 (heater delete), M20 (four speed) and Z28 options which are spelled out on the cowl tag and it literally translates the cowl tag codes for each particular car it is installed in. This one is hard to read (in a picture) because it was lying on the asphalt pad but I've got another one from a plain-Jane Camaro that is nicely readable. Even though my car has an M21 the UOIT says M20 because M20 is the generic term for any four speed. Even a Saginaw would be shown as an M20. The UOITs are the only documents that I know of that officially (because they are an actual GM document) translate the information on the cowl tag. They are an extremely rare find but I know of another couple that were found in '67 Z28s and one from an L78. These only appear to be found in LOS-built cars.

The spark plug heat shields are kind of a poor picture but I threw that in just to show that they are in pristine condition because they were pulled off immediately when the factory headers were installed.

Thanks to Zedder and Top Stock for the compliments. Yes, it would be fun to take the car to the track and see what it would do. I haven't done that yet.

-Jon

[Pantera]

RE: '67 Taillights

Those apear to be '68 taillights with the backup lights inboard. Earlier '67 Camaro's had a all red lens with a seperate "Back up" light under the bumper on each side.

GM must have started to use them sometime in the late '67 model run. You might want to check that out on one of the Camaro boards. I was not aware that they made that change till the '68's came out?

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Isn't the backup light in the roll pan an RS thing?

[JChlupsa]

The lights are correct for a NON-RS 67. The big difference between the 67/68 standard rear tail lights was the divider that was put o the 68's dividing the red and white lens.

Marlin is correct stating that the back up lights would be below the rear bumper for RS models, which would make the tail lights red on both halfs. RS's for 67 would also have the headlight doors and the front turn signals below the front bumper as well. As shown in the front shots of Johns cars this is not a RS. I will say though its one very very nice 67 Z.

[Supercar_Kid]

http://www.camaros.net/years/67/rear_pg6.jpg '67 RallySport rear shot. Is this what you were thinking of?

[jg95z28]

Awesome 67 Z28 Jon! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif Mountain Green is one of my favorite colors for that year.

As for the 67 std. vs. 67 RS tail lights... I have both in my driveway so I guess I can confirm what Aloha Jeff and others said. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[1967Z28]

Thanks for filling in Pantera on the tail lights. I originally assumed he was talking about the divider between the inner and outer lenses.
Attached is a picture of the box for the cowl plenum air cleaner. Notice the date on the box which is less than a month before my car was built. The duct got put on right away but when the original owner tried to put the aircleaner on he balked because the rubber seal was a very tight fit. Afraid of tearing up the rubber, he just put the aircleaner back in the box and that's where it stayed. When I got the car, I put a lot of soapy water on the rubber and took my time nursing it on. It went on fine.

-Jon

[BillD]

That is one sweeeet 67 Z/28

[DaJudge]

Nice Z, always loved the cowl plenum air cleaners http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif