1967 Impala SS427 L-72?

[StealthBird]

Just received my Sept 2012 Hemmings Muscle Machines, and a feature story is on Bill Wickman's 1967 Impala SS427, with a 425hp L-72. Supposedly, none were built, yet he has one, and has owned the car for 30 years. No documentation exists. Bill scored 992/1000 points at the MCACN show, and three judges agreed the car appeared to be authentic.

There's a mention that eleven L-72 full-sized cars were built, which includes Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala, Caprice, and station wagon models. But no one is sure if Bill's 4-speed Impala SS 427 is authentic, as there is no paperwork.

Couldn't Bill trace the previous owner(s), or obtain the original title through a service, which should have the hp rating of his car? I seem to recall that titles state the hp rating, make and model, and the original title should show the 425 hp rating (or however the state of California describes it).

What a cool car though, and I'll bet this thing flies.

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[kwhizz]

I'm pretty sure there are some records that document 11 engines were built.....But no paper trail as to where they ended up.....Can-Am cars???.....Jenkins????........

[PeteLeathersac]

No RPO L72 for '67 B-Body but wasn't it John Z who posted here in the past about a '67 L72 Impala he had?
A factory engineering car w/ a 'Special' tag riveted on the inner also didn't he save the tag and post a pic of it here?


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~ Pete

[kwhizz]

I stand corrected 17 engines......this was copied from another site that are discussing this exact car also


Tonawanda Engine Plant records show 17 L72 427/425 engines (Suffix codes ID and IK) built for full-size Chevy passenger cars but there are no existing records of the engines being shipped to assembly plants for installation.

Documention from Fran Preve..former employee of Tonawanda engine plant. Same info listed in Alan Colvin's Chevrolet by the Numbers 1965-69 edition, page 44.

[kwhizz]

Hers a link...................

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/284374/

[PeteLeathersac]

Here it is... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...593&amp;page=4
I don't see the tag pic, must've been posted in a different thread?

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~ Pete

[PeteLeathersac]

Here's the thread w/ the pic, cruise down to John Z's attachment.
Note it's 'Special Order' on the tag, sorry not just special.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...opics/390413/5


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~ Pete

[galveston]

The clue to wheather it's real lies in the cowl tag, there is one individual that has indepth knowledge of this vehicle in question. All indicators say it's a fraud.

[Bill Pritchard]

I've read a lot of discussion on this car on the Impala SS427 website, and as Shaun says, there are substantial indications that it's a fraud.

[ANDY M]

Bill, with all due respect, &quot;indications&quot; are not proof. Since he has owned the car for 30 years, and does not seem inclined to sell it, who needs the drama?

On a more positive note, if you turn to page 39, there's a nice picture of the MOF, Brian Potter, with his new (for him) Chevelle, which won Best of Show at the Hemmings &quot;Musclepalooza XV&quot; car show.

WAY TO GO, BRIAN [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Andy