Berger info on warranty books

[ds1]

Two months ago I sold my turnkey 68 Camaro race car and started looking for a 68 to replace it with. I had the number for a guy who was supposed to have a 68 Z28 shell with the protecto plate and original rear in the car. Having 6 f body cars here I did not know what I was going to get into. I had the phone number 3 years, and I called it on a sunday morning. I heard nothiing back. Thursday that week I get home from work and my wife tells me a guy called about a 68 Camaro and gave me a time I could call him back. I realized it was for the Z. I am helpng a young friend right now fulfil his dream of building a 67 Camaro RS deluxe interior car. So after he left I called the number about the car. The guy was excentric to say the least, after listening for a half hour about investments alternative fuels and the government I asked "is the car for sale". He said yes it was for sale but was in a tight spot because he was a Camaro collector and had a LOT of cars and parts. Little did I know. I asked a few questions and he told me what he knew and that it came with almost an entire car of NOS sheetmetal "the good stuff from the 80's". I asked the price and it was not cheap, but it was a 68 Z28 RS with the precto plate and NOS sheetmetal. I had the money and arranged a time to see the car. He told me he had 50 engines and a lot of parts. I knew I was going to be impressed, but when I got there I was stunned at what I got to see. We had a narrow path to get to the car about 3 feet wide. This place was jam packed with parts. I got to see part of the driver side quarter and it looked rough. But I was not detered. I had my truck trailler and cash. I asked if we could open the garage door so I could look at as much as I could see. This building was an old gas station at the fork of the road, it was all wood with sliding doors. So we moved a 69 Z out of the way. Not for sale I asked, and moved a 70 Nova aluminum head 396 4 bolt main engine out of the way to get to the door. I crawled under the back and the rear looked right and had 4 leaf springs, the floors looked pretty good also. I tried to look at the passenger side of the car but there was a pile of parts over 6 feet high beside it that I could not see much else. I was in love. It is a British racing green 68 Z28 RS, deluxe interior, tinted glass, factory spoiler car. More than I could have ever hoped for. We came to price and had to get the car loaded up, it was getting dark. I follwed him to a storage facility where the sheetmetal and block was. He opened the door there and it was FULL of first gen Camaro NOS sheetmetal. I about fell over. I laid all the parts out to see what we had and what we needed yet. I told him we were a couple of parts short so he got out a key and opens the door next to it. There were rows and stacks of NOS sheetmetal. It was one of the craziest days of my life for a Camaro lover like me. I get the car home and inside the car are boxes full of NOS parts. I went through them and was amazed at what was there. So research began my dad looked up the original owners addressand gave me a picture of the house off Google maps. Later that week I went to the local phone book and looked the guys name up and found his new address and his age of 67. He lived about 15 miles from where he was when he bought the car. I tried calling the phone number and got an answering machine. I felt awkward about leaving a message so I hung up. That was a day before the car had been originally bought. About a month and a half passed and I was busy with work and in my garage. The weather was bad one evening so I called it a night earlier than usual. I thought I should call the original owner, I would be bummed if I had the phone number and did not at least try. The phone rings and I get an answering machine, so tonight I am leaving a message. I said my name where I was from and explained that I was loking for a man that bought a 68 Camaro new. I heard a click and the next sentence took my breath away. "I bought a green 1968 Z28 Camaro new". I had the original owner on the phone. He lives in Syracuse New York I am in the middle of PA, he expleined to me he raced all over the east coast and ordered the car to race. He went on to say he picked it up in Grand Rapids Michigan, this sounded familiar but I still did not know what he was talking about. I said that the warranty book lists New York as the original address. He said yes he registered it there but he had ordered it at Berger Chevrolet. I was speechless. He told me he ordered british racing green, deluxe black interior, RS, D80 spoiler package, Z28, with 4.56 gears to race. The car did not have the Berger emblem on the back. After opening the trunk the holes where filled and measuring the spacing they are dead on for a Berger car. The rear has 3.73 gears in it but the housing is tamped BW for 4.56 posi and the date is right for the car. He told me he put headers, a scattersheild and lakewood traction bars on. The car has traction bars on but I had never seen a square tube set of Lakewood bars until I found this website. So I am really sure they are the ones he put on. I am trying to get my documnetation of the car in line but my warranty book does not have the dealer name on it anywhere. The guy has no reason for making up that part of the story, everything else he told me checked out, and the holeshttp://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/05/full-13800-4995-im000044.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/05/full-13800-4996-im000045.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/05/full-13800-4997-im000051.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/05/full-13800-4998-im000049.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/05/full-13800-4999-im000048.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/05/full-13800-5000-im000047.jpg
for the emblem are still there approximately 3 1/4 inches apart. Does anyone know any info from back then or anyone who would have dealt with warranty books? Where the dealer name should be it says 4210I 8N17 T9R51 original service date 5 21 68 plate was stamped 5 22 68. This started out as my most attainable dream car and with the parts options and history it has far exceeded my expectations. I am looking for a By Berger emblem that screws on the back so if anyone can help out with that I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. Any info is a help. thanks so much Dan

[Charley Lillard]

Cool story. Post a pic of the filled holes.

[scuncio]

That's a great story. Nice car, too.

[ds1]

Here you go and a pic that may be hard to see but the Z stipes can be seen under the repaint on the cowl panel and under the trunk. I have a 396 holley to sell dated 882, a 69 Zintake, a 67 396 auto carb retored, and a two 69 350 auto carbs to sell as well as a NOS cowl indution hood that was mounted but not painted and the 68 NOS quarters and outer wheel houses, I can not post them on here for some reason. I need to sell them to help fund the car. Thanks again Dan http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/05/full-13800-5001-filled_holes.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/05/full-13800-5002-z_stripes.jpg

[PeteLeathersac]

Very cool car and story!
Great how you've hooked up w/ the original owner already, does he have any old pics to share?
They operate w/ a different # now but here's Berger's old dealer code info noted below.
Looking forward to more on this one, love to see a shot of the cowl tag if you can too.

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

-----------------------------------------------------

Zone # 45
Dealer Code # 28
Berger Chevrolet
2525 28th St. SE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49506
(Info @ 1970)

-----------------------------------------------------

[ds1]

Hear is the cowl tag. Those numbers do not match any of the numbers in my warranty book. Do any of the numbers listed above look familiar to you. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/05/full-13800-5034-cowl_tag.jpg

[TAR6569]

Does the protectoplate tape have any extra codes on it besides the owners name, address and date of sale. Sometimes the seller dealer put their dealer number on the GM dymo tape.

[ds1]

No nothing extra. His name, address and 5-22-68 in the tape. Dan

[68l30]

Nice shot of the T stamp under the cowl tag.. Love the car, great to see another 68!


BIG

[beachbud]

I have a By Berger emblem if you need it. I own a 1966 Chevelle that was sold by Bwerger Chevrolet and had an emblem on the back of it. I had a friend of mu=ine make copies of that emblem in stainless steel. They are exact copies and no one can tell the difference. I'm the only one that has them emblems.
I can be reached at 256-604-9970.
David Beach
Longbeach Customs
www.longbeachcustoms.com (http://www.longbeachcustoms.com) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/06/full-12592-5110-by_berger_emblem.jpg

[Kurt S]

What's the date on the axle?

Thanks!

[ds1]

The axle code is BW and the date is 0508G. The housing and the protecto plate match.

[Kurt S]

Thanks!

[barker]

Cool story!!

[Schonyenko2]

Just read this thread. Kwizz wants you to go back and get the block stamp off that 70 aluminum headed 70 Nova motor, and see what the story is with it.

Nice find on the Camaro.

[ds1]

Here is an add he has on craigslist for part right now. Ask him if he has a Nova engine. [email protected]&lt;[email protected]&gt;;

[ds1]

Found the engine I need for the car today. Thanks to Mark in New Jersey for being reasonable to deal with and a really nice guy. Patience was the key. Just need small parts for on the engine, timing cover, oil pan, alternator brackets, intake, thermostat housing, fan, distributor. My car came with an M22 4 speed. That will have to wait for a later date. Thanks for all the comments, help and well wishing. Dan

[ds1]

I was going through the Day 2 section and found a picture of the 67 Camaro MIMI car. The original owner of my car, Warren Baum, was the owner of BMS Competition on the fenders of the MIMI cars. I am going to be talking to Warren more about the speed shop. Anyone here know of this race team? He told me that he drove some of the cars over the years. Dan
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-13800-7026-mimi_camaro1.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-13800-7027-untitled201.jpg

[beachbud]

Dan,
I have the By Berger emblems your looking for. I know I said $100 the last time we talked, so I'm will to sell the emblem for $50.00.
If you want it call me. 256-604-9970

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Didn't BMS get a '68 Yenko Camaro to race??

[ds1]

They had a 68 big block. It was a super stock that was later turned into a Pro stock. It was a 396. There is a die cast of that car for sale. Warren told me the 67 started as a 6 cylinder car they put a big block in. My car was ordered to street race after he drove a friends 67 Z28. As far as I know the 68 was not a Yenko. I have pictures of the 68 but can not get them to load. When looking into the 69 there was a lot of talk it as a ZL1. He could not confirm it. But the odd part of the story was that they want to Newark at night to get the car and had a police escort. I also found a Vega Pro stock. He told me Blanding was rich and liked racing. He ran things as a business until he could not right it off as a loss any more then quit. He will talk to me but his answers are usually short. It is more like an interview. I have my questions ready before I talk to him. He left around 69, so he knows nothing about the Vega.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Yep, my memory is still pretty good. Check the VIN list on this site, BMS got '68 Yenko # YS-8024, it was a non-COPO car.

BTW, a few of us passed on your BRG '68 Z many years ago, I did simply because I didn't have the money, space or time for another project. It was a good car, and none of us knew about the Berger connection - good deal by you, look forward to seeing it done!

[ds1]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/02/full-13800-9477-th3_2.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/02/full-13800-9478-68_mimi.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2014/02/full-13800-9479-73_vega.jpg

[ds1]

Talked to Warren the original owner yesterday. We talked at length this time about the car and racing as well as other cars. Got a little more info out of him on the car. He sold it to a guy in Syracuse named Nate that hung out at the speed shop. He said he quit working at BMS competition in the Fall of 68 and stopped racing altogether. So any New Yorkers that lived in Syracuse know of a guy named Nate that owned a 68 Z I could use your help. I did get my NCRS report and the car was sent to Berger, which I knew. so it is officially in writing. The car was built May 15 and picked up May 21.

[PeteLeathersac]

Great updates, all very cool cars &amp; info being dug up!
Couldn't help but note Bresee Chevy on the flanks of the one '67 pic...is this the same '67 that was the 6-banger after BMS converted it to V8 power also is there any more info on the Bresee connection?
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2013/10/full-13800-7027-untitled201.jpg

[iluv69s]

For what it's worth, apparently Breese sold some Hi-po cars back in the day. Just after I bought my ZL-1, I had the opportunity to buy a Yenko body real cheap that supposedly was sold from Breese Chevrolet.. I almost bought the car, til I realized/discovered that it had been rebodied, so I passed... I never did verify 100% if it was a real Yenko..did not get that far..but I believe it was....not so much was published on these cars back then.. ... Did Breese sell any Yenkos??

I wonder what happened to that car?? Probably got restored and sold for a few 100k...

BTW it was fathom green 4 speed...i have the VIN and numbers somewhere I think...

[iluv69s]

Great pics and info by the way !!! Love these threads !!

[ds1]

The 67 was the 6 cylinder car. He told me they were painted pearl white with gold stripes. I told him I know they got a 68 Yenko non conversion car. He said it must have been after he left. I was looking for info on that car. It is in the registry

[PeteLeathersac]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: iluv69s</div><div class="ubbcode-body">... Did Breese sell any Yenkos??
</div></div>

Oh yeah...Camaros/Chevelle/Deuces!
Here's one link and a pic below, lots more past threads here too.
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

Bresee Yenkos...
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/15157/1


http://www.yenko.net/attachments/58191-bresee.jpg

[PeteLeathersac]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ds1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 67 was the 6 cylinder car. He told me they were painted pearl white with gold stripes. I told him I know they got a 68 Yenko non conversion car. He said it must have been after he left. I was looking for info on that car. It is in the registry </div></div>

Thanks for more on the '67, great you have the connection also good luck with any more you can learn!
As for the '68 Yenko, isn't Marlin actually saying it <span style="text-decoration: underline">was a 427 conversion </span> but <span style="text-decoration: underline">not a Copo car</span> so not built on one of the '68 Copo 9737 cars w/ MM tag &amp; 140 speedo etc...maybe built earlier than the 9737 converted cars?
Also is the machine shop Marl's referring to in the Bresee Copo linked thread perhaps connected w/ BMS?
Lastly, is the rebody iluv69s was referring to perhaps not an FG car but RG and 9N615079?

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[ds1]

You guys have great memories putting all this together. I got into racing 23 years ago when I was 18. The owner of the track raced and his family had a Mercury dealership. He bought a 427 Comet sedan new. That car has been restored and I just read an article on it. It is very similar to the one posted on here but his had a different color interior. His dad ran a starter and alternator repair shop. I would go over on my days off and listen to his stories about racing and just anything he wanted to talk about. He is still alive in his 90, s. I have not talked to him in 2 years. He does not come outside much anymore. Anyway those guys were builders, I nova tors and inventers. They did not go to a catalog and buy parts. They designed them, built them and tested them. If they worked or not. They worked long thankless hours. Because of their war sacrifices and their persistence to succeed they really are the greatest generation. I love their stories and as the years go by their stories are silenced. So cherish them ad long as we still have them

[iluv69s]

[/quote]

Lastly, is the rebody iluv69s was referring to perhaps not an FG car but RG and 9N615079?

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete


[/quote

yes..it was Rally green now that you mention it...car was down South when I was after it. Wow, my memory is failing me sometimes... haha....I seem to remember it was still owned by the original owner. Thats why I was convinced it was a 'real' car... If it was just about the money, I would have snatched it up. The car 'body' was offered to me REAL cheap, but I did not want to get involved once I discovered the rebody.. I guess it is a known car now?? Is it all restored? probably looks great in that shade of green !! Thanks Pete for jogging my memory...
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

Max

[ds1]

Had a great time at the GM show and seeing SLS. Got to spend a day with my dad, most important, a GTO guy. Picked up a few more parts for the car. Have most of the big parts. Still looking for a 68 frame. Thanks to everyone and Elon.

[ds1]

Picked up correct oil pan and timing cover. Still tracking down parts. Just have to work a lot over the summer

[Geoff Smith]

Great story. What colour trim was the 67 Camaro 6 cylinder car? Any other info about it?

[ds1]

I can not remember any other details on the 67. I think it was white from factory. You can see in one of the later pics when it was a modified production car they cut the front of the wheel wells. Right now I am trying to buy a local Super Stock car with history. Was offered the car 20 years ago but had no place to put it. Talked to the current owner and he offered me another chance to buy it. This car won the 1976 Super Stock and Drag Illustrated Nationals at York beating one of my favorite racers Ken Montgomery. Ken has been one of the nicest people I have met racing and working at a track for 16 years, just can not say enough good things about Ken

[ds1]

I talked to Warren about the 67. It was a 6 cylinder car sold to them at cost. That is why they had Bresee on it as a sponsor. He told me MIMI was for MIMI the timid tiger. That is the stuffed animal in the passenger seat of the cars.