Beware - Fake Z16 Convertible for sale

[jeffschevelle]

I have been contacted by multiple different people recently about someone trying to peddle a 65 Chevelle convertible as "the" Z16 convertible.

Pics of the VIN tag and trim tag confirm that, not only is the car a fake, but both the tags are fake too. The trim tag actually is (from a "looks" and general format standpoint) a very good fake. Both tags are even aged with dents and light sandblasting to make them look old and tired! But fortunately there are enough glaring mistakes in the data stamped on on the TT that it cannot possibly be real.

The fake trim tag shows yellow car, black top, black guts.

The VIN (on the fake VIN tag at least, who knows what the real VIN of the car is) shows as

138675K144270

So, if you or anyone you know is approached about buying this car, RUN AWAY !!

[Charley Lillard]

Who is selling it ? Has the seller been told it’s a fake ?

[jeffschevelle]

He knows ...

[JoeC]

Is there a Z16 registry online ? There used to be one on Z16Chevelle.com but that link does not work anymore.

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=102042&highlight=Z16Chevelle.com&page=2

[Lee Stewart]

Is there a Z16 registry online ? There used to be one on Z16Chevelle.com but that link does not work anymore.

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=102042&highlight=Z16Chevelle.com&page=2

Neither Z16Registry.net nor Z16Chevelle.com work anymore

[x44d80]

I thought I read somewhere were there was a question weather a Z16 convertible was really every built? Like it was a urban legend or wishful thinking. Any thoughts?

[flyingn]

I thought I read somewhere were there was a question weather a Z16 convertible was really every built? Like it was a urban legend or wishful thinking. Any thoughts?


In all my years involved with these cars, I have never ever soon one shred of evidence of a convertible being built.

[Too Many Projects]

It's like the ONLY Z28 convertible ever built.

It was rumored to have been built for Pete Estes, as he liked convertibles, as a way to convince him to approve the Z16 production.

The Camaro did surface several years ago, but I've never read if Vince Piggins ever affirmed the rumor that he had a Z16 convertible built for Pete.

[Lee Stewart]

https://i.postimg.cc/KcMPnrKP/00.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Clone

[Lee Stewart]

Chevrolet built just 200 Z16 coupes and 1 Z16 convertible…WELL MAYBE. Legend has it that one Z16 convertible was built for Chevrolet GM Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen. The legend continues that the convertible was later destroyed by Chevrolet, but then there are reports that it avoided the crusher and is hidden somewhere in a private collection. Stories like this of course spark much debate among your average work bench gearheads and experts alike, but this is exactly what all motorheads live for!

[JoeC]

Chevy liked to make convertible show cars that can be used as pace cars. The most known are the Indy Pace cars but there were many others.

The Z/28 convertible was used as a pace car.

I would think that a Z-16 convertible photo would have surfaced if there was one built.

[jeffschevelle]

I personally believe it was built, based on pre-internet stories from 3 different sources (who did not know each other) who described an identical car, including the odd color combination of Sierra Tan with a beige convertible top and a Saddle or Fawn interior, and two of which described an identical demise of the car in a bad wreck.

However, IF it was built, it was not a regular production Z16. The recently unearthed Chevrolet window sticker ECL records specifically indicate that there were 201 Coupes and 0 convertibles built with the Z16 RPO ("Regular Production Option"). But those records don't include any COPO cars or tech center conversion cars, or any GM styling show car conversions.

So, assuming those records are correct (there are some obvious errors in them in other places so who knows), IF it was built then it had to be either (1) a COPO ordered car (built at KC) that is not in the RPO tally, or (2) a non-Z16 production 327 convertible that was converted after the fact into a Z16 at the tech center (like the two prototype coupes were), or (C) a GM Styling built show car.

Given that one 1965 300 2-dr sedan COPO was built with an L78 396/425 engine (the first use of the COPO program to get a purpose-built drag car built, as far as I know of), I would suspect that if someone in the brass wanted a triple-tan Z16 convertible built at that point, they probably would have just used the COPO program too to have the car built on the KC assembly line.

And yes the 300 car is real. Documented with the original (real) window sticker, and someone else has the Tonawanda COPO order spec sheet for the engine. Both bear the same COPO order number. And neither party knew of the existence of the other document, so neither document can be fake!

[AnthonyS]

^ interesting!

[MYSTERYCHEVELLE]

The bigger issue in my opinion is so many of these scam artist get identified but even when the authorities are made aware and things move forward. Little is really done from a prosecution standpoint. Or at least very few as I think we all know a few guys who continue to fake cars. Fake paperwork. Fake tags and stamps. and despite being known. There’s always more people who don’t know them than those who do and they are the ones who get screwed and I’m a huge believer in do your due diligence but sometimes these guys are VERY GOOD!!

Thanks Jeff for sharing your knowledge and insight

[bashton]

I personally believe it was built, based on pre-internet stories from 3 different sources (who did not know each other) who described an identical car, including the odd color combination of Sierra Tan with a beige convertible top and a Saddle or Fawn interior, and two of which described an identical demise of the car in a bad wreck.

However, IF it was built, it was not a regular production Z16. The recently unearthed Chevrolet window sticker ECL records specifically indicate that there were 201 Coupes and 0 convertibles built with the Z16 RPO ("Regular Production Option"). But those records don't include any COPO cars or tech center conversion cars, or any GM styling show car conversions.

So, assuming those records are correct (there are some obvious errors in them in other places so who knows), IF it was built then it had to be either (1) a COPO ordered car (built at KC) that is not in the RPO tally, or (2) a non-Z16 production 327 convertible that was converted after the fact into a Z16 at the tech center (like the two prototype coupes were), or (C) a GM Styling built show car.

Given that one 1965 300 2-dr sedan COPO was built with an L78 396/425 engine (the first use of the COPO program to get a purpose-built drag car built, as far as I know of), I would suspect that if someone in the brass wanted a triple-tan Z16 convertible built at that point, they probably would have just used the COPO program too to have the car built on the KC assembly line.

And yes the 300 car is real. Documented with the original (real) window sticker, and someone else has the Tonawanda COPO order spec sheet for the engine. Both bear the same COPO order number. And neither party knew of the existence of the other document, so neither document can be fake!

AND, speaking of that particular 300, it WILL be joining us for the upcoming Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program...

Bashton

[flyingn]

AND, speaking of that particular 300, it WILL be joining us for the upcoming Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program...

Bashton

No way!!! Come on November!

[big gear head]

Is that 300 a black car? If it is I believe I've seen it at Floyd Garret's place.