Z16 Chevelle Convertible

[Mr70]

Jim
On another website we are talking about this car.
I was wondering if you have any knowledge to it actually being built.
We all know it is gone today,but some are saying there is no actual proof that it was built.
No insuarance records,pix,or Title search comes up with anything.I believe it stayed in Michigan.
Can you verify it was actually assembled and any other info?

[JChlupsa]

Again the Dec /88 issue of Super Chevy has an atricle of a 65 Z16. Within the aerticle it states that the number of Z16 went from 200 to 201 due to a Z16 convt being built for someone in GM and that it is now in storage.

[Jim Mattison]

That was way before my time. I didn't start at GM as a college co-op until 1967.

[T Billigen]

I don't think there is any evidence of a convertible ever being built. they were supposed to build 200 Z-16s and they probably had enough parts to build 1 extra, but I don't think anyone can verify a convertible, I heard this rumor many years ago and it was supposed be Adobe Beige.

[JoeC]

From what I have read on the Z16s, the first was built in Baltimore as some sort of prototype. Then the production run of 200 built in KS. The 200 Z16 Chevelles were built with little variation in options or colors. Since the Z16s were ordered in similar configurations, it does not seem likely that any of the 200 production cars were convertibles but you never know until one gets found.
A Popular Mechanics Z16 article suggests there was some sort of special convertible 396 done in 1965 for Bunkie K.

[T Billigen]

Joe, I think you are right about the prototype, I think it belonged to F. Garrett, I do not think he has the car anymore.

[Rat_Pack]

I have always heard that there was one Z16 convertible built and it was in the hands of a private collector. A few months ago I was talking with a guy that supposedly "knows" the owner and the location of the mystery conv Z16 that most agree was not built. From what I gather the car has been restored or is in very good condition. Will try to find out more within the next week or so.................RatPack....................

[Mr70]

Tom
I saw the Prototype Z16 at Chevella-Bration in Nashville in 2000.It was a very unique one of car,and had the most unusual cast pieces and emblems on it.
I believe the man who bought it from Floyd is Terry Gunther.

The Z16 Convertible was reportedly a color of Sierra Tan with a Saddle interior and Beige top.I always thought it was GM internally owned and the destroyed.

RatPack
Thanks,I would sure like to hear what you find out.

[REDZ]

I seem to recall that when the accepted number went from 200 to 201, it was because a sedan had been discovered. I don't think that the speculation of a convertible was the reason for the number going to 201. Interesting story on the prototype that Floyd used to own: several other collectors had a shot at buying the car in the mid-1980's, but passed it off as bogus because it was not built on a convertible frame like all the rest. Noted Chevy collector Carl Dwiggins was one who passed. When Floyd found the car, he noticed an engineering tag on the air cleaner that indicated it was a prototype. Thru his connections at GM he found out that the car was indeed the first built and that it was the only one built on a non-boxed, reinforced convertible frame. Later, when having it restored, they discovered all of the special Z-16 emblems to be hand made.

[Norm reynolds]

Here is Terry Gunters link shows two Z-16
http://peachstatechevelles.com/terrygunter.html
Norm

[Norm reynolds]

Also the yellow Z-16 that Terry has was once owned by
Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright) /ubbthreads/images/icons/laugh.gif

[Norm reynolds]

This site states that there was one convertible built
http://cars.dozer.com/features/chevelle_history/chevelle_z16.html

[robber6910]

That was some good documentation they had on the Chevelle site. Us gearheads need to give all the guys at GM alot of thanks for coming up with the idea to tweak and work up those cars. I browsed forward looking at each year and was surprised to see that the LS-6 was originally slated to go in the '70 Camaro. Too bad the Camaro's hood couldn't provide enough clearence for the block. I bet if they had gotten the LS-6 in the Camaro, it could've been a monster.

[JoeC]

I have a GM prototype cowl induction hood for the LS6 1970 Camaro that never got built so they were working on building them. Chevy also was working on LS7 Corvettes and Camaros in 1970 but the LS6 and LS7 Camaro and Corvette got the axe. They did make 1971 LS6 Corvettes.

[Chevy454]

I thought that the change in '70 to the lower intake cleared up any clearance issues associated with the Camaro/Corvette, but only the Chevelle ended up with the LS-6?

[JoeC]

I don't think fitting the engine in was the reason for not building the LS6 or LS7 cars. The Corvette already had the L88 cowl hood and they could have easily produced the 70 Camaro cowl hood. I think the low LS6 intake was to fit under the standard Corvette BB hood. There were a lot of problems with the 70 Camaro Corvette being late so some options got the axe. They were working on a LS7 option and an alu. 454 option that I think was going to be called LT2.

[Stefano]

Rumor has it that GM did fit the L78 Big Block into a few second Generation Camaros including the Aluminum Hi-Rise intake.

[Norm reynolds]

On the chevelle site if you click on features and then go to the history of camaro there is a good story of Fred Gibb and the ZL-1 /ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif

[Mr70]

It's not a Rumor,Chevrolet built 600 L-78 1970 Camaros in 1970 off the line.Tonawanda records confirm this.
All were reportedly Manual trans.
But Charley said earlier this year he found one with a factory built TH400 in it.I am not doubting his find,merely waiting for him to see this car and documentation himself.
I know CamarosRus is waiting too...

[JoeC]

Did the 1970 L78 Camaro have the high 69 stlye intake or the low intake like the Ls6 Chevelle?

[Chevy454]

I think they all (L-78s & LS-6) got the low rise, or were supposed to anyway.

[Stefano]

OK, where is Chuck when you need him? /ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif

[COPO]

Joe, I have an early '70 L-78 Camaro (one of the first 5000 '70's built at Norwood). The L-78 uses the identical lowrise intake as the LS-6.

[Rat_Pack]

Here is a breakdown of intake height applications for big block engines, cast iron or aluminum:

65-69 Chevelle & Impala, all engines, high rise
67-69 Camaro, all engines, high rise
65-67 Corvette, all engines, high rise
68-69 Corvette, L88 & ZL1 applications only, high rise
68-75 Corvette, all except L88 & ZL1, low rise
70-75 Camaro, Chevelle, and Impala, all engines, low rise

The low rise intake first came into production with the 68 Corvette and was due to the low hood lines of the big block hood. Then in 1970 all big block applications received the low rise intake no matter what car it was installed in. The Chevelle could have still used the 69 style high rise intake as there was plenty of hood clearance but to keep costs down Chevrolet stuck with the one style of intake. That is why the Chevelle with cowl induction uses a spacer between the air cleaner and carburetor, so the rubber seal will set against the bottom of the hood...................RatPack.................... .