67 Camaro Dig

[Mr70]

A few years ago,I drove by a local Garage that was so packed with junk,you could barely notice there was a car in it.I approached the owner,but he was very reluctant to go in there.He is 62 today & has other things to tend to he said.I continued to follow up & bother him throughout the next few months.He finally agreed recently to let me in there,"IF" I helped him clean out his garage..(Like a kid in a Candy store http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif)
It took us several days to get everything out & organized,until we came upon this.His very first car,a 1967 Camaro 327-Manual coupe,that he bought brand new in August of 1967 at Bill Jacobs Chevrolet,right after he came home from Vietnam.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro40001.jpg

[Mr70]

This Car has been sitting here since 1977,and still has near everything original to it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro270001.jpg

[DarrenX33]

Bill Jacobs? I thought it was another Chicago dealer?

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro30001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro50001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro110001.jpg

[budnate]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif me love 67's!!! to bad the battery did a number to the fender...have to ask so are you inline to buy it when he is ready????

Bud.

[Mr70]

Car is not for sale.Way to much sentimental value to him.
He Plans to restore & have fun with it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro120001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro150001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro140001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro190001.jpg

[Mr70]

Shows 95+K original miles.He drove this baby..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro160001.jpg

[Salvatore]

Great pictures, great find Rick!

[Mr70]

This guy has PARTS most don't.Just a tiny sample.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro130001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro170001.jpg

[Mr70]

I swear Dick Biondi came in on the radio when we turned it on. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro180001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro250001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro240001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro230001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro260001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro220001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro210001.jpg

[Mr70]

His college parking permit,dated 1977.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro200001.jpg

[Mr70]

His original spare tire,the only original tire he still has from it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro90001.jpg

[Mr70]

He says there really is 1967 air in this tire.
Thats all for now,we got hit with a cold snap & his Arthritis flaired up.He promised me when it warms up I can return & he will open up the hood and we'll push it out into the driveway..gulp.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro100001.jpg

[DarrenX33]

Anybody else got a problem with this guy playing with Camaros?

[budnate]

[ QUOTE ]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/67camaro220001.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Holy Bat Guano, Bat Man!!!, it has a traction arm!!!! I was getting ready to ask but figured no way...

Darren,I dont care if he brings it to the level of the red car or it gets shipped out here to the NW..I just happen to know a couple guys here that like '67's and would give it a good home http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Bud.

[427TJ]

Cool!!! A 327/275hp 4-speed '67 Camaro! The 275hp motor and 4-speed warranted the installation of the traction bar. That looks like a square bar. Marina Blue, Style Trim Group*, drum brakes. I have a set of those P01 full wheelcovers and I'm going to put them on my '67 for this summer's show season. I'd restore this particular car to 100% stock.

*I think a Style Trim car should have the body side pinstripes? Car could have been painted once in its life?

Very http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
He says there really is 1967 air in this tire.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, but does it have Dill caps???? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif


Looks like black-painted wheels to go with the full wheelcovers.

Take a ton of photos and document the car before any wrenches get turned!

[Xplantdad]

It looks like it still has the label on the right leaf spring, too!

[427TJ]

Yep, and I just noticed a coil-over shock on the right-rear. This car needs to be crawled all over and documented. I love finds like this!

[Bill Pritchard]

[ QUOTE ]
He Plans to restore & have fun with it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmmmmmm, where have I heard that before http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Nice find, Rick http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif About 20 years ago, when I still owned my 70 Challenger, my father-in-law was strolling the streets of Downers Grove IL and found me a 70 Challenger convertible buried in someone's garage. I think the Camaro is in better shape than the Challenger was, but that didn't stop me from buying it!

[MosportGreen66]

Rick-- Your always "on the move"!!!
Thanks for sharing! Great Pics!

[MikeA]

I think everyone here hopes the guy does restore and enjoy his first car. I am always looking in open garages hoping to find a car like that. Cool find, Thanks for sharing.

[Mr70]

We're gonna hit the 70 degree mark this week.I will be pay him a visit,carrying a anti-inflammatory pill in one hand,and a wrench to lower the gas tank in the other,as well as my camera if it turns out to be a Van Nuys built Camaro.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif
Aiming to get the hood open and take some pix,whatever is under there.
He asked me to wash it in the driveway too,which I don't mind.
He & his wife really are Very nice people with some great stories.I tell them to sit in the Lawn Chairs & talk to me while I do all the physical work.
A guy like this is rare,& listening to his Stories about South East Asia makes it all the more interesting.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[69LM1]

"A guy like this is rare,& listening to his Stories about South East Asia makes it all the more interesting.. "

Amen to that. Not many people would bother in todays world!

Rich

[mmcporter]

Neat story and cool archeological find. Thanks for sharing.

[Bill Pritchard]

Are those clear plastic covers on the rear seat?

[hvychev]

Cool Find. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Bill Jacobs Chevrolet in Joliet, IL sold MANY hi-po Chevys that I personally know of. They were in the Yenko network and also a listed Dick Harrell dealer.

Here is some cool Bill Jacobs memorabilia from my collection.

[hvychev]

Bill Jacobs, Dick Harrell dealer.

[camarojoe]

cool stuff, where'd you ever find it? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[hvychev]

Some dude that I know........... Had to pay DEARLY for it! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[camarojoe]

Thats what i call Barrtering. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[jg95z28]

WOW! An original one owner L30/M20. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

That is one sweet 67 Plain Jane. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
L30/M20

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I was trying to remember when I saw the pictures. L30/M20's are rare, right? I'd rather have one of these than an SS 350. No offesne to SS 350 guys, it's just that I have fond memories of my first '67 327 Camaro winding to 7 grand with a '70 M22 behind it.

[SSJunkie68-69]

From the Camaro Untold Secrets site:

......Camaro- Untold Secrets Special Guest Article








1967-68 L30/M20 "SS-327"


Part One

With New Updated info!!! See link at end...




Special guest feature article by Rich Fields

If not for the 350 engine, would this have been the baseline
Camaro Super Sport?

(Please note: Footnotes are bookmarked- click on superscript numerals to view)

Take a good look... Although it lacks the SS hood, you could be easily fooled by the looks and performance of this '68 L30/M20 coupe...

If you are a regular attendee of classic car cruise and show events, you may have encountered an adamant believer that some first-generation Camaro Super Sports were manufactured with the 327ci engine. While the claim of a factory SS-327 Camaro is absolutely untrue - no production Camaro SS's were ever built with engines smaller than the 350 - there are understandable reasons for the spread of such rumors, since there was a factory 327 Camaro model with technical specifications and performance very similar to that of the SS-3501. Included with this 327 were a number of pieces of high-performance equipment that some have believed were applied only to the SS or Z28. This is a story that has been largely forgotten --- the details behind an unsung performance Camaro, the L30/M20 Camaro of 1967-68.

The 1967-682 RPO (regular production option) combination of the L30 327ci-275HP V8 engine with the M20 4-speed manual transmission created a true high-performance automobile, in part due to additional components automatically installed by the factory when the M20 was paired with the L30. The details of this package were poorly documented and essentially unadvertised; probably only the most discerning people of the era realized the implications.

The writers and editors of period car enthusiast magazines rarely delved deeper into available options than the basic promotional literature supplied by Chevrolet, and the Chevrolet marketers preferred to emphasize the SS models, or later, the Z28. Serious racers considered the SS and Z28 to be only starting points, with further modifications required to meet their needs. So it was not well-known (and still isn't3) that the L30/M20 Camaro was the only regular production Camaro outside of the SS/Z28 models to receive the heavy-duty "12-bolt" rear-end, right-side traction bar (in 67), and multi-leaf rear springs (in 68), as well as additional performance equipment otherwise exclusive to the SS or Z28 lines. The potential for model confusion is understandable since, without this knowledge, a L30/M20 could easily be mistaken for a SS-350 stripped of ornamentation (if the 327 was mistaken for a 350), or, if the 327ci engine was recognized as such, the L30/M20 could be interpreted as evidence of a factory SS-327.



The above ad ran in many major enthusiast's magazines. It depicts a 327 coupe in "SS trim" and calls it an "SS"!!! Could this have added to some of the confusion? I think so...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPO L30 "327-275" Engine. A real performer when combined with RPO M20 four speed transmission.
If there is any confusion, much of the blame can probably be assigned to the manufacturer. Chevrolet's long-term record-keeping policies have proved to be so poor (perhaps deliberately poor) that they have no permanent individual records of the vehicles produced (GM of Canada is the exception, but Canadian Camaros were a relatively small number of the total Camaro population.) Chevrolet files4 have been nearly purged of first generation Camaro engineering data; old drawing numbers are now being reused on new models with old drawing files trashed in the process. Little, if any, of the original data remains in Chevrolet files. Chevrolet has even lost the official translation and/or significance of certain of their own production codes.

An example particularly germane to the topic at hand is the 1967 "4P" Trim/Cowl Tag code. The meaning of codes can now be understood only by deduction; by acquiring data on a number of vehicles, determining the similarities and differences, and then attempting to deduce the original meaning of the code. Lacking an official Chevrolet interpretation, the 4P code was, for a long time, interpreted in aftermarket Camaro literature as unique to the SS-350. Recently however, a more complete meaning has been determined by the U.S. Camaro Club. This code is now believed to indicate a high-performance small-block V-8 application; 5 this includes not only the SS-350 but, for a short period of time, also the Z28 (until the unique "4L" code was set aside) and the L30/M20. (The extent of application of the "4P" code to 1967 L30/M20s is still being researched.)


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

A better understanding of the significance of the L30/M20 Camaro can be had by first briefly reviewing the specifications of its close cousin, the SS-350...


The SS-350 Camaro, a.k.a, the L48/M20:

350ci-295HP, 4-speed (base V8 price + $395.00 in 1968)

When Chevrolet introduced the all-new 1967 Camaro on September 29, 1966, the top-of-the-line Camaro Super Sport was powered only by a new high-performance 350ci-295HP small-block V8. The 350 engine (in its various forms) would prove to be the last6 and arguably most famous expansion of the overhead-valve, small-block Chevrolet engine line that began in the 1950's. The previous incarnations, the 327, 283, and 265 (in reverse chronological order) had developed a formidable reputation for dependable power.

The additional displacement of the 350 was obtained from the 327 engine block via a new crankshaft7 that increased the 3.25 inch stroke used on the 327 engine to 3.48 inches while retaining the 4.00 inch bore. This new engine debuted in the 1967 Camaro as part of RPO L48 (the Super Sport, or SS), and would not be made available to the other Chevrolet lines until the next model year. While the Camaro SS line would soon be bolstered by a series of 396ci big-block engine options that would push advertised power ratings to the 325-375HP range, the 350 engine retains a strong identity as the baseline powerplant of the original Camaro SS, the SS-350.

During the first two years of the Camaro, RPO L48 was more than just the new 350ci engine; it was a true option package that pulled together a balanced collection of performance components and added a special trim package for visual distintion8. While certain performance components (dual exhaust, for example) were also available to many non-SS models via separate RPOs, other components (like the traction bar, heavy-duty clutch, and multi-leaf springs) were restricted to Camaro models internally designated by Chevrolet as high-performance vehicles and could not be specifically ordered as a separate option9. Not counting non-functional special interior and exterior trim (SS badges, SS hood, SS paint stripe, chrome-plated engine trim, etc.), the 1967-68 RPO L48 added eight high-performance component groups to the baseline vehicle:

A heavy-duty rear-end based on a larger, 8.875 inch diameter, ring gear suitable for high-torque engines. This rear-end is commonly called the "12-bolt," after the number of bolts on the ring-gear (as well as on the cover). The standard rear-end of this era was "10-bolt" rear end with a 8.125 inch diameter ring-gear10.


Heavy-duty driveshaft universal joints, suitable for high-torque engines.


Significant suspension improvements: stiffer springs (multi-leaf rear springs in 1968) teamed with heavy-duty shocks and, with 1967 manual transmissions, a rear axle radius rod (a.k.a., traction bar).


A low-RPM, high torque, starter motor, needed for high-compression ratio engines and upgraded from the baseline starter.


A two-piece rear brake line with rear brake proportioning valve to improve pressure distribution between front and rear brakes. (1968 only. 1967 Camaros featured this only on air conditioned cars and disc brake cars. *See Illustration below.)


A dual-exhaust system with 2-1/4 inch pipes for improved power.


Wider profile 70-series tires: D70x14 in 1967 and F70x14 in 1968, as compared to the standard D78x14 tires used in both years.


Heavy-duty, larger diameter (11.0-inch) clutch, suitable for high-torque engines. (Obviously only for use with manual transmissions.)


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

Having reviewed the performance features of the SS-350 Camaro, let’s look at the top-of-the-line 327-powered Camaro.

The L30/M20 Camaro:

327ci-275HP, 4-speed (base V8 price + $331.00 in 1968, with N10 dual exhaust & PY5 F70x14 tires)

While the L48 package got top billing, the less-publicized optional upgrade to the base 327 engine, RPO L30, boosted performance of the base 327ci V8 from 210HP to 275HP. When the L30 engine was combined with the M20 4-speed manual transmission, and only in this case, Chevrolet considered the result to have crossed the line into high-performance territory and added to the package a number of high-performance components, including identical (or near-identical) matches to the first five of the eight SS-350 performance component categories... Similarly to the 67-68 Z28, the L30/M20 was outfitted with the smaller, 10.4-inch diameter clutch, and the larger clutch used on the L48/M20 could not be separately ordered. Though not a heavy-duty clutch in the same sense as the 11.0-inch SS clutch, with the L30/M20 combination the pressure plate on the 10.4-inch clutch was upgraded to a more durable lining. When the dual exhaust system (RPO N61 in 67; RPO N10 in 68) and wider-profile tires (such as RPO PY5 in 68) were added to the L30/M20 option, the result was a truly functional 327 equivalent of the SS-350. The L30/M20 with N10/PY5 add-ons could be had for a 1968 list price of $331.00, $64.00 less than the SS-350 L48/M20 and enough difference to pay for an additional high-performance option like positraction, with change left over. Budget-minded performance enthusiasts who were in-the-know could optimize their fun by adding additional options to the L30/M20 Camaro to meet their specific needs, rather than by selecting the SS-350.


Above.. The L30/M20 and L48 face off... So close in so many ways!!



In addition to the clutch, the other significant difference between the L48 and L30/M20 was the M20 transmission. M20 was not the name of the transmission, it was the functional designation for any standard ratio 4-speed. Unfortunately, Chevrolet yoked the L30 to the less-desirable cast-iron-bodied Saginaw 4-speed, heavier by some 14 lbs. than the Muncie aluminum-bodied 4-speed11 that was placed behind the L48. Just for the L30 application, the Saginaw 4-speed was beefed-up slightly by the substitution of heavy-duty bearings for the standard bearings in both the clutch-gear shaft bearing and rear mainshaft bearing locations.

The increased weight of the Saginaw was offset by the lower weight of the standard, and arguably better-looking, hood used on the L30/M20, as compared to the much heavier SS hood with its non-functional "window-dressing" hump and ornaments. The 1968 L30/M20 with N10 exhaust is documented12 as being a total of 29 lbs. lighter than the L48/M20, though a few pounds of this margin would be eaten away if the PY5 wide-track tires were added to the 327 powered car. While data that would allow a comparison of vertical Center of Gravity (CG) coordinates are not available at this time, the L30/M20/N10 may have enjoyed a slight handling advantage from a lowered CG due to the mass shift combination of the much lighter hood and the slightly heavier transmission.



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



Identifying an L30/M20:

The L30/M20 Camaro was contained, as was the 1967 Z28 (base V8 price + $663.60 including the Z28 required M21/J50/J52 options), in a package with no tell-tale external badging. To the undiscerning eye the L30/M20 is just another plain-jane Camaro. The only way to verify an original L30/M20, without the original paper documentation, is to check as many of the performance components as possible. The best-case scenario would find a suitably date-coded, matching-number, 327ci-275HP engine of the proper block casting number that is stamped with the manual transmission engine model code (MK or ML in 1967; EA in 1968). This L30 engine should be teamed to a suitably date-coded and matching number 4-speed Saginaw transmission assembled of castings with the proper numbers. If either engine or transmission have been replaced, L30/M20 verification will require checking the date-code on the 12-bolt rear end; to supplement this one should attempt to locate as many of the other performance components as possible, especially the traction bar (1967) or multi-leaf rear springs and rear brake proportioning valve (1968).

Shown below is the two-piece rear brake line with rear brake proportioning valve to improve pressure distribution between front and rear brakes. (1968 only. 1967 Camaros featured this only on air conditioned cars and disc brake cars.

If most of these components are missing (many are often missing due to modifications made over the years), including more than one of the three key drivetrain items (engine, transmission, rear-end), the claim of a real L30/M20 may be difficult to reliably establish.



If you have one of these difficult cases, contact the author for help with additional identifying features.



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



How Many...?

How many L30/M20s were built? While Chevrolet records document how many of each individual option was sold, we don't at this time have any record of how many option combinations like the L30/M20 were sold. However, we can make an educated guess, based on transmission usage, from the data shown in the table below13. The L30 predominately drove either the standard Saginaw 3-speed manual, the M35 PowerGlide two-speed automatic, or the "close ratio" M20 Saginaw 4-speed manual. The total number of these three transmissions sold in Camaros in model years 1967-68 was approximately 430,458. Dividing this into the number of M20s sold (Saginaw + Muncie), 80,967, gives us a rough estimate (perhaps a significant over-estimate, since we are including the Muncies in the M20 arithmetic) of the number of L30s mounted to M20 transmissions; just under 19% (18.81%). Multiplying this factor by the number of L30s sold indicates that a maximum of 8835 L30/M20 Camaros were produced for both years; less than 2% of all Camaros built in these years. Interestingly enough, production quantities this low put the rarity of the L30/M20 on a par with models like the 1967-69 SS with the L78 396ci-375HP engine (9464 built) or the 1968-69 SS with the L34 396ci-350HP engine (4597 built), and significantly more rare than most other production models, even the SS-350 or Z28. If this estimate is reasonably close, only the L89 aluminum-head 396-powered SS (583), or the various low-volume COPO models would be significantly rarer. Given the relative lack of respect that this poorly appreciated option combination has enjoyed, these thirty years later it is likely that surviving original L30/M20s are counted in the hundreds rather than the thousands14.



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



CAMARO PRODUCTION QUANTITIES:

1967 1968 Both Years (+1969) % Total
Total Vehicles: 220,906 235,147 456,053 100

Engines Subtotals:
L48 (350ci-295HP) 29,270 12,496 41,766+22,339 9.16
L30 (327ci-275HP) 25,287 21,686 46,973 10.30
L35 (396ci-325HP) 4,003 10,773 14,776+6752 3.24
L34 (396ci-350HP) --- 2,579 2579+2018 0.57
L78 (396ci-375HP) 1,138 4,575 5713+4889 1.25

Transmissions:
M20 (4-speed manual) 45,806 35,161 80,967 17.75
Std 3-speed manual 48,506 51,093 99,599 21.84
MB1 (2-speed semi-automatic) --- 3,099 3,099 0.68
M13 (special 3-speed manual) 681 752 1,433 0.31
M21 (4-speed manual) 1,733 11,134 12,867 2.82
M22 (4-speed manual) --- 1,277 1,277 0.28
M35 (PowerGlide automatic) 122,727 127,165 249,892 54.79
M40 (TurboHydraMatic automatic) 1,453 5,466 6,919 1.52

L30/M20 Estimate: 4,756? 4,079? 8,835? 1.94?

.Please click here to go to Part Two

View foot notes and read about the Author...

Questions and comments regarding this article are welcome and encouraged.
Please click on image to email Rich Fields..



Visit the L30/M20 Update

I Know.....more info than you may of thought. Thanks for the old cut and paste!

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[budnate]

Here is one I had in 86..bought it from the orginal owners that relocated to Seattle from the midwest, had like 50K orig miles, found it in a garage with 4 flats, and semi dead paint otherwise damn near perfect, I cant find any other pics but these cruddy old photos I had to scan..to this day I regeret selling the car...I kinda know where its at, tracked down the gal who bought it from the car lot I sold it to and offered here a pile of cash for it around '90 I think and she didnt even have to think and said no thank you!!, she is taking real good care of it, so she said,says she only drives it on nice days...I can back up any claims about them being really fast bone stock..pretty sure it would kick my 350 cars a$$ in race, that car would stand up like a pro stocker and get on down the road right now!!

this car had deluxe int and guages, I think it may have had a fold down back seat to but cant recall for sure...dam I miss this one bad!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

here is couple as found with new valve stems to fix the 4 flats, and a pic after the car lot had it painted and Ralleys added.


Bud.

[budnate]

well that worked like crap!! they look fine until I post them then they go micro..whats the deal with scanned pictures???

[Kurt S]

That's the original version of Rich's article.
The current version is on the CRG site: http://www.camaros.org/l30m20.shtml

[SSJunkie68-69]

CRG is a treasure trove of information. Kurt, Mark and Rich....thank you for all your dedication and hard work. It is one best sources of accurate and correct information for our hobby out there. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

You guys ROCK!

[Mr70]

I was able to go back for a revisit and snap a few more pix with more details.
Here is The car after 28 years of storage.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt60001.jpg

[Mr70]

The Cement floor wouldn't let go of the tires.We had to spray WD-40 on them,and inflate the tires with more air,to get the car to move.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt60002.jpg

[Mr70]

Amazing what a Hose and a lil Soap can Do!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt450001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt470001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt500001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt440001.jpg

[Mr70]

Worse part of the body..Battery rot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt510001.jpg

[Mr70]

The L-30 herself!
He did Very little to the engine over the years.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/walt910001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt240001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt210001.jpg

[Mr70]

What does 3Sk stand for?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/walt930001.jpg

[Mr70]

Looks to have visible primer in the door Jambs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/walt900001.jpg

[Xplantdad]

3
S Z23 INTERIOR DECOR GRP
K Z21 Deluxe exterior trim

[Mr70]

Original Hubcaps.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt200001.jpg

[Mr70]

Engine pad shows T0706 MK..No VIN#.
(Sorry for the Blur)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt130001.jpg

[DarrenX33]

Excellent work. Keep the pics coming.

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt220001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt230001.jpg

[Mr70]

Underside of Hood.
No Insulation.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt330001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt390001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt400001.jpg

[Mr70]

Cowl Tag Better.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt110001.jpg

[Mr70]

UG radiator tag-2core.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt380001.jpg

[Mr70]

His trunk is very solid.It was PACKED with boxes of letters he wrote to his girl friend while in Vietnam,as well as his War keepsakes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt160001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt190001.jpg

[Mr70]

This has to be one of the best parts of the entire car.
In 1968,he had found Plastic seat covers in the FingerHut Catalog.He installed one on his Backseat,to keep it clean.
You can see in an earlier photo,it's on it & yellowed.This thing is very thick,and tough.
I went and removed the entire backseat,to his shock,and cut the bands holding the fingerhut cover.When I removed it,I was stunned to see how preserved the backseat was.
It's near mint,with no tears or Color fadness.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt260001.jpg

[Mr70]

Cover removed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt270001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt140001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt250002.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt280001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt310001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt420001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt300001.jpg

[Mr70]

Rear leaf spring tag Passenger side.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt30001.jpg

[Mr70]

Drivers side.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt20001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/walt940002.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/walt950001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/walt960001.jpg

[Mr70]

Trunk weather stripping seam.
You can tell he repainted this car.He did say he spotted it here & there with Lacquer in 1974.He removed the White side strip at this time too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt430001.jpg

[Mr70]

Bottom Gas Tank.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt120001.jpg

[Mr70]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt410001.jpg

[Mr70]

Traction Arm.
This is a L-30/M-20/12bolt car.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt350001.jpg

[Mr70]

Fuel Line.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt360001.jpg

[Mr70]

Dash rot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt490001.jpg

[Mr70]

Again.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt480001.jpg

[Mr70]

One of the items in the trunk.His original notice to report for a Physical in 1964 before being called upon. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt180001.jpg

[Mr70]

I understand Now,why some Car owners don't like to revisit the past.He saw some pretty heavy action in Vietnam.This Camaro is his a holding tank for ALL those memories & past items.When I opened up the trunk,it was as if I opened a coffin,and he backed away.
I could tell he didn't want to go back there,but not discard these items away either.
I left the Trunk lid open,and went about some other picture taking elsewhere on the car,to take his mind off of what was in the trunk.
Every now & then he would walk over to the open trunk & pull an item out.One by One he talked about what everything meant.Pictures,Combat boots,letters,patches,etc.His wife came outside and was surprised to hear him open up.It lasted 3 hours.I brought a 12 pack of Old Style and we soon needed more beer.It was really Nice,as well as sad.
He gave me this Patch,which I hold in High regard,because after seeing what everything meant to him,is an Honor for me.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt540001.jpg

[Mr70]

On the lighter side.He has Many of these in the trunk,packed full of Stamps.
He gave them to me,as I am saving to get My Mom that Croc Pot she always wanted. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt520001.jpg

[Mr70]

Every Page is Full!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt530001.jpg

[Mr70]

Last Picture.
He is very tight lipped and Camera shy.
He and his wife were a lil upset when I snapped this.
He did say when he Came home from Vietnam,he walked into Bill Jacobs Chevrolet in August 1967,and wanted,"One of those New Camaros!"
He paid around 2K for this Late 67 L-30/M-20/12 Bolt sitting on the lot,becasue he liked the color.
He didn't really know what Horse Power it was or cared.
He is not a Gear Head/Hot rodder,and thus is why the car does not have headers or other Speed parts bolted on over the years.
He was always a shy kid and didn't much care for that type.
It has single Exhaust and Drum Brakes all around.No Power Steering.
His most memorable moment,April 4th,1968 at 6:00PM.He was challenged by a another in a Plymouth to race while leaving the Oak Brook Shopping center here.
They dragged back & forth down the Highway & he always beat him.He felt good,gets home,and turns on the Radio and hears Martin Luther King was just Shot..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/Rick_Peters/Walt460001.jpg

[TDW]

By him giving you the patch, that says a hell of a lot about how he feels toward you. I would cherish the patch forever. Nice way to spend your day.

[MosportGreen66]

Rick... Great Find! Touching story. Your work must have opened all of those somewhat "forgotton" wounds. Does he know about your Chevelle?

[Mr70]

I will drive by his house in a day or two with my Chevelle.He said he wants to drive it,so I can't deny him that.
I have invited him to come along to SCR8.
He is not really into cars like he used to be,but would like to see what all the Rhubarb is about. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[DarrenX33]

Geez. I only got the passenger seat. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Bill Pritchard]

Great story, Rick. Kudos to you for taking the time to hopefully help this man deal with his memories and get that car back on the road. It obviously means a lot to him, or else he wouldn't have held on to it all these years. I hope you two remain friends a long time http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[hvychev]

Very cool. Does he plan to get it running again?

[Mr70]

I think it would have to be completely rebuilt mechanically,so I offered to help.
He is considering doing just that..We'll see.

[DarrenX33]

Stock up on the Old Style. Your gonna be busy. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[vince]

awesome http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[supersport69]

I think its great your helping him out clean it up get it going. I am sure he truely appreciates bringing back to life something that has alot of sentimental value to him. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Belair62]

Now you have a feel for what the guy in Wisconsin with the Y Camaro in his yard may feel

[CopoFan]

I just wanted to tell you... in some strange way, this thread has hit me more than almost any other thread about the rare supercars.

For you to...
a. take the time to talk with him and help him dig his car out and actually clean it...
b. snap all these photos and post just for our enjoyment...
c. dig out memories from him that may have remained buried forever..

All I can say is... Thank You!

[SSJunkie68-69]

That is why this hobby/obsession is so cool. You just never know where it is going to take you. Some people just don't understand that cars are more than just horsepower, metal and tires. It's stories like this that really show and display the human side of what we, as car guys/girls, are all about.


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[COPO427]

All I can say is thanks for sharing this with us!!! Best post ever.

[Bob Jenkins]

very nice find and thanks for sharing....keep us updated http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif