69 RS JL8 Z-28

[69greatyear]

First off, WOW what a great board! You guys seem to really know your stuff and I have really enjoyed reading everything.
That brings me to my question... Since you guys seem to know where rare cars are, I thought I would ask if you knew anything about this one.
It was a 1969 RS Z-28 that I have figured out was probably a very rare car. My father bought it new in '69 but it was too much for him to drive every day so he sold it.
Based on what he has said, I believe it to be one of the few factory racers out there. He described it as follows..
-4 wheel disc brakes
-NO spoilers on front or rear
-NO ducted hood
-Had "no mufflers" just "crimps every six inches or so"
-Ran so wicked it would barely idle and produced fumes that would cause people in parking lots to ask him to shut it off.
-Fathom green on deluxe green interior. Floor shift with no console or guages.
The car was bought new in Decatur, GA and wholesaled in Stone Mtn, GA... both suburbs of Atlanta.
I know this is like finding a needle in a haystack, but I figured based off of its uniqueness that if anyone had ever seen it they would remember it.
Thanks guys and I really appreciate the board!

There is an original picture attached as well. I could not figure out how to get it pictured in the post.

[MosportGreen66]

Well... based on the clues you have given it seems like the car is a pretty early build. Chambered exhaust and a flat hood.

Good luck finding the Camaro!

[69greatyear]

Thanks for the reply! Based on the research I have done, I had come to the same conclusion. One of the things I left off was that the car did not have power steering and it took two people pulling on the wheel to park it. NOT A GOOD STREET CAR.

[Jeff H]

Chambered exhaust was an option until around May of 69 I think. Flat hood is typical but no spoilers would mean it was before a certain date when they became standard equipment. The JL8 4 wheel disc brakes were only available from late Jan through early Jul I believe. So the car would have to be a late Jan to May car. I can't think of any gree/green RS Z28 JL8 cars that I've heard of so it might still be hiding somewhere. Great picture showing not all these Z28's had the cowl hood and spoilers!

[JQ]

Mike, Do you know the name of the person who bought the car?

[JChlupsa]

I know of 3 JL8 cars here in Hawaii, Garnet Red/Lemans Blue and a Fathom Green, All are RS/Z28s

one is an org owner car from what i am told

[69greatyear]

I don't know who bought it... He bought it at Dog McCurdy Chevrolet and wholesaled it to Central Chevrolet. When he sold it they told him that it was not real because it did not have the wing and spoilers on it. Kind of ironic. But the car was so unstreetable(if that's a word) that he did not have it long. It was geared real tall and he have to drop the clutch just to get it out of my mom's driveway. Not to mention the cops ALWAYS harassed him because it was so loud.

Thanks to everyone for the info and comments!

[Jeff H]

Sounds like it had the 140 offroad cam as well. Did it have the crossram with the dual Holley carbs on it? That would explain the difficulty in driving it.

[69greatyear]

I asked him about that and he said that it had a single Holley with a chrome air cleaner.
I was kind of under the impression that it might have had the off road cam as well, but I thought you had to run the cross ram if you had it.
He did say that it ran real rich unless you were getting on it and that you had to open it up very frequently because it would carbon up and bog down at stop lights. Adjusting the valves was a fairly normal occurance as well.
He drove it exactly as it was when he drove it off of the showroom floor. He knew nothing about it other than it was fast and he had seen one in R/T magazine.
I could go on and on with the stories he has told me about the car and thus the reason I am so interested in finding it.

[Salvatore]

Probably not Xram with a flat hood. Car sounds like it had a 3.73 gear and NO timing. Choke hanging up was a problem with them at times too. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif Have any numbers or old paper work on the car?

[69greatyear]

I have asked him about old paperwork on the car but he said everything he had on it went with it when he sold it. I have a bunch of buddies that are local cops and they told me if I could come up with a VIN that they could trace it back to the last regeistered owner. Needless to say I have not found anything on it...
And you are right. He did say it had a 3.73. Burying the speedo in 2nd gear was not a problem according to him. On the highway it was a monster, but around town it fell flat on its face!

[Salvatore]

Maybe the dealer he sold it to might have some old records. But....I doubt it. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

[nuch_ss396]

This is sad. I had a friend in high school that drove a
69 RS Z/28 that looked exactly like this car. Same color,
no spoilers or ZL/2 induction and it also had the deluxe
green interior. I can't remember about the console though.
Sadly, this car was literally cut in half when in came in
contact with a bridge embuttment ( 1977 I believe ).

I actually wanted to buy the car just to get the interior
out of it. That green/green option was awesome then. Still
is today. I hope this isn't the end of the story for the
car you are looking for. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

Steve

[69greatyear]

So do you remember if the car you are speaking of was in the southeast?

I tried digging up old info on the dealerships, but they are long gone. I could not even find a mention of them on the internet. But thanks for the tip!

[Andy]

Ricks First Generation Camaro in Athens, Georgia has a 1969 Z/28 that is fathom green with green interior. It is a JL8 cross ram car but it has front and rear spoilers and a fiberglass cross ram hood. It also has the mini-lite wheels. I believe it has 4.88s out back in the 12 bolt. It is a sweet car, and since I only live 35 miles from Ricks, I get to see it fairly often http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif. 69 Z/28 (http://www.firstgen.com/RicksZcar.jpg) 302 Cross ram (http://www.firstgen.com/69zeng2.jpg) Mini-Lites (http://www.firstgen.com/TA1-1.jpg)

[JQ]

[ QUOTE ]
I have asked him about old paperwork on the car but he said everything he had on it went with it when he sold it. I have a bunch of buddies that are local cops and they told me if I could come up with a VIN that they could trace it back to the last regeistered owner. Needless to say I have not found anything on it...
And you are right. He did say it had a 3.73. Burying the speedo in 2nd gear was not a problem according to him. On the highway it was a monster, but around town it fell flat on its face!

[/ QUOTE ]If you have a license plate number that should work as well.I have a good friend that's a sheriff and was able to locate his dads 63 corvette in a town about an hour away.

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
So do you remember if the car you are speaking of was in the southeast?

I tried digging up old info on the dealerships, but they are long gone. I could not even find a mention of them on the internet. But thanks for the tip!

[/ QUOTE ]

Mike,

No, the car I mentioned was in PA. Maybe it's isn't the
same car. Sure hope not.

Steve

[69greatyear]

Jquin thanks for the tip... I will see if I can dig up that info.

Steve I appreciate the update. I guess it could have made it up to PA but I think/hope it is unlikely.

Thanks again to everyone for the info and your replies!

[ChevyThunder]

There was one on Ebay in the same color combo without the original motor about 16 months ago. Where you may be lucky is that the guy had Jerry MacNeish authenticate the car. You could give Jerry a call and he may help you . He may have the number of that owner who in turn may be able to put you in touch with the current owner ..a bit of a long shot but it's a lead http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[69greatyear]

Its funny you mention that because I remember that car. If it is the same one, it had a vinyl top and was in Alabama. I contacted the guy that was selling it and realized it was not the car I was looking for. But when I saw it my heart skipped a beat and I and was ready to take a road trip. Thanks for the tip and let me know if you think we are talking about the same one.

[ChevyThunder]

Not sure if it is the same one but I would think it is..not to many green JL8 cars unrestored showing up on Ebay..I remember it was green..non matching numbers motor, it was rough and I think it went to 33k but did not meet reserve. Not sure about the vinyl top though...what I do know is the seller posted Jerry's sheet...the same ones I have on cars I own that Jerry has looked at...handwritten saying the car was an original JL8 car..so if the car you are talking about had a letter from Jerry posted with it odds are it is the same car.

[69greatyear]

Thunder,
Thanks for the reply. I did not see that one and I will definitly try to get with Jerry to see if he can give me any info on the car. I really appreciate the tip!

[69greatyear]

Anyone see this? Read the description or else you may skip over it... about 6 lines down....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4601832814&fromMakeTra ck=true

[Jeff H]

The VIN on that car looks to be too early for a JL8 4 wheel disc brake car. The VIN falls in the Nov 68 date range.