1970 PILOT #1 Camaro

[Over Anxious]

I had the pleasure to see the recently restored 1970 Camaro PILOT car #1

This car was used by GM and Smokey Yunick to test High Performance GM parts.

With the restoration completed just this year, I saw the car at their second show at the 40th Anniversary of the F Body earlier today at the GM Technical Center in Warren Michigan.

This is an amazing car and quite a piece of Chevrolet and Camaro history http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I posted a feature story on the car at www.MichiganClassics.com (http://www.MichiganClassics.com)

http://www.michiganclassics.com/feature/1970_Camaro_pilot/images/pilot5.jpg

[John]

Neat car....I have some wheels like are on that car
...I'm not using...
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[69LM1]

Car has been discussed here:

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60516

1970 Camaro VIN 500001

Very good read.

[JK98SS]

interesting air induction system.

[Over Anxious]

[ QUOTE ]
Car has been discussed here:

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60516

1970 Camaro VIN 500001

Very good read.

[/ QUOTE ]
Thank you for that link, great reading there!

[Charles]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Car has been discussed here:

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60516

1970 Camaro VIN 500001

Very good read.

[/ QUOTE ]
Thank you for that link, great reading there!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, well worth reading through. Hope the old motor can be put back in as it has an interesting story surrounding it!
Charles

[Stefano]

So without having to read the old threads, is there any concrete proof that this was a GM pilot test car, or just second Gen number 001 that was scapped by GM and given to Smokey to do as he saw fit?

If GM had intended to use the car as a test bed for high performance parts to include a big block, why would they have started off with a 6cly?

[William]

I have copies of the FIA docs Chevy filed for the 1970 Camaro. The initial filing [1/4/70] does not show the ducted hood or rear axle with disc brakes. A later filing does list them but they are crossed out. There are two photos of 1970 Camaros; one is a Z28 with the COPO rear spoiler. The 454 engine is mentioned.

If this is all the "proof" there is, the claims being made need a lot more substantiation. Based on the appearance of the car at Smokey's auction I doubt he did anything with it.

[marxjunk]

pilot cars where tests to see if they could actually build the car..they sent one down of every engine combination to find probs etc..so a pilot car with a 6 cyl isnt unuasual..

I'v seen, in person 69 Camaro #000006..it was a 6 cyl glide, RS car with a 68 style spoiler...so it happened..not wanting to take anything away from the 70 above..just adding..a pilot car with a 6 cylinder happened

[William]

One of the unsubstantiated claims being made about the car is that it was built as a 454. The 6 cylinder VIN certainly calls that into question.

[marxjunk]

i was just commenting...a 6 cyl PILOT car is possible..

nothing else..

[Kurt S]

L6 cars were 20% of production. They would definitely be part of any build and any testing.

[70 copo]

1st car was a 6 cylinder. Of larger concern perhaps is the owners admission that the trim tag used in the restoration may not be the original for the car.

[70 copo]

Info here at post #49: http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60516&page=4

[Kurt S]

I talked to him about the trim tag. Completely made up.

[StealthBird]

I recently wrote a lengthy article for POCI's "Smoke Signals" regarding the first five 1970 Firebird pilot cars. The first two were built at the Pontiac home plant (Trans Am was #10001, and a Formula was #10002). Pilot cars #10003, #10004, and #10005 were built at Norwood.

Documents show many change requests by engineering and the marketing departments as they wanted to make sure the first five pilot cars were adequate to please the press fleet. The first five pilot cars were built in October-November 1969 in preparation of the long-lead Magazine Writer's show in Mesa, AZ on December 3rd, 1969. These cars would eventually appear, in one form or another, in various promotional materials such as the 1970 Firebird brochure.

Mike

[resto4u]

So why would you put on a fake trim tag? It is still Vin# 1, i see no reason to cloud it's history and use smoke and mirrors to make it what it is not. Maybe smokey was going to make a car for 24hrs.daytona but he never did. Chevrolet always gave cars to race car drivers to race and pump up the brand. Being vin# 1 is cool enough for me, no story needed. Does the owner or chevrolet have any documents on this camaro, such as papers from chevrolet engineering?

[Stefano]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kurt S</div><div class="ubbcode-body">L6 cars were 20% of production. They would definitely be part of any build and any testing.
</div></div>

To clearify, it is my understanding that the car is being touted as a test car, for numerous performance options, to include the 454 engine &amp; drivetrain. My point was that I would think it unlikely that they start with a 6 cly Camaro if that was GMs ultimate intent for the car.

[SS427]

I just did a bunch of work on the earliest known 1970 Chevelle. A pilot car with the VIN of 100042, body number 138 and manufactured the third week of May 1969.. To my knowledge it is the only known pre production pilot Chevelle that still exists and is chalk full of one off parts including gauges, wiring harness, metal rear door arm rests, dash, tail light lenses, etc, etc. The car even though having a VIN was not intended to be sold to the public but did. Many of the parts are dated post production and you can see many places where GM changed out parts with others to do a test fit such as the dash. The subject Camaro may have taken the same road and was used throughout the 1970 year as a test bed and maybe later in the year the 6 cyl was swapped out for the 454.