67 "Black Panther"
 

Just got my latest edition of "Canadian Classics". Great story and photos of an original owner Black PANTHER! Did'nt know much about these cars but they are kinda neat. Black, gold side stripe with a gold bumblebee with Back PANTHER writing in it. Apparantly they had some US dealers involved, one being in New Orleans, Louisiana. Came with Magnum 500 wheels and Uniroyal Tigerpaw redlines. Some with 427's as well! Pretty car!!
Peter [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Pete, I to had never heard of the Gorries Black Panther till I read a thread that a lot of you probably missed because it was posted durring SCR5. Sounds like a really cool car. Check out the thread on page 4 of the general discussion the thread is titled "introduction Zedder".(Sorry I don't know how to make it clickable!) Lots of cool pics and stories abouth the Black Panther on a link in that thread.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Pete
Other info about Canadian Dealers Musclecars Conversion.
1967 Camaro Black Panther and Gorries other Gorries info Kevin S. Corvette
1967 Mustang Stallion
and 69 Firebird Commanche [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

I got an e-mail lately from a guy looking to buy a 427 powered Black Panther. It is somewhere in the Toronto area. There was another one advertised for sale in British Columbia earlier this year. Some time ago the Old Autos paper mentioned these cars in an article. These are Supercars in every sense of the word.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Keith

For me [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/wink.gif[/img] the Camaro Black Panther SB or BB= Supercars, and Gorries =Supercars Dealer.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Here is a Gorries ad from Keith:

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/22316-GORRIES1.jpg

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Here is another picture, again from Keith, of a '65 car sponsored by Gorries:

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/22317-GORRIE~2.jpg

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Thanks Rob

In 1967 Gorries made another type of conversion. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/blush.gif[/img]
a Brabham (Jack Brabham) ªpic.(aussie connection ???).
PS(This is not my type of cars) [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
This is just for the history of Gorries.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Sorry the pics.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Just wanted to add that Gorries also converted at least two '67 Z28s into Black Panthers. The white stripes were removed and the BP gold accents were put on. One of these was raced in the Trans-Am series and still exists. I am still trying to track the other car.

-Jon

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Welcome to the board Jon! This Black Panther stuff is brand new material to me, the Z connection is intriguing. Do you have any pics of the trans-am racers? [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Ken

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

I'd appreciate any data from any BP cars. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Only have info from a couple so far.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

I do have many pics of the cars. I will see if I can post one.

-Jon

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Here is a picture from Dave Friedman's Trans-Am book showing one of the 1967 Z28s that Gorries turned into a Black Panther. The car is being driven by Craig Fisher at the '67 Sebring TA race. Craig Fisher was the first driver to score points for Chevrolet (and for Pontiac too in 1968) in the Trans-Am series. He finished 2nd in the first race of the '67 season at Daytona. He tends to be an underrated driver but was actually very good. He joined Penske's race team as Mark Donohue's teammate halfway through the '67 season.

-Jon

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Hey Jon,

What took you so long to find this place? [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I'll photo copy the article and send it to you once I get a copy - for anyone interested it is the November issue of "Canadian Classics". The October issues just has one pic as a teaser for the following month.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Hello Mark, Ken and Kurt. Yes, I knew all you guys (and others) were over here and quite involved with this forum. I'm finally getting around to checking it all out. I'm sure you will hear from me again.

-Jon Mello

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Thanks 1967Z28
For the pics and story about the Gorrie Z28/TA
Gorries Chevy Dealer 95-526.It was a Major dealers,
Probably the No1 High-Perf Chevy Dealer in canada. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Do you recognize the two TA/Camaro on this picture,(attachment)one is sponsered by Dana.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Sorry the pics [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

COPO9566aa

Thanks for the pic. Had not seen that previously. Looks like the start of the "Trans-Am type" of race held at Mt. Tremblant (St. Jovite) in 1967. Guldstrand won the race in the DANA sponsored Camaro. I have seen it put in print that Guldstrand won the first Trans-Am race for the Camaro. That really is not 100% accurate. This race at Mt. Tremblant was not sanctioned by the SCCA and was not an official TA race on the schedule that year (it was during the '68 season but not in '67). The factory teams did not attend the race so it was more of an A-sedan race than anything else. This is not to disrespect Guldstrand, DANA or anybody else. Just stating the facts. I am not currently aware of who drove the other Camaro in the race. If you have that information, I would appreciate knowing it. Thanks.

-Jon Mello

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Full article. Here's
Craig Fisher driving the other Camaro.??

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

COPO9566aa

For some reason I can not get the article to appear when I click on your link. Can you try it again? Thanks.

-Jon Mello

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Test
[image]http://groups.msn.com/BornForStreetRacing/yenko.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=297[/image]

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

COPO9566aa

Thanks for the link to the article. That's great stuff. The dark car in the photo is car #5, Bob Brown from New York. A maroon car with a white bumblebee nose stripe. The other Camaro is car #24. I don't know the driver. Might be Jim Corwin. Craig Fisher's car is not in any of the photgraphs. He gridded back in 18th for some reason. Do you have any other photos or information from this race or any other information on '67 Canadian Z28s?

-Jon Mello

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

-Jon
I have a pic of a Camaro no #7(the other BP Z28 ??)or the same Camaro (3#) with an other no # ??
Pictures from Great Lakes Trophy Races at Mosport May 13 1967.
Driver possibly Craig Fisher.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

COPO9566aa

Thanks! Sure looks like Craig's race car to me (owned by Terry Godsall). I will ask him just to make sure he was at the race. He tended to like to use the #7 (or some combination with a 7 in it) when it was available. The other BP was Craig's personal road car and it did not become a race car until he sold it later in '67.

-Jon Mello

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Thanks -Jon
You have a pictures of Craig's personal Z28 BP road car.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

I do have pics of his road car but will have to check and see if I am allowed to put them up for public display. Regarding that last pic you attached, are you absolutely sure the photo of the car was taken in mid-May of '67? If you have any more information on that race and Craig's car, it would be very beneficial to a project I am working on. Thanks!

-Jon Mello

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

-Jon
Check your e-mail, free info for you.
better scan.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Sorry [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]
June 3 Spring Trophy races.With Craig Fisher BP Z28 Camaro.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

I got your scan. Thank you very much for that. I am still working on permission to post a pic of the other car. Will let you know.

BTW, a "Spring race" at Mosport with a June 3rd date? I was assuming you were going to tell me it was earlier that mid-May, not later.

-Jon

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

-Jon
Mostport Park May 13 OAK Cup.
June 3 Spring Trophy Races.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Interesting. Attached is a photo of Craig's race car at the Lime Rock Trans-Am on May 30th, 1967, just two weeks later. It is repainted and the RS equipment is removed. I believe it to be the same car as the BP. Note that the number light is in the same exact place on the door. It would be great to find some pics of the car Craig was racing at Mt. Tremblant on May 21st and see what it looked like. The dark car with the white nose stripe is definitely Bob Brown's car and not Craig Fisher's.

-Jon

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Unfortunately I have not heard back regarding permission to show Craig's BP street car. I can say that the race car was black with a gold interior and the street car was black with a black interior, both with RS equipment. I have attached a picture from an old Motor Trend showing some of the engine compartment of Craig's race car. The photo was taken at Daytona in early February '67. You can see the cowl plenum air cleaner and the duct appears to be painted white.

-Jon

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Thanks -Jon
Great info
[img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

You're welcome. This is the kind of stuff that turns my crank. I will be writing a book on the subject of old Camaro race cars and their mostly unknown drivers. Lots of people know about Penske & Donohue and that's great. I just think it's fun to shine the light on some other people as well.

-Jon

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Jon,

Do you know what the history is of the Yenko and Nickey ordered 1967 Z28's? Just curious. [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/ooo.gif[/img]

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Ken,

I know two Yenko prepared Z28s ran at the '67 Sebring Trans-Am. One driven by Jerry Thompson and the other by Buddy Gates. It is my understanding that Don Yenko was banned for the first half of the '67 racing season by the SCCA for some unsportsman-like driving at the ARRC event at the end of '66. I guess this explains why he wasn't driving one of the two cars. As for the Nickey Z28s, it has been written that one was meant for Dr. Ben Poster to drive at Daytona but that never happened. I do not have any knowledge of any '67 Z28s that have been verified to come through Nickey Chevrolet although it has been said they got a minimum of three. A fellow named Jim Swan bought a '67 Z28 in the Chicago area to prepare for the Trans-Am but it was put on hold and not completed until the 1970 season. Jim does not recall which dealer he bought the car from. Many receipts for parts came from Jack Douglass Chevrolet so it is possible it came from there rather than Nickey. A buddy of mine owns the car now and is vintage racing it.

-Jon

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

Is this the Canadian number 7 that you were talking about?

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

At the 1967 12 Hours of Sebring race, Dave Morgan and Don Yenko competed in a 1967 L88 Corvette, finishing 1st in GT class and 10th overall

Don Yenko did more racing in Camaros in 1969-70. The TransAm records show him competing in 6 TransAm races in 69 driving a 68 Camaro. He shared a 68 Camaro with Guldstrand at Daytona in 69 in the 24hr race and won the Citrus 250 race at Daytona in 69 driving a 68 Camaro. I have read that it may have been an ex-Smokey Yunick 68 Camaro but not sure about this.
Don Y ran the Citrus 250 in 1970 in a 69 Camaro and ran a 427 69 Camaro in some endurance races that one race report claims as a ZL1 engine. I have been looking for more info on these cars.

Re: 67 "Black Panther"
 

I have attached part of an article regarding Don Yenko's suspension from SCCA activities during the first part of 1967. Off the top of my head I thought it had been for being overly aggressive but I went and looked and it was for passing a car before a restart. He did drive at Sebring in '67 like you say but that was an FIA sanctioned endurance race for the International Manufacturers Championship and not an SCCA event. It is true that Don did not participate all that much in the Trans-Am series. Most of the races he ran were in Corvettes and that was not an eligible TA car. The Citrus 250 was not an SCCA event either but was part of the NASCAR "Baby Grand" GT series.

The #7 '69 Camaro was not the car any of us were talking about previously. I enjoyed checking out the car but am not sure this was one driven by Craig Fisher. I will have to check on that.

-Jon

1967 Z28 street car
1967 Z28 Trans-Am race car
1967 Z28 Registry