Early69 RS SS 396 Camaro with goofy hubcaps

[lowmile]

Great fun to try and put the pieces of the puzzle together, Here is my shot. No way it left GM that way. Dealership had this Camaro and one other silver Camaro. Customer comes in and wants silver car but wants rally's off of the blue car. Billy Bob from the service dpt swaps them out. Now its time to deliver blue car, no replacement rally's available yet from GM. Billy bob to sales manger, "Hold my beer, I got this boss."

[Steve Shauger]

I'd love to see a car with YJ coded rally wheels dated 8/17 or earlier. That would be a great piece to the puzzle. With out any examples supporting that then the swapping wheel scenario is not plausible.

[Pro Stock John]

His father in law had those made, he was at the dealer.

I think they look okay actually.

[MarcDant]

Would it not had been easier for his father in law to order these rims in the pic below, they would look identical to the yj wheel. Just slap the cap on & bobs your uncle.Hell a war vetern deserves better than that. Dealerships are more professional than that. The wheels look like they came off of ben hurs chariot.Vary nice early camaro non the less.

[cook_dw]

Originally Posted by Steve Shauger

I'd love to see a car with YJ coded rally wheels dated 8/17 or earlier. That would be a great piece to the puzzle. With out any examples supporting that then the swapping wheel scenario is not plausible.

As I commented on CRG. The earliest I have seen of YJ's is 10/19/68. This would have been a good question for Phil to ask the Norwood dinner to see if any of them remembered doing this at the plant.

[jeffschevelle]

I don't know what happened, but the theft theory would not explain the matching spare, with the same date, and also with same original silver paint, the same type tire, and a factory job number on it.

More likely scenario, IMO, is it was delivered with silver XT's, trim rings, and dog dishes, and the dealer added the rally centers to the dog dishes. Just a guess, but works with the spare tire better than the theft theory.

[William]

I was around back in the day, had friends that worked at dealerships. Swapping wheels & tires was common. They knew enough to also swap out the spare.

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by cook_dw

As I commented on CRG. The earliest I have seen of YJ's is 10/19/68. This would have been a good question for Phil to ask the Norwood dinner to see if any of them remembered doing this at the plant.

If Steve or Charley want me to chime in I will be happy to help.

[Pro Stock John]

Most likely done at dealer to fancy up the hubcaps.

[1903USMCUnertl]

Just my thoughts having worked for a couple of GM and 1 Ford dealer in the early 1990's in retail sales, fleet sales and retail/fleet management

I have seen all sorts of mix ups... options listed and never added to the vehicle at the plant, options added at the plant which were never ordered, trucks with both GMC and Chevrolet badging, Camaros and Corvettes with obvious body damage repaired BEFORE the cars hit the lot...and countless other issues..

When it comes to customer ordered cars dealers will "do what it takes" to facilitate a delivery...after all the customer has been waiting for their car and no dealer wants to lose a sale on a special ordered unit. and be stuck with it...where it hits your floorplan. I personally have pulled grilles and badges off one car to go on another, changed wheels and tire combinations, added options which should have been there from the factory, etc...all in the interest of saving a sale.

My guess is the car was ordered with Rally's, but a supply chain issue prevented the option from being added to the car...in their place XT wheels were added.. the wheels could have been added due to theft and the need to put wheels and tires on the car for a sale...

As far as the rally caps being on the XT center...that SCREAMS dealership ingenuity to facilitate a sale...a GM or sales manager will again "do what it takes," and some quick thinking...and smooth talking..."hey it will be unique and 1 of 1 (used it before) goes a long ways...

No dealer wants to lose margin and often will find the cheapest and quickest way to get a sale over the curb....much less expensive to use XT wheels and add a rally center...than order new wheels and trim...not to mention having the Service Dept hit your deal for labor...lol

I'd bet that was the case here...