NJSteves 69 Pace car !!!!

[Belair62]

1969 Z11: Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Camaro SS/RS

Total production: 3,675 units:

This particular Z11 Pace Car is unique in that it was produced for use as a highly optioned display vehicle for the Chevrolet Washington D.C. Zone Office. It was built during the first week of Z11 production (the 4th week of February, 1969) and delivered directly to the Washington D.C. Chevrolet Zone Office, where it was used as a public relations vehicle. It was rotated as a display car at local dealerships in the Maryland/Virginia/Washington D.C. area between March and August of 1969. It was also used as an executive car by the Washington D.C. Zone Office at the Indy 500 event in May of 1969.

Original options include:

Air Conditioning, Power Windows, Deluxe Front and Rear Seat Belts, Front Shoulder Harnesses, Rear Shoulder Harnesses, Power Convertible Top, Visor Vanity Mirror, Console, Spoiler Package, 3.07 positraction axle ratio, Power Disc Brakes, 350/300 Horsepower Engine, Turbo 350 Automatic Transmission, Tilt Column, Quick Ratio Power Steering, Sport Steering Wheel, Speed Warning Speedometer, Tachometer, Special Instrumentation with Clock, Vigilite Light Monitoring System, AM/FM Four-Speaker Stereo, Front and Rear Bumper Guards and Cowl Induction Hood.

This car is one of the most highly optioned Z11’s ever produced. It also has some of the rarest options, such as the convertible front and rear shoulder harnesses, the Vigilite fiber optic light monitoring system (mounted on front fenders and on the rear seat back), power windows, speed-warning speedometer, AM-FM stereo “blue light” radio and air conditioning. One of the more interesting features is the rear shoulder harness option, which if properly used, resulted in the strangling of the rear seat passengers. It seems that Chevrolet, in their infinite wisdom routed the harnesses from inside the trunk, behind the convertible top, under the top well. If a person is wearing the harnesses while the top is up there is no problem. But if you are wearing the harness while the top is being lowered, a full twelve inches of belt is pulled back under the top well as the convertible top folds up and stows down in the well. Ouch! No wonder they only made 37 cars with that option!

The first “civilian” owner of this Pace Car, Louis Gonzalez, saw it when it was displayed at Bob Peck Chevrolet, 800 North Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia in May of 1969. Mr. Gonzalez convinced a salesman at the dealership, Giovanni Mariggio to take a $700 deposit on the car. Mr. Mariggio accepted the deposit but told Mr. Gonzalez that he could not take delivery for several weeks, as the Z11 was a display car and had to finish its promotional tour before going on to the Indy 500 event in May 1969. To make sure that no one else tried to purchase it out from under him, Mr. Gonzalez then “stalked” the car as it was displayed at dealer after dealer during the ensuing weeks. Twelve weeks later on August 18, 1969, he finally took delivery of the “used” Z11 with 4,500 miles on the odometer. Mr. Gonzalez paid the full sticker price: $5,281. Bob Peck Chevrolet has been in business for over 60 years and the original sales invoice was located in their records in the Fall of 2003. Mr. Gonzalez still lives in the D.C. area and supplied numerous original photos of the car. Mr. Gonzalez was able to verify the extensive option list on the car through a wide variety of photographs he had taken between 1969 and 1978, including a photo of his wife and newborn daughter being driven home from the hospital, in the car in 1972.

All the drivetrain components on this car are original: engine, carburetor, distributor, alternator, starter, rear differential, radiator, etc. In 35 years nothing has been replaced, with the exception of the transmission, which was replaced under the 5/50 warranty in the Summer of 1970 and the cylinder heads, which were replaced under the 5/50 warranty in the Summer of 1972.

At the time of his purchase, Mr. Gonzalez also purchased a second Z11 Pace Car from Bob Peck Chevrolet, VIN 124679N638573. A friend of Mr. Gonzalez could not find a cosigner due to his age at the time, so Mr. Gonzalez purchased the car for him, as a straw purchaser. The friend paid Mr. Gonzalez several payments and then wrecked the car. The “friend” then abandoned it in front of Mr. Gonzalez’ house, never to be heard from again. Mr. Gonzalez turned that Z11 over to the bank and paid off the remainder of the outstanding loan balance. (Note: NJSteve has the original invoice to that car: if you have the car, contact him and you can have the invoice)

NJSteve’s first car at age 14 was a Z11 equipped with a 350 and a four-speed, which he owned from 1977 to 1980. He began searching for a suitable replacement Z11 in September 2001. After looking at numerous unsuitable candidates, he located this Z11 in Rome, New York in November 2001. He purchased the Z11 and immediately began the preparation for its restoration. He began researching the history of the car through various databases and motor vehicle agencies. During the restoration, the Z11 was completely disassembled, down to the bare body shell. The subframe was removed and the drivetrain, interior and exterior were refurbished. NJSteve performed all of the restoration work himself with the exception of the body and paintwork, which were performed by PRC Restorations in Bridgewater, New Jersey. At the 2004 Camaro Nationals at Carlisle, the car was judged for the 1000 point Bowtie Class, where it achieved a Gold certificate with 963/1000 points. It was also recently used as the feature car for the Camaro Buyers Guide in the October issue of the Hemmings Muscle Machines, on pages 60 to 64.

[camarojoe]

Neat car... I've always liked the 69 pacecars... i like the old Bob Peck ad too... neat stuff. Got one of these?

[Belair62]

Is that for changing plugs ?? You are a sickie Joe...Steve...that young lady must have enjoyed driving that car...

[camarojoe]

No, its for taking your potroast out of the oven... but the plug changing idea sounds better....

[hvychev]

Steve I am not a huge fan of pacers but this one for sure catches my attention!

[Mr70]

A Beautiful Camaro Steve.It shows very well.

Would somebody buy that Potholder from CJoe,so we don't have to see it on Ebay anymore.

[hvychev]

wrong pot holder Dickey...

[DarrenX33]

Cool history on this pace car. I do love hearing these stories behind the cars. Excellent restoration work Steve. Awesome!

[GM-26]

And the Camaro wears "Indy 500" tires!
Exceptional car! Steve must get a crowd around the car when he parks it.

[Jeff H]

I'm not an expert on the SS350 cars but I'm surprised it doesn't have the Z28 style valve covers. I thought that was part of a dress up package and this car has a lot of options as a display car so I thought it would have them. Nice car Steve.