DANA CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS - West Coast Connection

[68 DANA]

Although Peyton Cramer and Paul Dombroski continue to develop and campaign the DANA Camaro they continue to sell other high performance vehicles at the DANA Chevrolet HI-Performance Center.

DANA CHEVROLET Inc. located at 8730 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate, CA continues to receive Shelby GT-350 Mustangs from Shelby American, Inc. and offers the vehicles at the DANA CHEVROLET HI-PERFORMANCE CENTER located at 9735 Long Beach Blvd. South Gate, CA.

-Dave

[68 DANA]

These Dana Camaro listings are from the Press Telegram - 1967-12-29 - Pg 43 and the Independent Press Telegram – Sunday, January 14, 1968 - Pg 60.

Also note the ad for 65 Mustang


-Dave




Press Telegram - 1967-12-29 - Pg 43




<span style="font-weight: bold">Independent Press Telegram - 1968-01-14 - Pg 60</span>

[68 DANA]

The 1967 Bardahl and other Dana Camaros received the unique competition style fiberglass hood when they became available from Berry Plasti-Glass located in Pismo Beach, California. Not all Dana Camaros received the fiberglass hood. They were a customer requested option.




(photo originally posted under;CALLING ALL DANA; OTHER DEALER PICS; STORIES!!)

[68 DANA]

Original vintage article on a 1968 Camaro SS396 claimed to be an ex-Dana Chevrolet Super Stocker and Pro Stock car running an 427 L-88 engine built by Dale Armstrong.

Does anyone know where this article was originally published?

[Stefano]

First Dana Camaro

[Stefano]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 68 DANA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The 1967 Bardahl and other Dana Camaros received the unique competition style fiberglass hood when they became available from Berry Plasti-Glass located in Pismo Beach, California. Not all Dana Camaros received the fiberglass hood. They were a customer requested option.




(photo originally posted under &quot;CALLING ALL DANA &amp; OTHER DEALER PICS &amp; STORIES!!)







</div></div>









Based on my research over the years there is a lot of interesting Chevrolet History surrounding the Super Car Conversions.

The Mr. Bardahl 1967 Camaro is believed to have been built as one of the First Three NicKey Camaros at the NicKey Chevrolet dealership, by Dick Harrell and helpers.

The hood used on the Bardahl / NicKey Camaro was a hood Dick Harrell was credited for designing. It used the 1967 Corvette Stinger style hump without the Stinger / tail. This was also later seen on some of the Fred Gibb Camaros.

GM and Hi-Performance parts Zar, Vince Piggens had a &quot;back door&quot; relationship with Bill Thomas. One of Bill's key directives was to help promote new Mark IV big block Chevy Engine and get it into the hands of as many enthusiasts and racers as possible.

According to the late Bill Thomas and Bill Thomas Jr. It was Bill who lead the new Dana Chevrolet dealership into the Big Block conversion business as well as having referred the &quot;Hood&quot; by Berry Plasti-Glass to them in order to help differentiate their Conversion Cars. These hoods were also used on some of the Bill Thomas built NicKey Camaros.

Bill Thomas designed a &quot;Dealer Kit / Packet&quot; for performance minded dealerships wanting to take advantage of the performance cars and parts boom.

[68 DANA]

A friend of mine owns an original 1968 Nickey/Bill Thomas camaro with the stage III option. It is my understanding that his Bill Thomas/Nickey equipped car came from Bill Thomas Racing in Anaheim California not directly through the Nickey Chevrolet Dealership. The car is equipped with the DANA signature hood with the Nickey emblems. A very unique combination. Apparently cars offered through Bill Thomas Racing could be equipped with same hood that DANA Chevrolet was using, manufactured by Berry Plasti-Glass. My friend was fortunate to confirm the hood combination with Bill Thomas senior in the late 80's before his passing.

[Craig_Maiorana]

Can we see pictures? I live in Anaheim literally right around the corner from where Bill Thomas race cars used to be.

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 68 DANA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
A friend of mine owns an original 1968 Nickey/Bill Thomas camaro with the stage III option. It is my understanding that his Bill Thomas/Nickey equipped car came from Bill Thomas Racing in Anaheim California not directly through the Nickey Chevrolet Dealership. The car is equipped with the DANA signature hood with the &quot;Nickey&quot; emblems. A very unique combination. Apparently cars offered through Bill Thomas Racing could be equipped with same hood that DANA Chevrolet was using, manufactured by Berry Plasti-Glass. My friend was fortunate to confirm the hood combination with Bill Thomas senior in the late 80's before his passing. </div></div>

Is your friends car blue, by chance?

[68 DANA]

Yes, the car is blue. The car has been posted on this site under &quot;68 Camaro with DANA Hood&quot; and there are some pictures on the internet.