DANA "427" Camaro found...thanks to Jeff Chlupsa

[LVCamaro]

In 2005, while at a Hawaiian Camaro Club car show/cruise-in, a local muscle car restorer [Dennis] mentioned to Jeff Chlupsa that he knew a guy in Honolulu that owned a 1968 Dana "427" Camaro. Jeff was skeptical at first...but, a couple weeks later was able to arrange a viewing of the car with the owner, Bert Nakamura. Until yesterday, the Camaro had been sitting on blocks under a tarp at Bert's mother's carport since 1971. Bert and his brother were avid weekend drag racers back in 1970-1971, so this Dana "427" perfectly fit their needs. In fact, Bert won his first drag race event in Hawaii driving this Camaro, running 12.81 with a 12.80 index! With a couple weekend races under his belt soon thereafter, Bert improved his driving skills and dialed 11.80 and consistently ran those numbers.

Bert explained that he bought the car [already converted] from the original owner in Los Angeles, Bob Tatilian, with less than 1,500 miles in December, 1969. Included in the paperwork that Bert got when he bought the car was a 2-page detailed Dana Chevrolet work order/invoice that listed all the conversion parts and labor done to the car in April, 1969. This rallye green Camaro began life as a highly optioned "350" SS/RS [including A/C] and still wears the "350" SS badging. Fortunately, the Dana conversion and Bert's racing style didn't require cutting up the car, so the car retains all it's factory original sheet metal and interior components with only 1,719 actual/original miles on the clock.

Over the course of the last 2 years, Jeff and I have had several conversations with Bert regarding negotiations for me to purchase the Camaro. Bert is a member of this forum board and was well aware of how rare and desirable his car is, so it became a 2 year process of Bert deciding whether, or not, to part with his beloved Dana Camaro. To my delight, last week Bert told me he was "ready"...so as of today, the Camaro is mine and temporarily stored at Jeff's house pending shipping arrangements to the mainland.

Last Friday, Brian Henderson [SuperCar Workshop] was kind enough to fly to Honolulu to help Jeff and Brian Tajiri [another member here] load up the Camaro and all the loose parts/components. If things go the way I hope...the schedule for the total and complete SuperCar Workshop restoration process will accommodate debuting this Dana "427" Camaro at SCR-11, in 2008.

Below are a few pics of how the car looks today, after 36 years on blocks, and a couple pics of the Dana Chevrolet paperwork from 1969.

Once again...many, many thanks to Jeff Chlupsa for all his help in pulling this deal off! Also special thanks to Brian Tajiri for his help loading the Camaro and the use of his personal truck and trailer to get the car to Jeff's house.

SS

[LVCamaro]

as found in Honolulu carport under a tarp on blocks

[LVCamaro]

trim plate

[LVCamaro]

interior [front]

[LVCamaro]

interior [rear]

[LVCamaro]

8 track tape player

[Fast67VelleN2O]

WOW!!!!! They are still out there!

[Ngtflyr]

Very Cool!! Good job, Jeff!! Glad the owner had the presence to hang on to it all these years and keep it relatively protected. It will now get the restoration it deserves. Congrats Steve.

[SS427]

Congratulations on a great car Steve. Jeff, how were you ever able to keep this quiet and not post "hints" on line. Too tempting. Nice of you to pass it on to Steve.

Steve, if interested, here is a link to State Inspection decals. Of course the '69-70 are the ones that are missing but it states that he will make new ones if he has good examples. Just a thought if you wanted to retain some of the history.

State inspection decals

Very cool!
Rick

[kwhizz]

Ken