Gibb 70 Camaro ZL1 - Mecum Auction

AutoInsane · #1 09-21-2009, 08:35 PM

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...p;entryRow=289

Fred Gibb purchased the car in 1971, installing a potent dual tunnel-ram equipped aluminum ZL1 engine, fiberglass front end and Kelsey-Hayes “Stripper” wheels. Painted in the Gibb/Harrell trademark Candy Red and Gold, the car was featured in the May 1971 issue of Rodder & Super Stock Magazine. After completing its tour of duty on the Fred Gibb racing team the vehicle went through several owners until it was purchased in the mid Nineties from Bill Porterfield by Kim Howie of Albia, Iowa. Howie returned the car to La Harpe, where the roll cage, chassis, and suspension were upgraded to meet modern racing specs.

Since then the car has been through a nine year restoration, during which it was returned to its distinctive, and very Seventies, Gibb/Harrell livery. It still packs an all-aluminum heart in the form of a completely correct 427 ZL1 engine, rated at 816 horsepower thanks in no small part to the vintage twin Holleys, towering tunnel ram intake and free-flowing ZL1 heads: all correct, including the special factory distributor.

**MosportGreen66** · #2 09-21-2009, 08:45 PM

Kim, say it isn't so...

**Xplantdad** · #3 09-21-2009, 09:18 PM

Good luck with the sale Kim!

**bashton** · #4 09-22-2009, 03:36 AM

What the...

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427TJ · #5 09-22-2009, 03:41 AM

Good luck Kim. It'd be tough to see that one go.

camarojoe · #6 09-22-2009, 03:51 AM

What's a "dual tunnel Ram"? I only saw one tunnel ram on it...

oh, and it was sporting a pair of Carter Thermoquads, not Holleys. One of my favorite cars...

**William** · #7 09-22-2009, 04:16 AM

This seems to be a good place to bring this up. In researching the history of ZL-1 #4 I have learned the engine was run in a '71 Pro Camaro by Sabatine's Speed Shop Easton, PA. Raced in the NED for 2 seasons, the entire car was sold to someone from California '72-'73.

If any of this sounds familiar I would like to hear from you.

al8apex · #8 09-22-2009, 07:56 PM

I have a question. Was it protocol to morph the two front end designs?

The only thing I can think of was it was a way to lower the weight of the front end by adding RS bumperettes to the "standard" Camaro front end.

Were the tech inspectors that clueless about modifications to a "stock" car or was there a clause in the rules that allowed mix and match of the OEM parts?

That "morph" of parts are not / were not allowed in the SCCA, but the SCCA does not drag race ...

Kim_Howie · #9 09-22-2009, 08:42 PM

Jim, The car ran a fiberglass hood & front end. AHRA rules for S/S and pro stock. I don't think bumpers were a big deal. They ran NO front brakes at that time!!!

**Salvatore** · #10 09-22-2009, 10:16 PM

[ QUOTE ]
This seems to be a good place to bring this up. In researching the history of ZL-1 #4 I have learned the engine was run in a '71 Pro Camaro by Sabatine's Speed Shop Easton, PA. Raced in the NED for 2 seasons, the entire car was sold to someone from California '72-'73.

If any of this sounds familiar I would like to hear from you.

[/ QUOTE ]Len Sabatine ran a couple cars out of Hauser Chevrolet in Bethlehem. I believe Hauser sold 2 ZL-1's. I think the one Len drove was put on the street with an L78 in it for sale (but not sure about the motor size) He ran Pro Stock with a camaro and later a vega or monza. Len stills has a shop in Easton I think.

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