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Hugger Orange 1969 Chevy Camaro Z28 Headed To Las Vegas

Following the horrific crash at LeMans in 1955 that killed French racing driver Pierre Levegh, 83 spectators, and injured more than 180 others, the Automobile Manufacturers of America signed an agreement in 1957 stipulating they would no longer engage in nor support competitive motor sports. Then all of the American auto producers promptly went about supplying privateer racers with cars, parts, and support. The old saying, “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” had been coined out of truth. In 1963, GM brass would strongly reiterate its ban on racing efforts, and engineers would continue finding ways to go racing “unofficially.” This would be made absolutely clear with the introduction of the 1967 Chevy Camaro Z/28.

In 1966, Vince Piggins was an assistant staff engineer at Chevrolet in charge of product promotion. In the early 1950s, Piggins had spearheaded the NASCAR championship-winning Hudson Hornets. When Chevrolet went stock car racing in the mid-1950s, Piggins was hired to oversee the effort. When Chevy Camaro production began in 1966, Piggins helped develop an option pack that would dominate its class in SCCA racing. In an August 17th, 1966 memo to GM Brass, Piggins detailed a plan that would produce a Camaro with “performance and handling characteristics superior to either Mustang or Barracuda.” Piggins wanted to call it the “Cheetah,” but the package would be known by its RPO designation of Z/28.

SCCA homologation rules dictated the Chevy Camaro Z/28 would have to have a back seat, making it a “sedan,” and a wheelbase no longer than 116 inches. Engine displacement had to be 305 cubic inches or less. The two closest engines in displacement were the Small Block 283 or 327. Wanting to take advantage of every possible cubic inch, Piggins put a 283 crank in a 327, yielding 302 cubes and 290 grossly underrated horsepower. In its review of the 1967 Chevy Camaro Z/28, Car and Driver magazine said, “The 290-horsepower figure quoted for the Z/28 engine seems ridiculously conservative.” C&D added, “It feels at least as strong as the 327, 350-horsepower engine offered in the Corvette.” It is rumored that Traco Engineering managed to get more than 500 ponies from a race-prepped 302 built for the Penske Trans-Am racing team.

The 1969 model year was the third and final for the first-generation Chevy Camaro. Production ran longer than the previous two years, stretching from September 26th, 1968 to February 26th, 1970, with 243,085 units leaving the factory. A number of aesthetic changes set the ’69 Camaro apart, with changes to the front fenders, rear quarters, rear panel, doors, header, and valance. Flattened wheel wells and a sharper grille gave the ’69 a more aggressive appearance. Instrument binnacles were more squared, but the console gauges soldiered on unchanged. Four-wheel disc brakes became an available option on all trim levels.

The Chevy Camaro Z/28 Special Performance package still came with high-revving 302 Small Block of previous years. Dual exhaust, heavy-duty radiator, special front and rear suspension, quick steering, a temperature-controlled fan, four-speed manual transmission, and front- or four-wheel disc brakes, were aesthetically complemented by raised white-letter tires wrapped around fifteen-inch Rally wheels, Z/28 emblems on the rear panel, fenders, grille, bumper guards, hood and rear deck stripes. A/C was not available.

Our feature 1969 Chevy Camaro Z/28 is finished in striking Hugger Orange with black stripes and black vinyl hardtop. It is powered by its original numbers-matching 302 Small Block topped by the correct 4053 DZ Holley carb. The distributor and alternator are also original to the car. It still has the factory smog system. The mouse motor is backed by the original Muncie M22 four-speed manual and twelve-bolt Positraction rear end. The Z/28 is equipped with power disc brakes, center console with gauges, factory tach, jack and spare. It rolls on factory Rally wheels shod in reproduction raised white-letter Goodyear Wide Tread GT Polyglas tires.

This highly original Chevy Camaro Z/28 will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Las Vegas, Nevada event taking place November 10th through the 12th.

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Comments

  1. My name isdaviboi I like steak

    Reply
  2. My name is unc boo boo

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  3. Well I see they made moronic decisions back then as well guess we should ban airplanes because some crash thanks for the article about the Camaro real cars real people real America not perfect and never will be thank God I was born in the United States

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  4. Love the body color. IMO the white stripes and NO vinyl roof would be perfect

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  5. Today it’s hard to understand a vinyl top on a Z/28. Although I never liked them on Camaros many thought of them as giving the car a classy look. The odd thing I find on this car is the combination of the early rear spoiler (same as a ’68) and the cowl hood which arrived later in production. One glaring oversight is that the body below the rocker molding should be painted satin black. I see a few other nit picky things but overall the car looks correct and should do well.

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    1. I’m not so sure. I also have a 1969 x33 z28 in hugger orange with a black vinyl top and my rockers are orange not black.

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  6. Friend had (stock)302cu.in. w/solids lifters Z, had it on dyno it put out 390 hp.& 410 tq. W/ 373:1rear end ,was Great. Mariner Blue w/black stripes , Dog dish caps never drove it said he was scared of it! Had to put 350lb. In trunk to keep it straight other wise a real squirrel !! Still in Garage drives it 1-2amonth. Yea he WON’t Sell it! I keep trying!! Up to $80 k w/ 28 k miles what a shame!!! Later jim

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    1. Not stock wheels. 15 inch rally wheels came standard with RPO Z28 package

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  7. Back when they made cool cars and you could go to your dealership and buy. Really miss those days

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  8. I got a 2001 camaro SS, LS1 6 speed, 40 kliocks, fast car, fully loaded. The dealer only offered 13 thousand on a trade. They had a 69 Z COPO car they wanted 175,000 for it I told him will put it up against any 69 z28 and run for pinks…Suddenly he had to run to the washroom. i yelled “don’t forget the toilet paper”

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  9. What motor was in the Z COPO?

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    1. A have a 69 z28 and my friends father has a 69 copo 427. The z28 will not beat the 427. Be glad you didn’t race him. By the way the z28 was a road race car NOT a drag racer

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  10. The Z28 was a 302. The COPO was a 427. Two Different cars.

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    1. I knew that. Just wanted to check on George

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  11. How about rear bumper pads ( correct) and non in front.

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    1. Rear bumper guards were part of the Z/28 package. The fronts were optional.

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      1. That is the exact car I had in high school and after. Always regretted sell it.

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  12. I m saying no to front bumper pads. They were required on the rear because the car sat a little bit lower and the bumper didn’t line up with other vehicles so u had the black bumper guards

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  13. George put the same tires on the 69 that you have and you may have given your car away. After the 1/4 mile you would go by him so fast he wouldn’t have been able to tell what kind of car you had. I have a 71 Z with factory 410 gears that’s pretty strong in the 1/4 but no top end at all. I know, they took away 30 hp in 71 but if you ran premium and advance the timing a couple degrees it wasn’t much slower if any at all. Headers of course

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  14. Back in the no BS days. Go to your local dealer, pick out your vehicle, drive it home… Dealerships back then always had a lot full of vehicles. It use to be enjoyable to go to a dealership! Those were the days…..

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  15. I sure wouldn’t kick it out of the garage.

    Reply

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