Topics

1

General Discussion / Pictures of 1st Generation Camaros at 2023 MCACN

« on: November 23, 2023, 02:51:09 PM »

Here are pictures of the 1st generation Camaros that I took at the 2023 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) held in Rosemont, Illinois on Saturday, November 18, 2023.  I tried to get all of them but I'm sorry if I missed one.  Enjoy!

If you are interested in my photos from past MCACAN shows click on the following links:

1) 2022: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=20358.0

2) 2011-2021: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=20376.0

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Chevy Dealership Newspaper Ads Promoting Yenko Camaro Availability 1967-1969

« on: April 28, 2023, 03:38:18 PM »

Here are several Chevrolet dealership newspaper ads promoting the availability of the Yenko Camaro between 1967 and 1969. 

1967

1) Earl Davis Chevrolet: News Journal (OH) April 25, 1967
2) Yenko Chevrolet: The Pittsburgh Press (PA) May 7, 1967
3) Earl Davis Chevrolet: News Journal (OH) May 11, 1967
4) Jay Kline Chevrolet: Star Tribune (MN) August 11, 1967

newspapers.com

3

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / 1967 Camaro Participation in Union/Pure Oil Performance Trials Daytona 1/67

« on: April 27, 2023, 04:04:34 PM »

Back in the 1960's domestic automobile manufactures participated in a competition for new model year cars that would test their acceleration, braking and fuel economy.  When Chevrolet introduced the Camaro for the 1967 model year the contest was known as the Union/Pure Oil Performance Trials.  In 1967 they were held on January 14-18 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.  The trials were sponsored by the Union Oil Company of California and its Pure Oil Division.   It was sanctioned and supervised by NASCAR.  In addition to Impala, Chevelle SS 396, Chevy II and Corvair, Chevrolet provided two 1967 Camaros with 327 V-8 engines and 4-speed manual transmissions.  These two Camaros participated in Class IX (Sport Compact) against two Ford Mustang 2+2's, a Plymouth Barracuda, a Dodge Dart GT and a Rambler American Rogue.  While the Ford Mustang won the class with more total points, Chevrolet chose to promote the Camaros win in the acceleration tests in both a brochure and several newspaper advertisements.  Both Motor Trend and Popular Science magazines ran articles on the trials in their respective April 1967 editions.   

http://www.pilotcarregistry.com/rare-vintage-photos.html 

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Hugger Month: 1968 Custom Camaro Promotional Advertising Campaign

« on: April 25, 2023, 03:11:17 PM »

February 1968 was touted by Chevrolet through-out the United States and Canada as “Hugger Month.”  This advertising campaign was meant to promote newly available, mid-year options on the 1968 “Customized Camaro,” including four newly available colors.  These included Rally Green, Bronze, British Green and Le Mans Blue.  The last three were colors previously only available on the Corvette.  According to promotional material, Chevrolet stated that Hugger Month is, “our way of telling you how you can customize any Camaro with sports features you can order.”  One of these was the newly available “rear-deck spoiler.”
 
As part of the campaign, some dealers were giving away a 1968 Camaro and some were giving away Polaroid cameras.

This is a promotional mailer sent out to prospective purchasers.

worthpoint.com

5

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Chevrolet Road Rally Game Sold by Dealers at Christmas 1966 Camaro/Corvette

« on: April 22, 2023, 03:34:49 PM »

Marketing to adults was not the only way Chevrolet promoted their brand-new Camaro in its introductory year.  During the Christmas season of 1966 Chevrolet dealers across the country sold an item that was directly targeted at young children.  It was called the Chevrolet Road Rally Game and it sold for $5.95.  This is equivalent to $55.43 in 2023 dollars.  You couldn’t get this game anywhere else.  The idea was that kids would want it for Christmas and the parents would have to go to the Chevrolet dealership to acquire it.  While they were at the dealership, they would be shown the new Chevrolet models and probably come home with a brochure or two in addition to the game.  Some dealers gave it away free with the purchase of a real Chevrolet.

According to an article on page 32 of the February 1983 edition of the magazine entitled Classic Sixties,

“Republic Tool & Manufacturing Corporation made this ‘Road Rally Game’ for Chevrolet in 1966.  It was a promotional tool for the new Camaro, introduced that Fall as a 1967 model, and for the 1967 Corvette, the last version of the famed 1963 body design.  J. W. McRoskey, a Republic spokesman, told Classic Sixties, ‘we initially contacted Chevrolet and worked with them on a contract basis.  We manufactured approximately 300,000 units at a cost of $5.95 each for exclusive distribution through Chevrolet dealers.  The Corvette may have been modeled from prototype photographs; however I have no recollection concerning the design of the Camaro.  Several years after we produced the Road Rally for Chevrolet, we manufactured similar games for Mercury, Plymouth and AMC.’  The Corvette is a very faithful replica, but has non-production tri-bar spinners on the Rally wheels that were standard on 1967 Corvettes.  The Camaro, though, looks as though it was created from very sketchy information.”

I'm not really sure about the last sentence from the article.  The Camaro looks pretty spot on to me.  It was just a toy, not a scale model.

Does anyone have any memories of receiving and/or playing with this game back when it was new?

6

Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Swinging Chevy Circle: Dealer Vinyl Record Giveaway "Camaro" by The Cyrkle 1967

« on: April 17, 2023, 03:41:55 PM »

Chevrolet used many interesting promotional avenues to help introduce the new 1967 Camaro to its target audience.  One of these was a 7”, 45-rpm vinyl record produced exclusively for Chevrolet dealerships to give away to licensed drivers who came in to take a test drive of the new Chevrolet offerings during the early part of the 1967 calendar year.  This record included the song Camaro by The Cyrkle on side one and the song SS-396 by Paul Revere and The Raiders on side two.  I don't believe that this was a nationwide promotion.  I only found ads referring to the giveaway in newspapers from California, Ohio, Georgia and Indiana during January and February 1967 and one ad from April 1967 in Ohio.


Listen to the song Camaro here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5hMLQ38Xms (2:20)

Listen to the song SS-396 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aJXSGgSAyU (2:34)


Both of these songs can be purchased on I-Tunes or get them free on Spotify.

1) discogs.com
2) 45cat.com
3) discogs.com

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Seattle Int. Raceway: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 Conv. Pace Car for Trans Am 1969

« on: April 01, 2023, 12:42:08 PM »

A 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 convertible was used as the pace car for the 3rd Annual Kent 300 Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Trans-American event held at Seattle International Raceway in Kent, Washington on Sunday, September 7, 1969.  This was the 10th round of the championship and Ronnie Bucknum won the event in his 1969 Camaro Z28 fielded by Roger Penske.

Notice that the lettering on the door has been altered to display the information for this particular event.  I believe that underneath the "OFFICIAL PACE CAR" in orange lettering it states "3rd Annual Trans-Am Kent" and "September 7, 1969".

I found this fantastic color image of the pre-race grid at the Vintage Trans Am race cars V-8 - 1966-1973 Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1567567723489728/photos/

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Riverside Inter Raceway 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 Conv Pace Car SCCA Nats 1969

« on: March 08, 2023, 05:58:17 PM »

The white with blue interior 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible acquired for the NASCAR Grand National event earlier in the year was also used as the pace car for the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championship Point Road Races held at the Riverside International Raceway, in Riverside, California on September 27-28, 1969.  This was another event that had multiple different races for differing classes of racecars, so the Camaro must have paced several races that weekend.

Notice the 1967 Camaro racecar just to the left of the picture behind the pace car.  There also looks to be at least one 1969 Camaro race car, if not more.

This picture came from the Remembering Riverside Raceway Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/137363969953355/

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Virginia Inter Raceway: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 Conv Pace Car SCCA Nationals 1969

« on: March 06, 2023, 03:41:20 PM »

A 1969 Camaro RS/SS Z11 convertible was used as the pace car for the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Nationals held at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, Virginia September 27-28, 1969.  As a result of the multiple different classes of racecars at an event like this, the Camaro would have paced seven different races on Sunday, September 28, 1969. 

Laprecord Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079720931619&sk=photos

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Silver Spring Speedway: 1968 Camaro RS Convertible Pace Car late 70s early 80s

« on: February 15, 2023, 04:35:39 PM »

Here are several recent photographs taken of a 1968 Camaro RS convertible that was used as the pace car at Silver Springs Speedway at some point in time.  This was a 3/8 mile, semi banked clay oval racing venue that operated between 1953 and 2005 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  I'm not sure exactly when the Camaro was used as the pace car because I could not find a single period image of it at the track but it looks like it was modified into it's current condition sometime back in the late 1970's or early 1980's.  It must have been prior to the late 1980's because I have seen images of a 1987 Trans Am and a 1988 Grand Prix pacing events in the late 1980's. 

Notice the newer mirrors, front spoiler and wheel well spats that mimic a late 2nd generation Z28 or any 2nd generation Trans Am.   The Rally Wheels might have been added at this time as well.  It is powered by a 327 V-8 and it has a manual transmission with a Hurst T-Handle.  Notice the wording on the side that states, "Body Paint Work by Wittle and Webb." 

If anyone has any further information on when it was actually used or any additional photographs, please share.

I found the pictures on the Silver Spring Speedway Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/345145753890/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064908331136&paipv=0&eav=AfYDO1sSrlmVJW0lINDd7pPyNuMnBR38rM8mx6IeGeqwYVcRcUvR4_uDazDquReA-RY

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / North Wilkesboro Speedway 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 Conv Pace Car Staley 400 NASCAR

« on: February 03, 2023, 05:40:44 PM »

A white 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for the Gwyn Staley 400 NASCAR Grand National event that took place at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina on Sunday, April 21, 1968.  The race was won by David Pearson in his Holman & Moody 1968 Ford Torino.

Notice in these photos that the car is wearing red line tires and the convertible top is white.  Also notice that behind the front wheel wells the words, "Gaddy Motor Co." appear.  This was a Chevrolet and Buick dealer in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.  I wonder if this photo was taken in the backyard of someone who worked at that dealer?  The letters and numerals inside the red decals look to be written in gold foil.  They appear shinier than the other 1968 NASCAR Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible pace cars. 

These were posted by Phil Combs at the Hickory Motor Speedway Memories Facebook in July of 2019: https://www.facebook.com/groups/215362322226315/media
 

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Flemington Fair Speedway: Camaro RS/SS Conv. Pace Car in 1967 & 1968

« on: January 30, 2023, 10:56:17 PM »

Camaro convertibles were used to pace the events held at Flemington Fair Speedway in Flemington, New Jersey in both 1967 and 1968.  This racetrack operated with a dirt surface from 1915 to 1989.  It continued to hold races for several years after being paved in 1990 but ultimately closed in 2002.  It was known as the fastest 5/8 mile dirt track in the United States.

These images demonstrate that a light colored, possibly white, 1967 Camaro RS/SS convertible was used as the pace car during an event held for Modified racecars.  A total of 16 Modified Feature events were held at the track between May 13, 1967 and September 23, 1967.  I am not sure which one is depicted in the images. 

The images are screen shots that come from footage that is a part of a Youtube video entitled, History of Flemington Speedway part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ucYgbtSWTw

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Niagara Int. Drag Strip: 1967 RS/SS 396 Official Track Car in 1967 Hartman Chevy

« on: January 27, 2023, 05:12:38 PM »

A light colored 1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 was used as the Official Track Car at Niagara International Drag Strip during their 1967 season.  This track was located in Niagara Falls, New York.  It hosted drag racing from 1961 until it closed in 1974.  Notice in the photos that the Camaro has a vinyl top and lacks trim rings on the Rally Wheels.  "Hartman Chevrolet Salamanca N.Y." is written above the rear wheels.  This must be the dealer that provided the Camaro to the track. 

I found these photos at the Niagara International Drag Strip Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=751175625010200&paipv=0&eav=AfY-3qoe0vdQIe1xshvEakiUwdokdX9m4fPWtu40t3XYxg90EhYiZhx2_7u883gUJZc&_rdr

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Windsor Dragway: 1968 Camaro Official Track Car in 1968 Webster's Chevy

« on: January 27, 2023, 04:10:41 AM »

A blue 1968 Camaro was used as the Official Track Car of the Windsor Dragway in Windsor, Ontario, Canada during their inaugural season of 1968.  The car was supplied by "Webster's Chevrolet Windsor's Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac Headquarters."  Notice the white stripe, rear spoiler and aftermarket wheels.  The car originally fooled me into thinking it was an SS but I noticed the lack of SS emblems under the "Camaro" script behind the front wheels and the lack of SS hood.  The image that appears on the door was the symbol for Windsor Dragway.  This particular track did not last long, opening in August 1968 and closing for good by the end of the 1971 season.

Images can be found at Colesy's Place Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/colesysplace/photos/1800248230242652

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Promotional Events and Concept Cars / Martinsville Speedway: 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 Conv. Pace Car for NASCAR events

« on: January 23, 2023, 05:48:20 PM »

A white with blue interior 1969 Camaro RS/SS 396 convertible was used as the pace car for several NASCAR events at the Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia during their 1969 season of racing.  It is one of the NASCAR pace cars built in the fall of 1968.  Notice the smaller rear spoiler.

In this photo you can see that it is lettered up for the Virginia 500 NASCAR Grand National race which took place on Sunday, April 27, 1969.  It was won by Richard Petty in his 1969 Ford.  This is the best image of this car that I could find. 

ebay