Amazing 69 Z/28 Survivor

[z28z11]

Survivor? It didn't even survive the factory paint line. It came out H.O. (lol lust kidding it is astounding !!!)

I agree - must be a conspiracy.

Unreal find -

[Mike S]

In regards to the jacking instructions decal, the thing that caught my eye immediately was the shrinkage line along the top edge (due to file size limit I had to shrink this down a lot so it is harder to see the line). Paper will shrink with age depending on humidity (one factor) and is also one cause for the bubbles.
This leads me to believe that the sticker on the 69 is possibly original. Most people don't know about shrinkage lines and usually a new sticker will cover it up because it is larger (no shrinkage).
I put a side-side comparison of my 67 04B LOS with original trunk decal and this 69 09D NOR. You can see the shrinkage lines on both though the 69 I can only make out the top line. Plus, don't forget a camera white balance will impact the color hue accuracy quite a bit especially with shades (white and blacks). Most point and shoot cameras have inaccurate white balances so it may be a fine line between light yellow and white when viewed.

Mike

[janobyte]

I said, alien abduction, somewhere they are cloning the ultimate vehicle as we speak

Got to add ,nice to see this car is in good hands. Hope it doesn't hit the red carpet and get crated up overseas. This one needs to be on display for all who know about them to enjoy. Captures a time long gone by.

[maroman]

I was lucky enough to ride in a friend's '69 Z when it was one day old. This wouldn't be much different. fabulous find!!

[BULLITT65]

Steve, I bet you can't wait to have it at your show! What a nice example of a car that happen to benefit from just the right circumstances.
It is funny to me how many people set out to preserve a car back in the day, and how only a small handful actually came out the other side in nice condition. I remember a few years back there was a raffle for a like 50's plymouth/chrysler that was entombed when brand new in a cinderblock mausoleum, and then at the 50 year anniversary of the town they were going to announce the winner who would have entered the raffle when the car was locked away new. Well long story short, the cinder block tomb only trapped moisture inside and the car that was suppose to have been  well preserved looked like it had been buried in a river.

[z28z11]

Steve, I bet you can't wait to have it at your show! What a nice example of a car that happen to benefit from just the right circumstances.
It is funny to me how many people set out to preserve a car back in the day, and how only a small handful actually came out the other side in nice condition. I remember a few years back there was a raffle for a like 50's plymouth/chrysler that was entombed when brand new in a cinderblock mausoleum, and then at the 50 year anniversary of the town they were going to announce the winner who would have entered the raffle when the car was locked away new. Well long story short, the cinder block tomb only trapped moisture inside and the car that was suppose to have been  well preserved looked like it had been buried in a river.

I remember that one - greatly disappointed a lot of people, including me. I can't remember what magazine it was featured in (or at least showed the pics of the rusted hulk).

[69Z28-RS]

Steve, I bet you can't wait to have it at your show! What a nice example of a car that happen to benefit from just the right circumstances.
It is funny to me how many people set out to preserve a car back in the day, and how only a small handful actually came out the other side in nice condition. I remember a few years back there was a raffle for a like 50's plymouth/chrysler that was entombed when brand new in a cinderblock mausoleum, and then at the 50 year anniversary of the town they were going to announce the winner who would have entered the raffle when the car was locked away new. Well long story short, the cinder block tomb only trapped moisture inside and the car that was suppose to have been  well preserved looked like it had been buried in a river.

I remember that one - greatly disappointed a lot of people, including me. I can't remember what magazine it was featured in (or at least showed the pics of the rusted hulk).

The story, and the 'before and after' photos were everywhere back when they opened up the *underground* vault (which had filled with water and mud over the 50 yrs it was 'buried')..  There was a recent revisit of the story by Hemmings, in which it said a lot of money had been spent attempting to clean the car, but that it was basically scrap .. even the frame was rusted down and the sheet metal was like foil...      (Another fine example of what our 'politicians' can do for us..  ie.  Tulsa city leaders were responsible for the 'time vault'...

[68camaroz28]

What a fantastic car! Thanks for sharing it Chick. If you ever get an opportunity, I'd love to see a picture of the rear stripe overspray down into the trunk weatherstrip area, so many 'restored' cars have this area neatly masked off and the ends of the stripes are finished far too abruptly.

Here you go Tim! These are what I'd say were pretty nice work from the factory. Steve has looked at many more than me but both the front and rear are fairly neat.
This serve what you asked for?




And a little side bonus, the orange colored crayon mark on the trunk W/S.  Located 2/3 of the length in from the left side top section or close to the inside of the right side racing stripe.

[68camaroz28]

In regards to the jacking instructions decal, the thing that caught my eye immediately was the shrinkage line along the top edge (due to file size limit I had to shrink this down a lot so it is harder to see the line). Paper will shrink with age depending on humidity (one factor) and is also one cause for the bubbles.
This leads me to believe that the sticker on the 69 is possibly original. Most people don't know about shrinkage lines and usually a new sticker will cover it up because it is larger (no shrinkage).
I put a side-side comparison of my 67 04B LOS with original trunk decal and this 69 09D NOR. You can see the shrinkage lines on both though the 69 I can only make out the top line. Plus, don't forget a camera white balance will impact the color hue accuracy quite a bit especially with shades (white and blacks). Most point and shoot cameras have inaccurate white balances so it may be a fine line between light yellow and white when viewed.

Mike

Good observation Mike! Let me explain to everyone just how the car was stored which can explain IMO just how and why the car stayed as nice as it did. This car was stored for most of its life not just in a garage but in the full basement of a house where the furnace and water heater resided. Its just different with that type of storage vs. a attached garage not insulated, etc... Wish all of you could see just how incredible this car is. I told my friend and his wife, there's only one thing better than this and when they said what, I came back with "If I owned it!" LOL
Appreciate all the thank you notes but the new owner deserves them as well as he wanted to share this survivor and I'm just assisting.  And liking it also!   Give me time but will work to answer your questions.

[68camaroz28]

Very nice. Other than the tires, did anything else ever get switched off the car? What are the owners plans for it?

Not much was off the car and he added just about zero. Only thing I noted added was a fuel filter but the rubber line is original and someone (we think the dealership) just pulled the line off the hard line, stuck it on the end of the original rubber fuel line, added a piece of rubber line to other end of the filter and stuck it back on the 3/8" metal line. Super easy to remove and everything is original. "What are the owners plans for it?" It's found a new home for a very long time!

[68camaroz28]

Chick can't thank you enough for the great story and pictures. Really an amazing survivor. Can't wait to see more. Did the original owner ever start it in the last 19 years?

Hi George, no, the owner did not start the car up. Reason, since it was stored in the basement under the house he said if he started it, it stuck up the house with fumes which I can understand.  Remember back in the day when I sprayed paint in the attached garage and the fumes came in. Whew, my dear wife was not a happy camper. Oh the memories! OK, back to this car! We know the old gas will have to be removed and some before firing preparation. The oil on the dipstick looked almost new......

[68camaroz28]

How did his jacking instructions not yellow ? No "spider web" cracking in the stripes ? Top edge of the spoiler flawless. Once again all I can say is wow. I can see were you would be excited going over that car in person.

Yep, its been a joy and wish all of you could participate in looking it over as we have and will continue. Guess we will try to be your eyes.......

[ko-lek-tor]

How did his jacking instructions not yellow ? No "spider web" cracking in the stripes ? Top edge of the spoiler flawless. Once again all I can say is wow. I can see were you would be excited going over that car in person.

Yep, its been a joy and wish all of you could participate in looking it over as we have and will continue. Guess we will try to be your eyes.......

Chick, I am thinking that you could provide a series, say each week (later to be offered on a DVD for one's library) that could highlight components and areas of the car. This would be an incredible restoration tool and valued documentation. How many pristine examples of 69 Z's exist? JohnZ's car and that one with, like, 2000 miles on it?

[cam69aro]

Chick, are the tags on the coil springs and rear leafs still intact ? mine had only one coil spring tag but was so badly deteriorated I couldn't read it and it was too far gone to even make out. What a nice find, would be a nice car for Jerry M to look at for posterity
 

[68camaroz28]

Chick, are the tags on the coil springs and rear leafs still intact ? mine had only one coil spring tag but was so badly deteriorated I couldn't read it and it was too far gone to even make out. What a nice find, would be a nice car for Jerry M to look at for posterity
 

Eldon, have spent very little time looking underneath except for general inspection so cannot answer at this time but can when its on the lift.