Author Topic: Gorries Black Panther Camaro  (Read 16795 times)

Jon Mello

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Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« on: June 14, 2014, 03:49:08 PM »
Gorries Black Panther Camaro road test from the May '67 issue of Canada's Track & Traffic magazine, courtesy of Mike Scott (group/7).
The Black Panther package was available on any V-8 model, although I'm not sure about a convertible. There were even two '67 Z-28s
converted into Black Panthers. The car in the article is 427-powered although, for some odd reason, the engine shown is a small block.







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Jon Mello

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2014, 05:40:16 AM »
Craig Fisher raced one of the Gorries Black Panther Z-28s in the Trans-Am series. This one came with a gold interior. The other car was
Craig Fisher's street Z-28 and it had a black interior. Craig sold it to Hugh Dibley over in England and Hugh turned it into a road racer.
It was sold to Pierre Du Plessis, who I have heard wrecked it in South Africa. If it was rebuilt, I don't know.

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Jon Mello

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2014, 04:09:24 AM »
An article on Bob Simonen's Black Panther Camaro. He's the original owner!

http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-12-28/in-search-of-the-elusive-black-panther
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vtfb68

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2014, 09:49:26 PM »
Jon,
business week 's  story claims ZL-1 427 in 1967, what is the story on that? Would you know what kind of " Mag" wheels they used?
     Victor
68 05C LA RS/SS U2 712 L34 M21 BR
68 08E LA RS Y2 749 L30 M35
67 11B LA  RS/SS M-1 797-Z L48 M21  Convertible

Jon Mello

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2014, 12:33:23 AM »
The reference to a ZL-1 engine for 1967 is not correct. Somehow the author got some bogus information. An L-72 engine is what should have been mentioned.

As for mag wheels, the only ones I've seen on them were Magnum 500 "mag-style" wheels except for the two road racers, which used American mags.
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SMKZ28

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2014, 01:17:13 PM »
Great stuff on a little known Camaro.  That is why I love this site.  Thanks Jon and Mike!
Scott
I don't have a 1st Gen but I have 1971 Z28 RS 4-spd, 1997 Z28 Z4C 6-spd, 2000 SS Convertible, 2010 RS 6-spd

satman

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2014, 11:43:21 PM »
Gorries was a very cool dealership by Canadian standards .......... As teenager I remember visiting their used car lot and drooling over a large collection quality used Corvettes.

AL

RUNUTZ

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2014, 03:17:54 AM »
Someone in Atlanta claimed to have one (for sale) not long ago.

group/7

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2015, 02:37:46 AM »
here's a link to a pic of  Dibley's ex Craig Fisher Black Panther in England, 1969 ? that is on the trans am face book page. hope the link works, if it's been seen before, apologies

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203365624096429&set=o.109038482465812&type=3&theater



Mike (group/7) in Canada

Jon Mello

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #9 on: February 15, 2020, 04:40:44 PM »
Nice article from the Windsor Star newspaper.  Looks like other dealers paid Gorries to be a franchise and then could create their own Black Panthers from a car in stock or special ordered.
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group/7

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2020, 02:41:11 AM »
Was talking to friend about these cars tonight, here are a couple of things I have in my files, this is in the U.K, I believe to be the

 one Jon mentions above with pic that went to Hugh Dibley. Is the info in the green square correct ?

Mike

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2020, 02:42:27 AM »
2nd pic.

Mike

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2020, 02:55:29 AM »
« Last Edit: March 01, 2020, 03:41:41 AM by group/7 »

Jon Mello

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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #13 on: March 01, 2020, 06:02:39 AM »
Mike,

Hugh Dibley did not drive the Camaro at Daytona.  He was looking for a Z-28 to race and Penske's friend George Wintersteen put him in touch with Craig Fisher.  Dibley bought Fisher's Black Panther street car less engine and this was coordinated through Wintersteen.  I have Craig Fisher's letters documenting this.  Here's a neat video of the '67 BOAC race at Brand's Hatch with some screen footage of Dibley.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov5ZHn7QkFs
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Re: Gorries Black Panther Camaro
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2020, 06:07:40 PM »
It’s interesting that Craig’s BP has white pin stripes instead of the gold ones found on other BP’s.  For those interested in these cars, Bob’s car above does not have correct/original BP emblems nor the correct/original 007 panel.

 

anything