Rarest 69 Z/28 Ever

[HustleRussell]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/autos-midsize/with-its-hemi-crossram-check-out-the-rarest-1969-camaro-ever/ar-BBnXapC?ocid=spartandhp

[maroman]

This car was in Floyd Garrets museum about 4 years ago. From what I remember the engine didn't come in ANY car let alone this one.

[X33RS]

Not stock that I recall but I do know that isn't the only one done that way.  So to say that's the only one is incorrect in a sense.  I ran across a yellow 69 Z in the late 80's down in the Charlotte area that had a set of those heads on it too.  I can't remember if the block was aluminum too or not, it was a long time ago.  I have old glossy pictures of it around here somewhere.  Car was completely restored and I remember something about Smokey being mentioned on that one as well.

[BULLITT65]

From what I have read, you are correct in did not come in production Camaro. I have seen this block come up for sale a few times. I also see it described in Hooper's 1969 Camaro Reference book (page 291). They also note that the NOS one in the book was about to be installed in a 69Z, and thanks were given to Al Maynard Jr. Maybe he is the prior owner?

The block has been on eBay. I think the last time I saw it for sale it had a 20k asking price.

[rsr]

I think 4-5 engine were built with those heads? Charlie Lillard had a yellow 69 with one of them.

[cook_dw]

Not exactly sure but didnt several or all of the engines with the hemi heads use iron blocks..??..  Conversation on this same topic over on SYC

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/639927/gonew/1/rarest-69-camaro-ever-all-alum#UNREAD

[maroman]

and thanks were given to Al Maynard Jr. Maybe he is the prior owner?

  Al owned everything that was cool at least once.

[BULLITT65]

As far as I can tell they were Iron blocks. May have to get CRG core member Wayne Guinn to wake from his slumber and chime in here...

[jdv69z]

I thought I read somewhere that the 302 hemi was not a success.

[william]

Smokey Yunick has been quoted as stating the heads “…weren’t worth a crap…” and described the project as “…a one-half million dollar trip to $hitsville.”

Best number on the dyno was 450 hp @ 8000 rpm, not quite as good as a race-prepped production 302 in those days.

So much for the Hemi 302.
 

[Kelley W King]

Everything I have read says the Hemis were sent to Smokey for testing. I also read an article that said the prototype 70 Camaro was found behind his shop.

[jdv69z]

I thought I read that Smokey said there was too much trying to snake the ports around the push rods or something like that.

[ko-lek-tor]

I thought I read that Smokey said there was too much trying to snake the ports around the push rods or something like that.

One of those'better on paper' ideas that really did not work. Reminds me of several Ford engines of the same period. Exotic, but not the powerhouse they should have been. The Boss 429 NASCAR engine is one example...never lived up to what it could have been because of restrictive design. But, oh so cool nonetheless are these rare prototype designs and the efforts to experiment with such shows that Chevrolet WAS into racing, although they weren't, ahem! Thank goodness for the GM brass or we would have not seen the likes of the ZL1, LS7, L88 etc...that recieved the 'Green Light' to production.

[william]

I also read an article that said the prototype 70 Camaro was found behind his shop.

The body of production 1970 Camaro #1 was purchased from Smokey Yunick. No VIN tag, had the FMVSS door tag. It was built up into something and all sorts of unsubstantiated claims have been made about its provenance. He makes no mention of it in his 600+ page book.

[ds1]

Tired of the word RARE.   Overused and all to often misunderstood.    Never was a factory built car so at best it is an interesting Resto Mod