How did I get here? Confusion, mis-directed leads and information, mistakes, hints, and intuition/hunches. I just recently found this article of our 69 exact Z28 Camaro!
http://eaglegrove.advantage-preservation.com/Viewer/?k=bob%20wood&t=30433&i=t&by=1972&bdd=1970&d=01011972-12311972&m=between&fn=eagle_grove_eagle_usa_iowa_eagle_grove_19721102_english_19&df=1&dt=10http://eaglegrove.advantage-preservation.com/Viewer/?k=bob%20wood&t=30433&i=t&by=1972&bdd=1970&d=01011972-12311972&m=between&fn=eagle_grove_eagle_usa_iowa_eagle_grove_19721102_english_19&df=1&dt=10At the newspaper office, they blew up the photo, and while of poor quality, you could still make out the Z28 emblem above the edge of the front bumper, and the faint white Z28 stripes covered in mud right next to the Camaro script emblem on the front nose.
Our copies of the Camaro's registrations, each and every title in Iowa (ownership never left the State of Iowa after 1971), SCCA Racing Logbooks from late 1971 thru 1982), and photos of it all link it to this, too (racing photos show emblem on front grill, but cannot make out if it says Z28 but it is in the same exact spot as original one). The photos of it on track link with the log book dates of each race, location, event name and date, and the race results. Restoration photos also back up the actual info., and the hidden original VIN stamped under the cowl on the body of the car.
As I took parts off the original race car before restoration, I documented casting dates, part numbers, etc. The Master cylinder, brake booster, engine mounting bracket, inside passenger plastic kick panel, 4 link springs, rear end, rear end assembly stamp, vin stamps, trim tag, hole for speedo cable in firewall, reinforcement plates on the rear sub frame for the dual exhaust, and the few original body parts with original paint all link it to the original Z28, made Feb 3, 1969 with its original Hugger Orange paint and white stripes.
We did an NCRS report on our VIN (same as registration, copies of all owners except the original owner in California), and it was delivered at the same city where the original owner Ken Thompson lived (Paso Robles, CA.).
Once we got this info, we found the original owner was deceased, so we used his obituary to find his direct relatives. After numerous searches, we found a few of them, and contacted them. Fortunately, we found many were car enthusiasts, and remembered the Z28 well.
We also just found one cousin, who worked at Paso Robles dealership (Fred Breiden Chevrolet, dealer #50 on the NCRS website and the NCRS certified letter of manufacture, dealer delivery, order #, and date from Chevrolet records) when the Camaro was delivered! He was a parts man there, and remembered his cousin Ken Thompson had picked it up within two days of it arriving, and was almost sure he ordered it while he was on a 30 day leave with the Marines.
We continue to contact relatives of Ken and Bob Woods (who raced it) to collect more info and stories on the car. Ken's wife said there was a photo album of Ken and his Z28 (she and Ken met because they were both Camaro nuts, and both had Camaros. Her Camaro was a base 67 Coupe she bought used but loved).
Hundreds of photos from the rotisserie restoration back to where it is today (a currently prepared and competitive 1969 SCCA Vintage/ Historic Road Racer). You can't miss the original Hugger Orange paint from the factory on the rockers, lower rear valance, etc. You can also see in the photos the past history of the wreck in 1971, which changed the course of what was originally designed and made at the Chevrolet factory as an SCCA race car to drive on the street, to relive as its original destiny as designed as an SCCA race car to race up front on the road race courses of America!
Maybe we will get lucky, and find a few the photo album of original photos of the car when it was new. Is the protect-o-plate and warranty book with it, still in someone's drawer with a copy of the window sticker or bill of sale? Our search now leads us to the second wife, and Ken's children who might have it stored away.
Meanwhile, the cousin that worked at the original dealership still lives there, and is heading there to get with them. He is going to try to search their old boxes stored away to see if he can find the original order forms, files, etc. about the car. The first owner's wife is trying to help us by leading the search for the photo album on the car and the first owner. My wife and I continue to try to find the rest of the first and second owners families, to collect info, photos, and stories on it's adventures!
Wish us luck!
