The First Camaro SS 396 (Camaro Cabriolet Dream Car)

[bcmiller]

Scott has posted some pics of this car before. 

All of these pics are labelled as 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Show Car and dated 11/22/1966
Location: GM Design Center

Credit for pics and information to GM.

[bcmiller]

More

Credit for pics and information to GM.

[bcmiller]

More

Credit for pics and information to GM.

[bcmiller]

Two more. 

Note the emergency brake pedal AND the clutch pedal all the way down.

Close up of the front plate.

Credit for pics and information to GM.

[Mike S]

So there was an SS 396 horn cap?
Both my 67's l35 have what looks like the standard 'Camaro' horn cap. I've only seen SS 350 horn caps for 67.

[bcmiller]

And one of it at a show.  I am pretty sure Scott posted this pic previously.

[bcmiller]

So there was an SS 396 horn cap?
Both my 67's l35 have what looks like the standard 'Camaro' horn cap. I've only seen SS 350 horn caps for 67.

Remember Mike, this is a SHOW CAR.  Lots of stuff on these cars was not available on production cars.

[Mike S]

I wonder why the 396 cap wasn't used in production. Chevy had to have a mold made for the show car cap. Too bad though.... the 396 cap looks really nice. 

[bcmiller]

At the Design Center I am sure there were dozens (if not hundreds) of "one-off" items produced to put on special cars over the years.

Check out the console gauges too.

[ZLP955]

Interesting to note the difference in front end ride height between the Design Centre side view (3rd picture posted) and the colour picture on the turntable at the first show. Guess they sorted the coil spring height out.

[SMKZ28]

It is interesting to find out that those pictures of the first Camaro SS 396 concept/show car inside the Design Center were taken just four days before the car made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show, which took place November 26th through December 4th, 1966 at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan.  Notice that while it was in the Design Center the rally wheels are wearing 1968 style center caps and the color pictures from the Detroit Auto Show demonstrate that they replaced them with the correct 1967 style.

For more information and pictures of this Camaro at the Detroit Auto Show see my thread on 1966/1967 Auto Shows:

Replies #19-28 on page 2: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=16296.15

[SMKZ28]

This same Camaro would also make an appearance at the Chicago Auto Show, which took place Saturday, February 25th through Sunday, March 5th, 1967 at The International Amphitheater in Chicago, Illinois.  By this time the car had acquired the name "Camaro Cabriolet".  This can be seen on the license plate of the picture taken at the Chicago Auto Show.  This is the car that sat next to the Cherokee with the undecipherable license plate. 
UPDATE:  Evidence has been found that this car was called the CARNIVAL before it was named the Cherokee.

On page 45 of Camaro! From Challenger to Champion: The Complete History, Gary L. Witzenburg talked about a few of the Camaro “Dream” Cars.  Speaking about this particular car he wrote that, “a pearl blue SS-396 convertible called 'Cabriolet' was fitted with heavy-duty suspension and engine mounts, and other high-performance components, plus simulated air scoops on the hood.” 

The interesting thing about this car is that Chevrolet had already shown it without its special “Cabriolet” license plates back in November/December 1966.  I believe it is the exact same car that was used to “introduce” the SS 396 to the public at the Detroit Auto Show.  The color pictures from the Detroit Auto Show clearly show that it was painted a special dark blue.  There was even a sign on the front of the display that stated that it had “special paint and trim.”  That special trim included a non-standard deluxe interior made up of sun visors, dash board, deluxe steering wheel, lower portion of console, boot cover, seats, and door cards that were all white.  This picture clearly shows the white sun visors, white steering wheel, white boot and the top of the white dash board.   While I can’t make out any different “air scoops” on the hood from the picture of the car in Chicago, it did have a standard SS hood on it when it was shown in Detroit.  The wheels are the only major difference.  At the Detroit Auto Show the car was displayed with the optional Rally Wheels with white wall tires but in Chicago the car appears to be wearing American Racing “Daisy” wheels with red line tires. 

On a different note, I’m not sure why they would choose to display the car with only one of the headlight doors open.  Possibly this was a failure of the door cover to shut after a performance of the cars features was given.
 

[SMKZ28]

I know of one more documented public appearance of this Camaro.  From Friday, May 12th through Wednesday, May 24th, 1967 Chevrolet chose to display a collection of its Auto Show “Dream” cars, including three Camaros, in its own corporate headquarters located in Detroit, Michigan.  An article entitled “GM BUILDING DISPLAYS CHEVY DREAM CARS” on page 18 of the Saturday, May 13, 1967 edition of The Detroit Free Press mentioned, “a display featuring seven Chevrolet ‘dream’ cars opened Friday in the East Exhibit Hall of the General Motors Building.  The exhibit, highlighted by the low-slung, rear-engine, experimental Astro I which was first shown at the recent International Automobile Show in New York, will continue through May 24. Besides the Astro I, the display includes the ‘Royale,’ described as perhaps the most luxurious Chevrolet ever built a four-door model featuring a special limousine interior; Capella, a specially trimmed Caprice coupe; Cherokee, a specially styled Camaro; Cabriolet, a high performance version of Camaro; and the Californian and Golden Cameo, a two-in-one exhibit including a pearl yellow Camaro mounted on a special trailer attached to a custom Chevrolet pickup.”

Picture is courtesy of The Supercar Registry member ‘PeteLeathersac’ at www.yenko.net

[ZLP955]

That would have indeed been an embarrassment if one of the RS headlight doors stuck while it was on display; perhaps the PR Team's answer would have been that it was purposely displayed like that to simultaneously show the different appearance of an open headlight and a closed one?

[67conv6cyl]

I noticed before the first time I had seen  pictures of this car with the door open that this car has no vin#
However the pilot assembly cars had vin#.....Anybody have any idea why that is?

[Jon Mello]

At the Detroit Auto Show the car was displayed with the optional Rally Wheels with white wall tires but in Chicago the car appears to be wearing American Racing “Daisy” wheels with red line tires.

American Racing did not come out with the "Daisy" mag until 1969 so I'm sure these must be the more traditional 5-spoke mags but the angle of the shot is playing tricks.

[169INDY]

Remember Mike, this is a SHOW CAR.  Lots of stuff on these cars was not available on production cars.
[/quote]

Interesting "GLOSS" level on the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Show Car

[Vince]

Love the white interior; probably my favorite interior color.  I know it would probably be a pain keeping it clean, but I wish manufacturers still offered white interiors today.  Even bright red, bright blue, and gold. 

[SMKZ28]

At the Detroit Auto Show the car was displayed with the optional Rally Wheels with white wall tires but in Chicago the car appears to be wearing American Racing “Daisy” wheels with red line tires.

American Racing did not come out with the "Daisy" mag until 1969 so I'm sure these must be the more traditional 5-spoke mags but the angle of the shot is playing tricks.

American Racing did not come out with the "Daisy" mag until 1969 so I'm sure these must be the more traditional 5-spoke mags but the angle of the shot is playing tricks.
[/quote]

Thanks for that info Jon, I did not realize that.

[maroman]

To me they look more like the Libre American wheels. The spoke are a little different then the 200s. But I don't know when they came out. I bought new 200s  in '72.

[KurtS]

....pictures of this car with the door open that this car has no vin#
However the pilot assembly cars had vin#.....Anybody have any idea why that is?

It's almost for sure a production car. My guess is that it got painted when they reshot the car with the custom blue.

[bcmiller]

A close up view of the original high resolution picture confirms that it does have a VIN tag that was painted over. The actual VIN is not readable.

Troy thinks that the color MIGHT be a 1967 Cadillac Firemist color - Atlantis Blue. 

It almost certainly has a show quality paint job on it, thus the higher gloss of the blue. Also note the matte finish of the tail pan.

[Jon Mello]

Improving the contrast makes the VIN tag show up better. Doesn't look like a typical VIN though. Looks like large numbers that might say BA 538 or something to that effect.  Maybe 34538?

[bcmiller]

Jon I will try to look again later today and try some different enhancements and filters on the door jamb area.

Updated May 1 ****

Tag does not look like a normal VIN tag, but it is not readable from the pics I have.

[SMKZ28]

Found evidence of another documented appearance of this car at a public showing between August 4th and the 13th 1967.  It appears in a blurb announcing the appearance of the 1967 Waikiki show Camaro at the Grand Opening of the Cincinnati Convention Hall.   It states, "the Chevrolet Cabriolet, a companion unit, will also be featured for the first time in Greater Cincinnati."

Clipping from the July 30, 1967 edition of The Cincinnati Enquirer.

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