Author Topic: The First Camaro SS 396 (Camaro Cabriolet Dream Car)  (Read 9789 times)

bcmiller

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The First Camaro SS 396 (Camaro Cabriolet Dream Car)
« on: April 20, 2019, 01:11:53 AM »
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.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2023, 01:37:03 PM by SMKZ28 »
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

bcmiller

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2019, 01:12:38 AM »
More

Credit for pics and information to GM.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

bcmiller

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2019, 01:13:22 AM »
More

Credit for pics and information to GM.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

bcmiller

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2019, 01:14:05 AM »
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.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

Mike S

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2019, 01:31:31 AM »
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.
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

bcmiller

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2019, 01:42:46 AM »
And one of it at a show.  I am pretty sure Scott posted this pic previously.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

bcmiller

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2019, 01:43:57 AM »
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.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

Mike S

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2019, 02:04:41 AM »
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. 
67 04B LOS SS/RS L35 Hardtop - Original w/UOIT
67 05B NOR SS/RS L35 Convertible - Restored

bcmiller

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2019, 02:11:42 AM »
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.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

ZLP955

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2019, 04:45:37 AM »
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.
Tim in Australia.
1969 04A Van Nuys Z/28. Cortez Silver, Dark Blue interior, VE3, Z21, Z23, D55/U17, D80, flat hood.
Sold at Clippinger Chevrolet in Covina, CA.
AHRA Formula Stock at Lions Dragstrip, NHRA E/MP at Pomona Raceway

SMKZ28

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2019, 05:35:51 AM »
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
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

SMKZ28

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2019, 05:47:39 AM »
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.
 
« Last Edit: April 07, 2023, 01:39:00 PM by SMKZ28 »
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

SMKZ28

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2019, 05:55:48 AM »
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
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

ZLP955

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2019, 12:47:38 PM »
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?
Tim in Australia.
1969 04A Van Nuys Z/28. Cortez Silver, Dark Blue interior, VE3, Z21, Z23, D55/U17, D80, flat hood.
Sold at Clippinger Chevrolet in Covina, CA.
AHRA Formula Stock at Lions Dragstrip, NHRA E/MP at Pomona Raceway

67conv6cyl

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Re: The First Camaro SS 396
« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2019, 01:38:52 PM »
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?