Author Topic: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows  (Read 5590 times)

SMKZ28

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1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« on: January 13, 2020, 04:05:05 PM »
A few years ago I was planning to follow up my thread on Camaros at 1966 & 1967 Auto Shows with separate threads on 1968 and 1969 but my computer crashed and I lost all of my documents and files pertaining to this information.  Luckily my photo collection was able to be salvaged.  Anyway, while searching for something else on the internet I came across a picture that has come to light since I performed all of that auto show research.  The picture is of the rear of the 1969 Jean-Claude Killy (JCK) Z28 concept car that appeared at both the 61st Chicago Auto Show (March 8-16, 1969) and the New York International Auto Show (April 5-13, 1969).  The funny thing is the guy who posted it was able to connect the bits of scattered information located in a period magazine article on Killy written by Hunter S. Thompson like I had a couple of years ago to figure out that the JKC Z28 was painted a sky blue color, something I had not seen confirmed until I had done my research on the car. 

Jean-Claude Killy was a French Olympic gold medal winning skier who was a paid spokesman for Chevrolet in 1969 and 1970.  He appeared in television commercials, in print ads, voiced radio commercials and made appearances at Chevrolet displays at major Auto Shows among other things. 

The 1969 Camaro Z28 concept car that was made to appear with Killy had some interesting characteristics that made it stand out from normal production Z28's.  These include a roof ski rack and skis, rear snow tires, chrome rally wheels with no trim rings, molded in rear spoiler, molded in front and rear snow flaps, "seat covers made of Austrian ski sweaters," vinyl top, Endura front bumper, fender stripes, Z28 style stripes, Super Scoop hood, quad exhaust tips and JCK license plates.

While I can't confirm the following because of the loss of my computer files on the car, I did find a note where I had written that the JCK Camaro had a dark blue dashboard with wood grain, power windows and a light blue console.   Seems plausible considering that the color of the car was sky blue but I'm not sure where I found this information. 

The first two pictures appear on page 50 of The Great Camaro written by Michael Lamm.  The caption states, "Camaro studio turned out special Camaro for French ski champion Jean Claude Killy, with roof rack, built-in-spoiler.  Killy made Chevy ads at the time."  They were taken at the New York International Auto Show.  I found copies of them on the internet at www.tribuneauto.forumactif.com

The third picture is a cropped version of the second one showing the unique "sweater interior."

The fourth picture shows a young blonde woman named Linda wearing a Chevrolet Sports Department sweater leaning up against the rear of the JCK Z28.  It was taken at the Chicago Auto Show.  This is the photo that I had not seen before.  It appears here: https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2019/11/so-there-was-certainly-some-advertising.html


« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 06:44:58 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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2020, 04:07:42 PM »
Here is a picture of the Chevy display at the Chicago Auto Show.  You can see the unique molded in rear spoiler of the JCK Z28 in the bottom right corner of the photo.

It came from www.chicagoautoshow.com
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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2020, 04:18:32 PM »
Here is a picture of the Oldsmobile display at the New York International Auto Show.  In the top right corner you can see the rear of the JCK Z28 as it sits on display at the adjoining Chevrolet display. 

Use the magnifying tools to get a close up view here: https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=241196&collection=p17257coll1
« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 06:43:36 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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2020, 04:21:29 PM »
Here is a copy of a letter sent to Chevrolet dealers on behalf of Jean-Claude Killy explaining the "ski-tips" booklet entitled The Killy Way that will be handed out at the Chicago and New York Auto Shows.

I found it at www.thecamaro.com
« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 05:25:25 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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2020, 04:25:56 PM »
Here is what The Killy Way looked like.

These images came from ebay.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 05:25:58 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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2020, 04:29:19 PM »
1) The back page of The Killy Way. (ebay)

2) A photo of Jean Claude Killy and a bunch of autograph seekers holding their copies of The Killy Way.  It was taken at the Chicago Auto Show.  It came from www.chicagoautoshow.com
« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 06:46:50 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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2020, 04:36:47 PM »
As stated earlier in this thread we know that the JCK Z28 was painted a sky-blue color because it was documented in an article entitled The Temptations of Jean-Claude Killy written by Hunter S. Thompson.  This article appeared in the March 1970 edition of the magazine Scanlan's Monthly.  Notice how they misspelled "Chevvy"

The pictures are from www.library.sva.edu

You can read most of the article here starting on page 77: https://books.google.com/books?id=27TqzN6UfGkC&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=%22killy%22+camaro+auto+show&source=bl&ots=SlbtmU9leK&sig=ACfU3U1c0DL4hItDVixVqWioRgWpHX03bA&hl=en&ppis=_c&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiX2pSso4bmAhWCHjQIHSWMB-AQ6AEwFXoECA0QAg#v=onepage&q&f=false
« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 06:47:52 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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2020, 04:47:51 PM »
Joining Jean-Claude Killy as a paid spokesman at the Auto Shows was collegiate football star O.J. Simpson, yes that O.J.  Here is a newspaper ad explaining their appearance at the New York Auto Show.  The car in the ad is the Chevrolet concept car, Astro III.  The third picture shows them in a hotel meeting prior to the New York International Auto Show.

The first two came from www.worthpoint.com

The third came from ebay.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 05:26:37 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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2020, 04:50:30 PM »
Here is Killy and Simpson sitting inside the Astro III at the Chicago Auto Show along with a newspaper ad for their appearance at the vent.  Notice John Z. DeLoreon standing behind them.

They came from www.worthpoint.com

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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2020, 05:03:34 PM »
Jean-Claude Killy appeared in both print and television media helping to promote Chevrolet products.

Click on the following Youtube links to see television ads:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=lFoMcdlJvZI&feature=emb_logo

2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yImdLc8v_Vo&feature=emb_logo

Here are three magazine advertisements for the 1969 Camaro.

1) pinterest
2) wordpress.com
3) justacarguyblogspot.com
« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 05:26:59 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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2020, 05:14:40 PM »
Here is a photograph showing Jean-Claude Killy standing in front of what looks to be a 1969 Camaro SS.  According to the metadata it was taken in Stockholm, Sweden on February 23, 1969.  It looks like it spells Chevrolet on the front fender.  Not sure what the first word is.

See it here: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/jean-claude-killy-photographi%C3%A9-avec-un-gar%C3%A7on-pendant-sa-news-photo/693238468?adppopup=true
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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2020, 05:20:15 PM »
Five years ago, CRG member "abiddle" started a thread on some unique Chevrolet Sports Department items possibly relating to Jean-Claude Killy that he had found on ebay.  Here is how the seller described the items: "Original art for the Chevrolet Sports Department. Jean-Claude Killy was a spokesman in 1969 and appeared in several camaro ads, as well as touring chevrolet dealerships. I don't which advertising agency did this art and I don't know the purpose for the drawings or for whom they were given, but its clearly meant to commemorate the association of Killy and the Chevrolet Sports Department. Its a trifold with 3 separate drawings."

See it here: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=13937.msg121211#msg121211
« Last Edit: January 13, 2020, 06:50:16 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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2023, 01:48:54 PM »
Here is an article on the 1969 Chicago Auto Show from the March 9, 1969 edition of the Chicago Tribune that talks about the Killy Z-28.  It mentions, "a special 'Killy Z-28' is debuting in the show...The ski dream car has lockable ski racks, built-in boot racks, snow tires and other ski-oriented features, including an interior of Austrian ski sweater fabric."

newspapers.com
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: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #13 on: April 06, 2023, 01:51:36 PM »
This clipping from the April 4, 1969 edition of The Daily News refers to the Killy Z-28 that appeared at the International Automobile Show in New York.

newspapers.com

If anyone is wondering, I believe that the "Firebird Celero" show car mentioned in the "other General Motors displays" section of the article is the the car in the second and third images.

https://richardscarblog.com/2021/02/07/the-1969-new-york-auto-show/

http://pontiacformula.free.fr/en/firebird_1969.php
« Last Edit: April 06, 2023, 03:05:59 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

rlw68

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Re: 1969 Jean Claude Killy Z28 Concept Car from 1969 Auto Shows
« Reply #14 on: May 06, 2023, 01:01:10 PM »
Interior



Rob
1969 02D Norwood Z/28. Lemans Blue 715

 

anything