1969 Z/28 RS 124379N603722 GM Corporate Car?

[Danzo]

https://www.volocars.com/auto-sales/vehicles/16302/1969-chevrolet-camaro-z-28-rs

[crossboss]

I have no clue IF it is a 'Brass Hat' car. That said, when you have to send your info to get a price from a wheeler dealer pitchman, you know its way overpriced.

[WorkinProgress]

Price in upper right hand corner says $99,998 or $1,040 per month.

You would think for that price, they could get grill emblem placement in the correct spot.

                                                               - Warren

[bcmiller]

Do your homework if considering a purchase from there. And have someone check your work too.

[KurtS]

Fake docs and a restamp.
IIRC, that car has already been returned at least once.
Corporate car? Strange name for a company-used car.

[69Z28-RS]

I've no idea on the paperwork, but the 'broach marks' on the engine pad did look a little 'made'... (too distinct to be factory broach marks)...  What about the cowl tag?   It 'looks' old/original to me but I'm not expert on the fake cowl tags...

OTOH...   it was built with a near perfect options list IMO...  with the only change I'd make being the comfortweave interior rather than the houndstooth...  and it's very pretty in it's cortez silver cloak... 

VOLO is 'part museum', and part 'classic musclecar dealership/consignment shop'...  It's an interesting place to visit regardless.   I went with a friend to buy a near perfect restored '55 Nomad a couple of years ago, and he was able to trade in a '55 Sedan Delivery, and they do negotiate...

GaryW

[crossboss]

FWIW,
I did own two 'Brass Hat' cars, one was a 1990 Pontiac Turbo Grand Prix, and a 1970 Shelby GT-500. The Pontiac was used by GM exces from the Thousand Oaks region (LA), and was sold through its dealer networks where I bought it. I purchased the Shelby from the original owner's wife (the husband was a Ford employee aka 'Brass Hat') in 1984. Anyways, the reason for my rambling, on the Shelby it was an unusual build from the norm. It had non production parts, and experimental items (in Ford speak called 'XE'). My conclusion is 'Brass Hat' cars can, and did have unusual parts/items assembled from the normal...at least from what 'I' have seen. Is it possible GM did this also? On this Camaro? OR as some stated its a fake?

[67conv6cyl]

I also currently own a 2003 Cadillac that was a ‘brass hat car” it has a second window sticker that has options that where not factory. These cars are not bought like your normal GM employee discount...these cars are delivered to dealership of the executive choice...however the dealership is only paid a small courtesy fee for delivery and prep.
Not all GM employees can get a car in this matter, only top executives can....I was told.
I inherited this car with all the paperwork from the original owner...in 2003 the 2 widow stickers combined totaled $55,000 which included a $4000 set of vogue rims and special gold line tires the sales price to the original owner was only $32,000.
I am wondering what they did in the late 60’s

[crossboss]

When I was looking at the Grand Prix, the dealer had 6, and the remaining 5 cars that were labeled 'Test Cars' from the GM branch. I inquired what that meant, and they said the 5 were magazine test cars. I drove one and it was fast. The car I eventually purchased was the 'Brass Hat' car with extremely low miles (around 50-60), and it was in much better shape (almost new) then magazine cars having over 10K-12K abused miles. The one I bought, was not nearly as quick as the others. Possibly the magazine cars were ringers?

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

GM 8th level and unclassified employee could order vehicles which they would drive for 3K miles and had the option to either purchase it or the vehicles would be offered for sale to salaried employees or sold to local dealers.  I remember when Hank Haga would visit the GMAD Van Nuys Plant from the GM Design Center which was nearby and always drove a Pontiac Trans Am.

[crossboss]

GM 8th level and unclassified employee could order vehicles which they would drive for 3K miles and had the option to either purchase it or the vehicles would be offered for sale to salaried employees or sold to local dealers.  I remember when Hank Haga would visit the GMAD Van Nuys Plant from the GM Design Center which was nearby and always drove a Pontiac Trans Am.

Mark,
Was the GM Design Center in Thousand Oaks?

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

Scott - Yes, Hank was in charge of the center, which was in Thousand Oaks.  I laughed when Hank told me that he sold the Ferrari 250 LM that he used to vintage race when he was working for GM in Europe and used the proceeds to buy a nice house in Encino!  Hank said he was concerned when he raced the 250 LM at Spa as it was mid-engine and if you blew the engine, the oil would get on the rear tires and make things difficult.  I once saw Hank driving a Ferrari on the San Diego Freeway, but would always drive that Trans Am to the plant and always enjoyed talking to the hourly employees whenever he had a chance. - Mark

[crossboss]

Mark,
Thanks for the info. I have always wondered who drove my 'Brass Hat' Grand Prix @ The Design Center. Who ever it was, did not put many miles on it.

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

I bought a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am that was a company car from one of the unclassified employees at Van Nuys and got it at a good price.  When I ordered a 1985 Corvette, back in those days, GM employees paid less than it cost a dealer.  Those were the days!

[crossboss]

I bought a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am that was a company car from one of the unclassified employees at Van Nuys and got it at a good price.  When I ordered a 1985 Corvette, back in those days, GM employees paid less than it cost a dealer.  Those were the days!

Mark,
Yep those were the days. When I bought the Grand Prix from Livingston Pontiac on Topanga Blvd. all of them were priced to sell. IF I remember, it was 10,998. That WAS over half off of a new one. I do remember the sticker on mine was nearly 26K!!

[Oldtimer]

I bought a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am that was a company car from one of the unclassified employees at Van Nuys and got it at a good price.  When I ordered a 1985 Corvette, back in those days, GM employees paid less than it cost a dealer.  Those were the days!

Mark,
Yep those were the days. When I bought the Grand Prix from Livingston Pontiac on Topanga Blvd. all of them were priced to sell. IF I remember, it was 10,998. That WAS over half off of a new one. I do remember the sticker on mine was nearly 26K!!

I bought one of the first edition Turbo Grand Prix’s from a dealer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of their lot.  Had 9 miles on the odometer.  If memory serves me right, paid close to sticker, but based on the initial reviews (including an engine that McLaren had breathed on), I had to have one.

Kept it until 2003 or so, had 150K miles on it.  Never touched the engine, but screwed up and put an aftermarket torque converter in it from a sketchy source and paid for it twice.

Really innovative car, with the heads up display and all.

[crossboss]

I bought a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am that was a company car from one of the unclassified employees at Van Nuys and got it at a good price.  When I ordered a 1985 Corvette, back in those days, GM employees paid less than it cost a dealer.  Those were the days!

Mark,
Yep those were the days. When I bought the Grand Prix from Livingston Pontiac on Topanga Blvd. all of them were priced to sell. IF I remember, it was 10,998. That WAS over half off of a new one. I do remember the sticker on mine was nearly 26K!!

I bought one of the first edition Turbo Grand Prix’s from a dealer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of their lot.  Had 9 miles on the odometer.  If memory serves me right, paid close to sticker, but based on the initial reviews (including an engine that McLaren had breathed on), I had to have one.

Kept it until 2003 or so, had 150K miles on it.  Never touched the engine, but screwed up and put an aftermarket torque converter in it from a sketchy source and paid for it twice.

Really innovative car, with the heads up display and all.

I agree. Should have never sold it also. Mine was a 1990 model, metallic black, tan (Camel) cloth interior. About 6 months after I bought it, I adjusted the boost control, removed the cat with a 'bypass' convertor pipe, replaced the thermostat with a restrictor ring, and K&N air filter. Boy, did it really wake up! Stone stock it went mid 15s, and after the mods it was 1.2 seconds quicker @ LACR. Launching it on the street from a standstill or hard accelerating out of a turn it was a handful with all the torque steer. People loved it, and always asked "What kinda car IS that?".

[69Z28-RS]

Hey!   you didn't buy a 'bypass pipe' (to eliminate the catalytic converter - that would be illegal!)...

Instead you bought a TEST PIPE....         (so you could make sure your catalytic wasn't plugged up!   
(I had to do that a few times myself!)...

[Oldtimer]

Hey!   you didn't buy a 'bypass pipe' (to eliminate the catalytic converter - that would be illegal!)...

Instead you bought a TEST PIPE....         (so you could make sure your catalytic wasn't plugged up!   
(I had to do that a few times myself!)...

It has been a few years (decades), but my recollection is that I had everything removed and had straight pipes back to the dual exhaust outlets.

Was interesting that it was louder at idle than under acceleration due to the turbocharger.

Had a local shop that would pass it for state inspection, and then I sold it.  Had to refund the buyer something like $600 to make it legal again.

[crossboss]

Hey!   you didn't buy a 'bypass pipe' (to eliminate the catalytic converter - that would be illegal!)...

Instead you bought a TEST PIPE....         (so you could make sure your catalytic wasn't plugged up!   
(I had to do that a few times myself!)...

It has been a few years (decades), but my recollection is that I had everything removed and had straight pipes back to the dual exhaust outlets.

Was interesting that it was louder at idle than under acceleration due to the turbocharger.

Had a local shop that would pass it for state inspection, and then I sold it.  Had to refund the buyer something like $600 to make it legal again.

Well boys,
My bypass pipe, oops sorry 'Test Pipe' was a bolt on deal. So, when I sold the car the cat was re-installed, and all of my mods were also put back to stock. Never failed an emission test, even in California!

[MO]

 Had a local shop that would pass it for state inspection, and then I sold it.  Had to refund the buyer something like $600 to make it legal again.
[/quote]

A friend with a Mustang had a similar issue when he sold it. Nearly cost him as much as he sold the car for to get to pass a smog test. His issue was more than just the exhaust though.

[crossboss]

Had a local shop that would pass it for state inspection, and then I sold it.  Had to refund the buyer something like $600 to make it legal again.

A friend with a Mustang had a similar issue when he sold it. Nearly cost him as much as he sold the car for to get to pass a smog test. His issue was more than just the exhaust though.
[/quote]




Thats insane. 'I' would have sold the car as a non running 'parts car' to avoid any of the smog garbage.

[MO]

Had a local shop that would pass it for state inspection, and then I sold it.  Had to refund the buyer something like $600 to make it legal again.

A friend with a Mustang had a similar issue when he sold it. Nearly cost him as much as he sold the car for to get to pass a smog test. His issue was more than just the exhaust though.

Thats insane. 'I' would have sold the car as a non running 'parts car' to avoid any of the smog garbage.
[/quote]

Unfortunately he sold it and the buyer finding out what it would cost him, came after him threatening legal action. Didn't matter that they agreed that it was sold as-is. My friend asked to void the deal and take the car back, but the guy wouldn't do it. He decided it was better to take the hit rather than fight it. In some states this would not have been an issue, but not CA.

[crossboss]

Had a local shop that would pass it for state inspection, and then I sold it.  Had to refund the buyer something like $600 to make it legal again.

A friend with a Mustang had a similar issue when he sold it. Nearly cost him as much as he sold the car for to get to pass a smog test. His issue was more than just the exhaust though.

Thats insane. 'I' would have sold the car as a non running 'parts car' to avoid any of the smog garbage.

Unfortunately he sold it and the buyer finding out what it would cost him, came after him threatening legal action. Didn't matter that they agreed that it was sold as-is. My friend asked to void the deal and take the car back, but the guy wouldn't do it. He decided it was better to take the hit rather than fight it. In some states this would not have been an issue, but not CA.
[/quote]




Interesting. IF your friend did not commit fraud, and IF the car was registered as 'Non-Op', 'I' would have told the buyer to pound sand. Non Operational registrations in CA. means the car is not running, drivable or qualifies smog on a sale/transfer. How do I know this? I used to live in Ca. and sold cars in that condition without any issues/problems. Remember, full disclosure is the key to success and piece of mind.

[KurtS]

When I ordered a 1985 Corvette, back in those days, GM employees paid less than it cost a dealer.  Those were the days!

A-plan has always been less than the dealer. The dealer gets the holdback, which is how they make a profit.

[MO]

Interesting. IF your friend did not commit fraud, and IF the car was registered as 'Non-Op', 'I' would have told the buyer to pound sand. Non Operational registrations in CA. means the car is not running, drivable or qualifies smog on a sale/transfer. How do I know this? I used to live in Ca. and sold cars in that condition without any issues/problems. Remember, full disclosure is the key to success and piece of mind.
[/quote]

He and the rest of us that knew about it learned a valuable lesson.

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

I bought a 1979 Trans Am with the Pontiac 400 engine from someone who lived in Santa Barbara County, which at the time did not require the bi-annual smog test.  The owner had bought the Trans Am for his son, who had removed the converter and put in a dual exhaust system.  Fortunately, the son had kept the converter and the owner reimbursed me for the cost to buy a replacement exhaust system, which I bought from Sears and was manufactured by Arvin.  I put the Trans Am on ramps and got out my hacksaw and replaced the exhaust system, which fit perfectly.  Years later, I did have to replace the original converter as it got to the point where the Trans Am wasn't going to pass the smog test.

[MO]

I bought a 1979 Trans Am with the Pontiac 400 engine from someone who lived in Santa Barbara County, which at the time did not require the bi-annual smog test.  The owner had bought the Trans Am for his son, who had removed the converter and put in a dual exhaust system.  Fortunately, the son had kept the converter and the owner reimbursed me for the cost to buy a replacement exhaust system, which I bought from Sears and was manufactured by Arvin.  I put the Trans Am on ramps and got out my hacksaw and replaced the exhaust system, which fit perfectly.  Years later, I did have to replace the original converter as it got to the point where the Trans Am wasn't going to pass the smog test.

That was a popular mod back then. I installed a test pipe and a few other parts that I got from the Macho T/A guys on my 79 Formula Firebird. I SO'd the car to get the WS6 package so I could autocross it. Would have bought a Z instead if they had offered that option. When it was time to replace the car I had a heck of a time removing the pipe to reinstall the converter due to rust/corrosion. I didn't want to burden someone else with that. Interestingly enough, it never failed a smog test without the converter.