67 RS/SS convertible - back in the game.

[CantRepeat]

Like many others, I had my first Camaro back in the early 80s and abused the hell out of it. It was a 67 SS 4spd car that I just raced to death. I sold it 35 years ago when I joined the Army move out of SoCal.

I've been searching for about 2 years now and finally made a purchase.

It's a 2 owner car last sold in 86 I believe. Second owner does not seem to have any other documentation for it.

I've read a few post on this site that there may be a broadcast sheet tape to the top of the fuel tank(LOS car). I haven't had the opportunity to look yet.

VIN - 124677L120633  - someone posted something about a DB of VINs, does this happen to be in it?

With help from this site I've got this.


11B - Nov 2nd week

12667 - Convertible, custom interior

LOS - Van Nuys, California (suburb of Los Angeles)
797Z - Parchment custom buckets

C - Ermine White
1 - White Top

   
D - power convertible top
E - all tinted windows
L - fold-down rear seat
X - power windows

2
E - air conditioning
G - center console
M - Powerglide transmission (LOS - TH400 it is thought) I don't think it's a TH400
R - rear seat speaker

3
L - RPO Z22, Rally Sport Equipment
S - RPO Z23 option, interior decor

4P - correct code for SS 350

[169INDY]

Welcome Back!
Looks great, the Sheet on the top of a Fuel tank tends (is) a 1969 Model year thing.

You ARE going to have fun with that rag top for sure.

Jim

[maroman]

Sounds like a lot of options. Cool. Only way it could be t400 is if it was a 396.

[MO]

Welcome CantRepeat! Great looking car and nicely optioned, congrats for picking it up. There are a couple things I notice that you may or may not know. It appears to have two options on the car that are not on the trim tag. It looks like it has a remote outside mirror as well as bumper guards. No big deal and I certainly would not remove them. It should also have black pinstripes running from the front fenders to the rear as part of the RS option. Very nice looking car and I'm sure you will enjoy it!

[CantRepeat]

Yeah, if for sure is missing the stripes; kind of glad about that one. Even more glad it doesn't have the body side moldings.

It is missing the 4F and 5B. I'm not sure on the bumper guards but the car doesn't have a remote mirror. It actually looks like an aftermarket mirror to me. Has a little bowtie on it.

I did get a round about information about the first owner. Seems he died and the car was sold to the school teacher that I purchased it from. Was kind of hoping to get the PoP and window sticker but it doesn't look good at this point.

[67conv6cyl]

Air conditioned convertible with power window and power top.....nice colors....hard to beet that!!

[Petes L48]

 Very nice car.  If by body side moldings you mean the type that run from the back of the front fender, across the door, and stop at the dogleg in front of the rear wheel, those were a  common dealer installed, non GM item back in the day.  The mirror would not have had the bowtie, and it's too early for the console seat belt clips.  I'd consider getting the NCRS report to get the production date and dealer. The selling dealer could have added the guards, and it  was also common for owners to add items over time, ordering from the parts department or taking a trip to a salvage yard.

[buenymayor]

Great looking car, Tim. Congratulations on the purchase!

[CantRepeat]

Very nice car.  If by body side moldings you mean the type that run from the back of the front fender, across the door, and stop at the dogleg in front of the rear wheel, those were a  common dealer installed, non GM item back in the day.  The mirror would not have had the bowtie, and it's too early for the console seat belt clips.  I'd consider getting the NCRS report to get the production date and dealer. The selling dealer could have added the guards, and it  was also common for owners to add items over time, ordering from the parts department or taking a trip to a salvage yard.

I've order the report, thanks to a post on this website for the link and info. I'm fairly sure the car was sold at Good Chevrolet in Alameda Calif.

About the seat belt clips, you say it's too early 11B and should not have them. This brings up a question I'm still unclear on.

I understand normal calendar model year vs production calendar year. IE Jan to Dec vs Sept to July/Aug so in my cars case, 11B does that mean it was produced Nov 2nd week of 66 making it an early production car? With a serial number of 120633 out of some 220k produced it would have to be early in the production calendar.

Even though I've been a Camaro lover for 35+ years, I'm just starting to dig into all this information. I've been looking for a car for close to 2 years but just recently found CRG and all the wonderful data.

At 18 I wasn't too concerned about trim tags and options, other then an SS and 4 speed.

Like most, I sure wish I had my first one.

[CantRepeat]

Air conditioned convertible with power window and power top.....nice colors....hard to beet that!!

Yeah, the kid in me really wanted a 4 speed car. But, when I saw the power windows, power top, factory AC and how clean of a survivor it was, I figured I could live with the automatic. 

[67conv6cyl]

Well I’m sure it wasn’t cheap!

[maroman]

Nothing personal but I like this car much better. Besides the hoodlum in the other picture looks like trouble.

[CantRepeat]

Nothing personal but I like this car much better. Besides the hoodlum in the other picture looks like trouble.

No offense taken!

Where ever that guy went trouble always seemed to find him. Though, I heard he turned out ok. You just never know what direction life will take you.

TMI

[MO]

Tim,

Looking at that right jacket sleeve.....yeah, that kid turned out ok! Thank you for your service!

My bad on the mirror. It looks different to me in the first photo.

Yes, your car was built the 2nd week of Nov. 1966.

See this on mirrors:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=4959.0

See this on console clips:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=2270.0

Lastly, tell us about your first car too.

[maroman]

Amen to that, THANKS.

[firstgenaddict]

Wow great options and a killer color combo triple white is a desireable combo and not often seen.

[169INDY]

Tim, Great Pics Both. Vintage Youth & Service member: My Dad was E9 US Army (Korea era) & Reservist. Great Arm "Bling", & I am referring to your Stripes, Thank you for your service.
Tongue in Cheek  Go Navy, I am found of Both Branches.

Jim

[CantRepeat]

Tim,

Looking at that right jacket sleeve.....yeah, that kid turned out ok! Thank you for your service!

My bad on the mirror. It looks different to me in the first photo.

Yes, your car was built the 2nd week of Nov. 1966.

See this on mirrors:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=4959.0

See this on console clips:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=2270.0

Lastly, tell us about your first car too.

So the bowtie mirrors stopped in 66. I know it's not likely, but with a Nov 66 build date maybe it was put on at the factory even though no known installs exist.

Yeah, the seat belt clips don't seem to fit build date. I actually kind of wish it didn't have them.

Ah the first Camaro. I bought it from a friend out in Lancaster CA in the summer of 83. My girlfriend at the time hated it because I spent more time with the car then her.

It was an SS 4 speed car when I bought it and lots of street racing in SoCal at the time. There was also a drag strip down in Terminal Island in Long Beach CA I went to a lot. That poor car got a lot of abuse. By the time I sold it, it was a pretty racing 350 with a big cam, lots of head work, tunnel ram with two carter 625s. It also had an automatic I put in after I grenaded the clutch at the track. It was a pretty violent destruction that broke an ear off the trans. The interior had been removed as well.

I didn't know what a cowl trim tag was back then so I couldn't tell you what it actually had as options. When I joined the Army in 86 I had no place to store it so I had to sell. I regretted that decision the minute it rolled up on the trailer. After 23 years 3 months and 18 days I retired and figured I'd get a Camaro so I spent time off and on looking for something but didn't get serious about it until a couple of years ago. Of course I was amazed that current by prices which made me regret selling  it all the more. Like many others I entertained the idea of finding it but without a VIN or old license plate that seemed far fetched.

Thank you so much for the links. There is so much information here and has proven extremely useful in my search.

[67conv6cyl]

I had seen the car you bought for sale at a Chevrolet dealership advertising it online a few months ago...one of the nicest optioned 67’s that I had ever seen.
Now that I look am looking over the pictures you posted I realize it’s the same car!

Paul

[CantRepeat]

Was owned by the general manager's aunt since 86. She's a school teacher which is probably why it's in such good shape. I can't believe it sat for 4 months without being sold.

[maroman]

It was waiting for you.

[CantRepeat]

Was there ever an factory option for a headliner in convertibles?

[Petes L48]

Not in a first gen.  Can't say for other makes like Cadillac.

[SMKZ28]

Tim,

Looking at that right jacket sleeve.....yeah, that kid turned out ok! Thank you for your service!

My bad on the mirror. It looks different to me in the first photo.

Yes, your car was built the 2nd week of Nov. 1966.

See this on mirrors:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=4959.0

See this on console clips:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=2270.0

Lastly, tell us about your first car too.

So the bowtie mirrors stopped in 66. I know it's not likely, but with a Nov 66 build date maybe it was put on at the factory even though no known installs exist.

Yeah, the seat belt clips don't seem to fit build date. I actually kind of wish it didn't have them.

Ah the first Camaro. I bought it from a friend out in Lancaster CA in the summer of 83. My girlfriend at the time hated it because I spent more time with the car then her.

It was an SS 4 speed car when I bought it and lots of street racing in SoCal at the time. There was also a drag strip down in Terminal Island in Long Beach CA I went to a lot. That poor car got a lot of abuse. By the time I sold it, it was a pretty racing 350 with a big cam, lots of head work, tunnel ram with two carter 625s. It also had an automatic I put in after I grenaded the clutch at the track. It was a pretty violent destruction that broke an ear off the trans. The interior had been removed as well.

I didn't know what a cowl trim tag was back then so I couldn't tell you what it actually had as options. When I joined the Army in 86 I had no place to store it so I had to sell. I regretted that decision the minute it rolled up on the trailer. After 23 years 3 months and 18 days I retired and figured I'd get a Camaro so I spent time off and on looking for something but didn't get serious about it until a couple of years ago. Of course I was amazed that current by prices which made me regret selling  it all the more. Like many others I entertained the idea of finding it but without a VIN or old license plate that seemed far fetched.

Thank you so much for the links. There is so much information here and has proven extremely useful in my search.

Fantastic car!  Click on the following link to see photos of an early build 1967 Camaro RS convertible that was used in an official capacity during the Monterey Grand Prix held at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California on October 16, 1966.  It has the bowtie mirror, so it is likely that some early builds did receive this type of mirror.  Maybe your is one of them.  Maybe only California produced Camaros??  There is even some member chatter about it.

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=16339.0

[CantRepeat]

Tim,

Looking at that right jacket sleeve.....yeah, that kid turned out ok! Thank you for your service!

My bad on the mirror. It looks different to me in the first photo.

Yes, your car was built the 2nd week of Nov. 1966.

See this on mirrors:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=4959.0

See this on console clips:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=2270.0

Lastly, tell us about your first car too.

So the bowtie mirrors stopped in 66. I know it's not likely, but with a Nov 66 build date maybe it was put on at the factory even though no known installs exist.

Yeah, the seat belt clips don't seem to fit build date. I actually kind of wish it didn't have them.

Ah the first Camaro. I bought it from a friend out in Lancaster CA in the summer of 83. My girlfriend at the time hated it because I spent more time with the car then her.

It was an SS 4 speed car when I bought it and lots of street racing in SoCal at the time. There was also a drag strip down in Terminal Island in Long Beach CA I went to a lot. That poor car got a lot of abuse. By the time I sold it, it was a pretty racing 350 with a big cam, lots of head work, tunnel ram with two carter 625s. It also had an automatic I put in after I grenaded the clutch at the track. It was a pretty violent destruction that broke an ear off the trans. The interior had been removed as well.

I didn't know what a cowl trim tag was back then so I couldn't tell you what it actually had as options. When I joined the Army in 86 I had no place to store it so I had to sell. I regretted that decision the minute it rolled up on the trailer. After 23 years 3 months and 18 days I retired and figured I'd get a Camaro so I spent time off and on looking for something but didn't get serious about it until a couple of years ago. Of course I was amazed that current by prices which made me regret selling  it all the more. Like many others I entertained the idea of finding it but without a VIN or old license plate that seemed far fetched.

Thank you so much for the links. There is so much information here and has proven extremely useful in my search.

Fantastic car!  Click on the following link to see photos of an early build 1967 Camaro RS convertible that was used in an official capacity during the Monterey Grand Prix held at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California on October 16, 1966.  It has the bowtie mirror, so it is likely that some early builds did receive this type of mirror.  Maybe your is one of them.  Maybe only California produced Camaros??  There is even some member chatter about it.

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=16339.0

That's awesome!! So there is some validity to early cars having bowtie mirrors. I really appreciate your post and the link!!

[Petes L48]

They likely would have used up any leftover 66 model year mirrors into early 67 models, if the Chevrolet logo was the only difference between the old and newer.  Possibly just on the LOS cars, since they were assembling full size models there as well.  However, hard to say for a specific car, unless a survivor or having old photos of it.         

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

CantRepeat - My friend's first car was a 1968 Z28 that he bought in 1970 and although he remembers the CA license plate, neither of us ever looked at the trim tag.  As for the photo of you in inform, I recognize that you were a 1st Sgt. as my dad held the same rank when he served in the US Army during WWII.  You have a very nice Camaro that was built at the Van Nuys Plant, where I once worked. - Mark

[firstgenaddict]

I could be wrong as I am not near as knowledgeable about 67's as I am about 69's  -

But aren't there UOIT's/punch cards ? under the front carpet occasionally in 67's?

[Mike S]

I could be wrong as I am not near as knowledgeable about 67's as I am about 69's  -

But aren't there UOIT's/punch cards ? under the front carpet occasionally in 67's?

Hi James,
   I found the UOIT for my '67 04B LOS folded and taped  (1' wide black masking type of tape) to the hump by the shifter opening under the carpet. Inside it had the interior trim code tag and the LOS version of the PTB inspection punch tag ( that discussion can be found here:  http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=14547.msg128838#msg128838 ).
It had body color overspray on an edge so it looks to have been inside the body when it was sprayed.

Mike

[CantRepeat]

I could be wrong as I am not near as knowledgeable about 67's as I am about 69's  -

But aren't there UOIT's/punch cards ? under the front carpet occasionally in 67's?

Hi James,
  I found the UOIT for my '67 04B LOS folded and taped  (1' wide black masking type of tape) to the hump by the shifter opening under the carpet. Inside it had the interior trim code tag and the LOS version of the PTB inspection punch tag ( that discussion can be found here:  http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=14547.msg128838#msg128838 ).
It had body color overspray on an edge so it looks to have been inside the body when it was sprayed.

Mike

Be still my excited heart! I hope to find one as well!

[Petes L48]

I found these two Fisher Body inspection cards (front and back views) in my 11B LOS built about a week before yours.  I believe they were under the carpet or under the rear seat bottom.  Unfortunately, they are not for my car.  They must have been taking out the trash that day 

 

[MO]

I could be wrong as I am not near as knowledgeable about 67's as I am about 69's  -

But aren't there UOIT's/punch cards ? under the front carpet occasionally in 67's?

Hi James,
   I found the UOIT for my '67 04B LOS folded and taped  (1' wide black masking type of tape) to the hump by the shifter opening under the carpet. Inside it had the interior trim code tag and the LOS version of the PTB inspection punch tag ( that discussion can be found here:  http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=14547.msg128838#msg128838 ).
It had body color overspray on an edge so it looks to have been inside the body when it was sprayed.

Mike

Mine was in the headliner above the LH visor. It has black overspray; not body color.

[MO]

Tim,

Did you receive your NCRS report yet?

[CantRepeat]

Tim,

Did you receive your NCRS report yet?

I did. I was fully expecting to see Good Chevrolet in Alameda, near Napa CA. But that turned out not to be the case.

Order mine Feb 21st and it received it Mar 11th.

Dealer Code 483, zone 34.
Mel Smith Chevrolet Inc
San Luis Obispo, CA

[MO]

Nice. Why did you think it may have come from another dealer? It certainly could have been involved in a dealer trade which could be the reason for something unexpected. What was your production date?

[CantRepeat]

Nice. Why did you think it may have come from another dealer? It certainly could have been involved in a dealer trade which could be the reason for something unexpected. What was your production date?

The school teacher that I bought it from owned it since 81 and lived in and around Napa CA her entire life. I was "told" she bought it from owner #1 who also live in the area. Then there was a license plate frame on the Camaro that has Good Chevrolet, Napa on it. There was a car show tee shirt in the trunk along with some programs from car show the car was entered in.

While the two cities are in the same state they do seem a ways away from each other. But I was just working off of assumptions and conjecture.

I've got a friend running a title search for me in California but I'm under the impression it will only go back 10 years.

The official production date was 25 Nov 1966.

[MO]

Cool story on your cars ownership history. Hopefully the title search will give you some positive results. I definitely would not rule out a dealer trade from Mel Smith to Good. Might even have another dealer involved. Have you tried contacting the dealerships; if they are still around? So 11B is not the build week as your trim tag represents. I've read that November is a bit of an anomaly (for Van Nuys) in regards to production and reporting, so not surprising.

Let us know whatever else you find out. It might be surprising to you, but a lot of us find this kind of thing interesting.

[CantRepeat]

So is the 11B on the trim tag a Fisher date and the official production date a GM date?

Were the bodies assemble at a Fisher plant and shipped to Van Nuys or was all that done at the same plant?

Edit -

Fisher Body Division Plant, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, Opened 1947 with Plant Code #L, attached to Chevrolet Plant. Changed to GMAD in 1968 and was merged into the Assembly Plant.

So Fisher Body and GM Van Nuys were right next to each other. Odd that it would take a week for a car to travel that far.

[69Z28-RS]

So is the 11B on the trim tag a Fisher date and the official production date a GM date?

Were the bodies assemble at a Fisher plant and shipped to Van Nuys or was all that done at the same plant?

Edit -
....
So Fisher Body and GM Van Nuys were right next to each other. Odd that it would take a week for a car to travel that far.

The cowl tag was 'stamped/embossed' and installed by Fisher using information provided from the  'order of the car' and the date is a 'projected/anticipated assembly week.   The actual production date is when the completed car clears the production line (and probably heads for a short term storage lot waiting for transport to a dealer).  Like any 'plan', sometimes the dates are consistent, but at other times things could happen to affect the 'plan'...

Can you clarify your question about 'a week to travel that far'??    How far?

[CantRepeat]

So is the 11B on the trim tag a Fisher date and the official production date a GM date?

Were the bodies assemble at a Fisher plant and shipped to Van Nuys or was all that done at the same plant?

Edit -
....
So Fisher Body and GM Van Nuys were right next to each other. Odd that it would take a week for a car to travel that far.

The cowl tag was 'stamped/embossed' and installed by Fisher using information provided from the  'order of the car' and the date is a 'projected/anticipated assembly week.   The actual production date is when the completed car clears the production line (and probably heads for a short term storage lot waiting for transport to a dealer).  Like any 'plan', sometimes the dates are consistent, but at other times things could happen to affect the 'plan'...

Can you clarify your question about 'a week to travel that far'??    How far?

That far was in reference to the distance from Fisher Body to GM assembly before I found out it was on the same lot and probably used an internal transport system. Clearly it didn't take a week to go from one building to the next.

[69Z28-RS]

OK..   you were apparently referring to the discrepancy between the trim tag 'week' and the actual production date?   A week is pretty close.. as the 'planned' date may have been projected 4-6 weeks earlier at the time of order!     ie.  it's not a 'distance' issue... 

Generally when the Fisher Plant and the GM Assembly plant were on the same location, their buildings actually shared a 'wall', and a big door between them allowed the 'assembly line' to proceeed thru... 

[KurtS]

The trim tag date is for Fisher Body's use. It does not have any fixed connection to a normal calendar.

[MO]

So is the 11B on the trim tag a Fisher date and the official production date a GM date?

Yes, 11B is the week of Nov (2nd week) that Fisher anticipated starting the body assembly. For whatever reason, whether it was bad information, delay, order volume or other issues, your car was started much later. My guess would be more like 11D. The production timeframe was about four days or seven shifts. That information is found in this excellent report by JohnZ; http://www.camaros.org/assemblyprocess.shtml

As I understand it, the production date indicated on your NCRS letter should be the date that Chevrolet reported that final assembly was complete. The attached article link covers the entire process; I think it is a must read if you are at all interested in how the processes worked.