Gorries Black Panther Camaro road test from the May '67 issue of Canada's Track & Traffic magazine, courtesy of Mike Scott (group/7).
The Black Panther package was available on any V-8 model, although I'm not sure about a convertible. There were even two '67 Z-28s
converted into Black Panthers. The car in the article is 427-powered although, for some odd reason, the engine shown is a small block.
(http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss309/1967z28/January%202014/TampTmay67cover_zps453deaba.jpg) (http://s586.photobucket.com/user/1967z28/media/January%202014/TampTmay67cover_zps453deaba.jpg.html)
(http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss309/1967z28/January%202014/panther-1_zpsd0623254.jpg) (http://s586.photobucket.com/user/1967z28/media/January%202014/panther-1_zpsd0623254.jpg.html)
(http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss309/1967z28/January%202014/panther-2_zps214dcd17.jpg) (http://s586.photobucket.com/user/1967z28/media/January%202014/panther-2_zps214dcd17.jpg.html)
(http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss309/1967z28/January%202014/gorriespantherad_zpsfc10dfab.jpg) (http://s586.photobucket.com/user/1967z28/media/January%202014/gorriespantherad_zpsfc10dfab.jpg.html)
Craig Fisher raced one of the Gorries Black Panther Z-28s in the Trans-Am series. This one came with a gold interior. The other car was
Craig Fisher's street Z-28 and it had a black interior. Craig sold it to Hugh Dibley over in England and Hugh turned it into a road racer.
It was sold to Pierre Du Plessis, who I have heard wrecked it in South Africa. If it was rebuilt, I don't know.
(http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss309/1967z28/January%202014/Daytona24HrCraigFisher_zps6ca0cb23.jpg) (http://s586.photobucket.com/user/1967z28/media/January%202014/Daytona24HrCraigFisher_zps6ca0cb23.jpg.html)
An article on Bob Simonen's Black Panther Camaro. He's the original owner!
http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-12-28/in-search-of-the-elusive-black-panther
Jon,
business week 's story claims ZL-1 427 in 1967, what is the story on that? Would you know what kind of " Mag" wheels they used?
Victor
The reference to a ZL-1 engine for 1967 is not correct. Somehow the author got some bogus information. An L-72 engine is what should have been mentioned.
As for mag wheels, the only ones I've seen on them were Magnum 500 "mag-style" wheels except for the two road racers, which used American mags.
Great stuff on a little known Camaro. That is why I love this site. Thanks Jon and Mike!
Gorries was a very cool dealership by Canadian standards .......... As teenager I remember visiting their used car lot and drooling over a large collection quality used Corvettes.
AL
Someone in Atlanta claimed to have one (for sale) not long ago.
here's a link to a pic of Dibley's ex Craig Fisher Black Panther in England, 1969 ? that is on the trans am face book page. hope the link works, if it's been seen before, apologies
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203365624096429&set=o.109038482465812&type=3&theater
Mike (group/7) in Canada
Nice article from the Windsor Star newspaper. Looks like other dealers paid Gorries to be a franchise and then could create their own Black Panthers from a car in stock or special ordered.
Was talking to friend about these cars tonight, here are a couple of things I have in my files, this is in the U.K, I believe to be the
one Jon mentions above with pic that went to Hugh Dibley. Is the info in the green square correct ?
Mike
2nd pic.
Mike
While searching found this ;)
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-black-panther-camaro.html
Mike,
Hugh Dibley did not drive the Camaro at Daytona. He was looking for a Z-28 to race and Penske's friend George Wintersteen put him in touch with Craig Fisher. Dibley bought Fisher's Black Panther street car less engine and this was coordinated through Wintersteen. I have Craig Fisher's letters documenting this. Here's a neat video of the '67 BOAC race at Brand's Hatch with some screen footage of Dibley. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov5ZHn7QkFs
It's interesting that Craig's BP has white pin stripes instead of the gold ones found on other BP's. For those interested in these cars, Bob's car above does not have correct/original BP emblems nor the correct/original 007 panel.