blackout rear tailpan

[tom]

What magazine writer, or at least what magazine?

[Observer]

The SS396 used a signature blacked out rear tail panel on both Camaros and Chevelles starting in 1967.  This was to denote a Super Sport 396 model.  However, there are variations when it comes to Camaro PCs.
Jerry 

Hello Jerry!
When and where did you find this information? What is the source for corroboration? The magazine writer scoffed at this assertion.

The blackout tailpans on 67 396 Camaros and the pace car exception to that are documented by GM paperwork and backed up with original paint cars. This is a pretty basic fact.

Some might say, pretty basic fact. When asked by a reader about this feature, the magazine answered, "Frankly you've made our day around the offices at ---. The writer stated that,"We've never heard of any such notion. You should take solace (and sleep) in the fact that had Chevy made such a color difference for a big block, it would be a well-known fact and a badge of no small distintion at car shows."

[bertfam]

I hope to God that magazine is Ladies Home Journal, Teen People or Cosmopolitan, because if it's not, and it's a major automotive magazine, it's sad to see the state automotive journalism has become.

Here. This is from the August, 1967 Dealer Showroom Album, a publication CHEVROLET (a division of General Motors) produced to show the dealers what was (and was not) available on the upcoming Chevrolet models. I suggest you print this out and send it to this "expert". Make sure he examines the information I have circled. You might also want to have him check his archives, because most major automotive magazines that did reviews on these cars when they were new made note of the fact that big block Camaros came with the blacked out tail pan. Of course, this all hinges on the fact that this guy actually knows how to read.

What magazine writer, or at least what magazine?

I too would like to know exactly what magazine this came from so I can cancel my susbcription.

Ed

[Jerry@CHP]

I suspect that these critics were not around when these cars were new.  Common knowledge if you grew up with these cars in the 1960s.

Jerry

[Observer]

I suspect that these critics were not around when these cars were new.  Common knowledge if you grew up with these cars in the 1960s.

Jerry

Since you chimed in, I guess it's ok to tell!

[bertfam]

Well, I'm not surprised. CHP has been going downhill for several years now. I cancelled my subscription to that rag many years ago. Too bad they don't research the facts before they publish misinformation.

Ed

[Jerry@CHP]

That's Chevy High Performance Magazine, not my company, Camaro Hi-Performance, same initials.

Jerry

[68Zproject]

I'm sorry Jerry, but I got a little chuckle out of that one.

[firstgenaddict]

The few times I have picked it up in the last 2 years I have been disappointed by the mis-information represented as fact... 

[Observer]

That's Chevy High Performance Magazine, not my company, Camaro Hi-Performance, same initials.

Jerry

Whoa, my mistake and I'm sorry for any inference I caused that may have implicated you in my search for an answer to the offending writers misinformation. As an addendum I include a pic of one source of the info for corroboration.

[KurtS]

That may be a reprint of an old letter. I recall a very similar letter & answer many years ago.

[Buddy]

Ok ..now I am confused???  My 67 RS/SS 396 is Madeira Maroon, I thought it wasn't a black tailpan. Is it or Isn't it?

Thanx
Buddy

[bertfam]

For 67 396 cars, all colors except black got the black-out tail pan. However, since your car is also a Z22 (RS), it did NOT get the black-out body sill.

From the CRG Paint Applications:

There was also a paint color exception for the SS-396 tailpan black-out, but it was limited to black vehicles. In other words, only black (and special models like Z11 and Z10) SS-396 cars did not receive the (semi-gloss) blacked-out tailpans.

You can read more about this HERE.

Ed

[tom]

I do subscribe to the mag, and dont recall reading that statement.

[jdv69z]

As one who is close to Jerry's age and also saw many of these cars with the black tail panel from new, I can't believe this is even being disputed.

Jimmy V.