1967 "Pilot" cars

[bertfam]

Someone asked about the 67 Pilot cars, so here's the info pulled from the old USCC March/April 1995 edition.

Ed

[bertfam]

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[Mark]

I'm just looking at the Fisher body numbers, and the 3 from LA, are DD55LA, DD57LA, and DD59LA.  Seems to coincide with the 59 cars mentioned in the Destination list above. The Norwood ones all carry a DDxxD number, how did Norwood become designated as the "D" plant, one would have thought the body tags should have been DDxxN.  Cool stuff, note the 283 engines in a couple of the Norwood cars, and the one going to engineering to be shipped in "prime".

So if these cars were being assembled in May of 66, what was Norwood and LA building at that point?  Was the plant already in the process of being converted for Camaro production that early (there was still 3 months at least of 66 production time left), or was there just some small parallel assembly line for these 59 cars, or were they hand built in some corner of the plant to bring the senior staff and line personnel up to speed on what was coming?

[Mark]

Heres some relative dates out of the Norwood Ohio Historical society pages (the City, not the GM plant):

1966 (June 28)
Chevrolet General Manager E. M. "Pete" Estes announces that a new car named Camaro will be built at two plants — Van Nuys, California, and Norwood, Ohio.

1966 (August 11)
The first Chevy Camaro is driven out of the Norwood assembly plant.

[bcmiller]

I read over all of the options.  Very, very interesting.  I also think it is cool that some of the cars were built with "Show Paint Required".  I wonder what was required for that?  Wet sand, buff and polish?

[festival]

For those seriously interested-Pilot related information and announcements can be found here:   http://camaropacecars.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=8470019733&f=6211035326&m=3631079746&r=5121035846#5121035846

[Mark]

I see no info there, just advertising, if you want to discuss the cars we are all ears, but otherwise your not helping the hobby, and that's what its all about.

[festival]

I see no info there, just advertising, if you want to discuss the cars we are all ears, but otherwise your not helping the hobby, and that's what its all about.

You continue to roll out the welcome carpet.  I really appreciate you letting me know how you feel.

I will not have to discuss it here.  Soon the information will be made public-then you can spend all the time you want analyzing the data (when someone who was there) gives you a complete copy. 

[Mark]

Thanks for your assistance.

[festival]

Glad to help

[KurtS]

Guys - stop the sniping back and forth.

Back to the topic:
Note that these are pre-production units and not saleable, hence no VIN.
Interesting that they went to the proving grounds with show paint. Obviously they weren't using them for any corrosion or durability testing!

[MO]

And really interesting options; a lot of head rests, and a couple tape decks!! The car in primer shows Butternut Yellow in the paint code. This is all very interesting to read. Thanks Ed!

[Mark]

Does anyone know what facilities were at the final destination locations?  All the LA cars ended up in Memphis TN, after going to Kansas city.  What was in Memphis back in 66?