1969 Camaro Cutaway Display 'Double-Header'

[ZLP955]

With all the great recent threads of various concepts and show cars, I'm wondering if anyone has more details of the 1969 Camaro cutaway display that was known as the 'Double Header'. It involved 3 motorised turntables, with a LeMans Blue coupe body that alternated between 2 different front ends, showcasing the standard and RS styling, and a cutaway 350 engine and transmission.

This display was apparently built by GM to promote the updated 1969 styling, and appeared at some major shows before ending up down here in Australia. It has been suggested that the car was displayed at one of the big Australian Motor Shows (Sydney or Melbourne) but was then considered to have done it's job and not worth the expense of returning it.

Whatever the circumstances, fast-forward over 30 years later, and a well-known local Camaro and Firebird guy had a tip-off about the car, which had been discovered in a junkyard; he checked it out and realised that it was something special. He bought the car and everything he could find in the yard that looked like part of the display, and then through contacts in the US, sold it all to Rick (former owner of Rick's Camaros, before the sale to Eckler's) of CHQ. A full restoration to the display condition then began once the car arrived in Atlanta GA, but I've been unable to find out any updates since this:
http://ricksclassics.com/restoration/00-Restoration/1969%20Camaro%20Double%20Header.html
and this page on carsinbarns.com:
http://www.carsinbarns.com/bowties%20in%20barns/pg30.html
And finally a photo of the car as displayed.
<Kurt updated with the same picture, but the original GM photo.>

[bcmiller]

Tim I was going to post about the cut away cars today or tomorrow.

[ZLP955]

Great! Look forward to whatever info you have Bryon, was there more than one cutaway?

[bcmiller]

Tim, yes each year had at least one.

[bcmiller]

Here is the original photo of what you posted.  Photo credit to GM.

I will try to do a few cropped closer up photos. 

67 and 68 will probably get posted tomorrow or Monday.

[bcmiller]

Two more.  Photo credit to GM.

Partial car on the right is a 6 cylinder.  The one on the left is an RS/SS 350.

[ZLP955]

Bryon do you have any info on which shows the display was featured at?

[bcmiller]

I am still looking, but the pic had no information attached with it.

[VINCE Z28]

Tim click on your first link for Ricks , go to What it is ,and how it works. Then click on MORE it will tell you more on this.

[ZLP955]

Thanks for pointing that out Vince! I only found that URL just before posting to start this thread, and hadn't spotted it had further links from the main page..... duh.

[ZLP955]

Interestingly the main page for Rick's Classics shows this display car to have been sold..... wonder where it is now, and if the restoration is finished yet.

[SMKZ28]

The first evidence of the Double Header 1969 Camaro appearing at an auto show comes from a picture taken of the display at the 12th Annual New England International Auto Show.  This was held at the War Memorial Auditorium in Boston, Massachusetts between Saturday, October 26th and Saturday, November 2nd, 1968.

Photos:
1 & 2) came from Ebay
3) worthpoint.com

[SMKZ28]

It also appeared at the Detroit Auto Show which took place at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan in late November/early December 1968.  Notice Pete Estes standing inside the display in the first picture.


Photos:
1 & 2) worthpoint.com
3) mustangsandfords.com

[SMKZ28]

A picture taken at the 61st Chicago Auto Show seems to indicate that it appeared at this event as well.  The back of what looks to be the Camaro Double Header seems to be at the top right side of the first picture.  Notice the dark colored Camaro coupe with a white vinyl top above the Chevelle and Z28.  It seems to be pointed upwards at an angle, which leads me to believe that this is the Camaro Double Header.  This event took place March 8-16, 1969 at the International Ampitheatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Photos:
1) https://www.chicagoautoshow.com/history/#1969
2) cropped version of #1
3) https://www.chicagoautoshow.com/history/#1969 

[SMKZ28]

The Camaro Double Header was also displayed at the New York International Auto Show.  This event was held at the New York Coliseum April 5-13, 1969.

Photos:
1) https://library.revsinstitute.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=275246&collection=p17257coll1
2) Ebay

[SMKZ28]

Apparently the Camaro Double Header was also displayed at local Chevrolet Dealers.  Here is a color picture of the display at Serra Chevy in Nashville, Tennessee.  I found it a while ago on Facebook.

I believe they made more than one of the 1967 Camaro "Cut-Away" cars so they might have also made more than one of these 1969 Camaro Double Headers.

[SMKZ28]

The write up on the car which is posted in the first link indicates that 8 were built.  It states that "Seven of these “Double Header” Camaro Exhibits toured and remained in the USA....one was sent to tour the Australian continent where Camaro’s were then, and remain today....hot!"

http://ricksclassics.com/restoration/00-Restoration/1969%20Camaro%20Double%20Header.html

[SMKZ28]

I just found another picture of the Camaro Double Header at the Indianapolis Auto Show.  I believe this event took place January 1-10, 1969.

worthpoint.com

[cook_dw]

Apparently the Camaro Double Header was also displayed at local Chevrolet Dealers.  Here is a color picture of the display at Serra Chevy in Nashville, Tennessee.  I found a while ago on Facebook.

I believe they made more than one of the 1967 Camaro "Cut-Away" cars so they might have also made more than one of these 1969 Camaro Double Headers.

Very cool.  Serra is still in business today.  I assume they moved to their current location after this photo.  Also I would have thought they would have went to EB Smith, Capitol or one of the other larger dealerships at the time.  Or maybe they did those as well. 

[ZLP955]

Thanks for posting all those pictures Scott, very interesting. Those moving displays must have been impressive indeed to see up close.
I'm wondering what the cost of building each of the 8 displays would have been, and especially for the one that was shipped down here. It seems strange to me that GM targeted Australia, where only a handful of 'new' Camaros were sold (due to prohibitive RHD conversion costs) and not the European Motor Show circuit; given the relative proximity of London, Paris, Geneva, Rome etc and the fact that there was an established market there via GM Suisse and Antwerp assembly......

[crossboss]

Thanks for posting all those pictures Scott, very interesting. Those moving displays must have been impressive indeed to see up close.
I'm wondering what the cost of building each of the 8 displays would have been, and especially for the one that was shipped down here. It seems strange to me that GM targeted Australia, where only a handful of 'new' Camaros were sold (due to prohibitive RHD conversion costs) and not the European Motor Show circuit; given the relative proximity of London, Paris, Geneva, Rome etc and the fact that there was an established market there via GM Suisse and Antwerp assembly......

My 'take' on the limited Australian market, as you mentioned the costs involved to RHD conversion would be one. However, remember the Aussies were producing their own 'Muscle Cars', like the extremely popular Falcons at that time. Sales from this brand of competition would be tough, in my opinion. That said, a few American cars were imported like the ever popular Camaro and Mustang.

[SMKZ28]

Thanks for posting all those pictures Scott, very interesting. Those moving displays must have been impressive indeed to see up close.
I'm wondering what the cost of building each of the 8 displays would have been, and especially for the one that was shipped down here. It seems strange to me that GM targeted Australia, where only a handful of 'new' Camaros were sold (due to prohibitive RHD conversion costs) and not the European Motor Show circuit; given the relative proximity of London, Paris, Geneva, Rome etc and the fact that there was an established market there via GM Suisse and Antwerp assembly......

Thanks Tim.  Perhaps they did also send one of the 8 to the European market.  I have not been able to find any photos of the display at any of the large European shows but that doesn't mean that it wasn't there.

[KurtS]

I remember talking with Shane when he first found the car. That was 20 years ago!!  My notes say that the car was converted to RHD in 69. No trim tag, multileaf rears and plastic front springs. Front clip was in a museum and rear clip in a junkyard. I kinda think one of the engines was in a shop class, IIRC.
Here's another shot of the 69 Chicago show that shows the cutaway car.
And a shot I grabbed years ago (credit unknown). Notice the flash lights up the battery and the tire stencil. And this trans has a chrome yoke. In other pics, it's missing.

[cook_dw]

Was the blacked out PA2 covers ever offered by GM on other models? 

[ZLP955]

That's interesting to hear about the RHD conversion, it still looks LHD in the 'as-found' condition shown in the photos at the bottom of http://ricksclassics.com/restoration/1969%20Camaro%20Double%20Header/Aussie-Arrival.html

[KurtS]

I know. That's what my notes said. I'd have to dig to find the 20 year old email exchange with Shane....
And seems unlikely if it was just a show piece.

[SMKZ28]

I just found this fantastic ad for the 1969 Chevy Show featuring the 1969 Camaro Cutaway Double Header display. 

It is currently for sale on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/VERY-RARE-1969-RS-SS-CAMARO-CUTAWAY-CAR-CHEVY-SHOW-DEALER-AD/352658337430?hash=item521c132e96:g:pGAAAOSwj61crOkv

[WorkinProgress]

A friend of mine drove to New Jersey last year to buy some NOS Chevelle parts. Come to find out the guy had a Cutaway '69 Camaro. VIN is N500024. Story goes, Chevrolet donated it to a school. Guess over the years it somehow was put behind a false wall. Contractors were doing work and said the measurements didn't add up. They took the wall down and found the car.

Was told the Cutaway in Australia is N500046.

                                                             - Warren

[ZLP955]

Was told the Cutaway in Australia is N500046.

What a great find Warren!
I hadn't heard the VIN of the Australian-found cutaway before, only that it was within the first 50. I know the guy that found and saved the car, and ended up selling it to Rick for restoration. There's some interesting pictures and details available of that process here: http://ricksclassics.com/restoration/00-Restoration/1969%20Camaro%20Double%20Header.html
From the 'main page' link, it appears that Rick has sold the cutaway car.

[KurtS]

Merged the posts.
Warren,
What condition is the cutaway in? Hadn't heard of another one surviving....

[WorkinProgress]

Kurt,

Not sure on the condition. Sent you an email.

                                   - Warren

[SMKZ28]

LOOK what appears in the latest edition of Hemmings Muscle Machines (pg 40-48, April 2021).

This is not the Australian one, it is the one found at a school.

[SMKZ28]

...and the rest.

[69Z28-RS]

Here's a current Hemmings article on the 'Cutaway Camaro'...  from my email today!

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/bowtie-double-header?refer=news&utm_source=edaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021-03-26

This article states that Rick George bought the one found in Australia...?

[MO]

Please remove if inappropriate.

https://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/store/content/20479/1969-Chevrolet-Camaro-SS-Cut-Away-Display-Car/

[camaronut]

I think I would spend my 1.25mil on something else.
Now - if I only had 1.25 mil.

[KurtS]

Photo Credit: Heartbeat City.
Note the plastic ps cap.

[crossboss]

I think I would spend my 1.25mil on something else.
Now - if I only had 1.25 mil.

+2, agreed. Not taking anything away from this neat cut a way display set up, 'I' would buy a fleet of running Muscle Cars instead. Just me...

[SMKZ28]

It will be up for auction (no reserve) at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2022.  It is lot #1369: https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/SS-CUTAWAY-COUPE-251454

UPDATE: Sold for $385,000

[SMKZ28]

February 1969

1) Goodwin Chevrolet: Longview News Journal (Texas) February 6, 1969
2) Hooker Vandergriff Chevrolet: Fort Worth Star Telegram (Texas) February 21, 1969
3) Palm Springs Mall, Courtesy of Stack Chevrolet: The Desert Sun (California) February 25, 1969

newspapers.com

[SMKZ28]

March 1969

1) Fremont Hub Shopping Center: The Argus (California) March 22, 1969
2) Ferris Chevrolet: The Daily Reporter (Ohio) March 26, 1969

newspapers.com

[SMKZ28]

April 1969

1) University Plaza Mall, courtesy of Poudre Valley Motors, Inc.: Fort Collins Coloradoan (Colorado) April 10, 1969
2) Staunton Plaza Shopping Center: The Daily News Leader (Virginia) April 24, 1969

newspapers.com

[SMKZ28]

June 1969

1) Mills Chevrolet: The Rock Island Argus (Illinois) June 4, 1969
2) Festival at Landis Park, courtesy of Yank Chevrolet: The Daily Journal (New Jersey) June 19, 1969

newspapers.com

[SMKZ28]

July 1969

1) East Mills Shopping Center, courtesy of Keith Marsh Chevrolet: St. Joseph News Press (Missouri) July 2, 1969
2) Capitol Chevrolet: The Austin American (Texas) July 8, 1969
3) Wayne Larson Chevrolet: Fremont Tribune (Nebraska) July 9, 1969

newspapers.com

[SMKZ28]

August 1969

1) Twin Lakes Center, courtesy of Wichita Chevrolet Dealers: The Wichita Eagle (Kansas) August 22, 1969

newspapers.com

[SMKZ28]

November 1969

1) Roebuck Shopping City, courtesy of Birmingham Chevrolet Dealers: Birmingham Post Herald (Alabama) November 28, 1969

newspapers.com