Racing shock absorbers

[Jon Mello]

Pages from the 1970 Auto World Sports-Racing Equipment catalog






I have found that the Koni 80-1931 shock for the Volvo Model 142 will fit
on early Camaros if you open up the hole in the lower control arm to clear
the slightly larger diameter of the Volvo shock. There may be other Koni
shocks that may also fit the early Camaro application. Does anybody know
of some?

[Jon Mello]

1969 Koni ad and decal

[OCTARD]

I recently noticed that a period looking "Vintage Mustang" double adjustable Koni shock absorber was offered on page 8 of the following Truechoice Racing Services Koni catalog.

I gave them a call yesterday and they said that they also make the front and back shocks for both first and second-gen Camaros. 

The original part numbers are stamped into the shock body, and they will come in the orange paint with period style wing logos.  They will not have the date code or wing that is stamped into the originals.

They gave me a price of $625/each.  That's all I know.  Please call Truechoice with any additional questions.

-Chad

[Jon Mello]

Chad, sharp eye and great research on your part. Thanks for calling them and for posting your findings here. It is really appreciated and no doubt will be a benefit to somebody wanting to restore their race car appropriately.

[Jon Mello]

Some Koni shock instructions, as seen here.

[Jon Mello]

1970 Koni catalog pages, courtesy of Franz Estereicher. Thank you, Franz!














These are from a 2005 Koni catalog.

[Jon Mello]

Koni double-adjustable shocks were the preferred shock-of-choice on all the Trans-Am cars back then. Here's a nice,
informative article on the double-adjustables from my Winter 1969 issue of 1001 Custom and Rod Ideas magazine.

[OCTARD]

Jon, thanks for posting that article from 1001 Custom and Rod Ideas on Konis.  The details within are helpful to a very broad spectrum of racing enthusiasts.

-Chad

[Jon Mello]

May 1967 Koni ad noting that Konis are "factory approved options" for Firebirds and Mustangs.
Note that the horizontal traction dampers are noted as being available for Mustangs but they
also became available for Camaro as well by the fall of '67.

[70L34]

I have a NOS set of Koni single adjustables from 1971. The seller advertised them as 'new in the box' so I was pretty surprised that they had sat around this long without being used.

[Jon Mello]

Nice score on those shocks. They are in pristine condition. Thanks for posting the photos.

[yenkomark]

 I found a similar deal 15 yrs ago when I was restoring my Yenko Stinger. Guy in Nebraska had new rear Camaro shocks , which work great on the Stinger with a bottom mount change

[Jon Mello]

Were you fully aware of that before you bought them? I suspect it must be hard to find any Corvair shocks,
let alone Koni Corvair shocks.

[yenkomark]

   Yes I was aware.   I have a large file on Koni products from the 60's and 70's. Since my race car only weighs about 2100 lbs, the valving for the rear of the Camaro is about perfect for the Stinger.   The 67 HiPo Dodge Dart I am restoring has Koni on it since new and I will be returning them to Lee Grimes at Koni in Kentucky for restoration soon.  Logan Dernoshek ( Warren's son ) has driven my car at Mid Ohio, Watkins Glen and several other Vintage events and compliments my setup as very predictable ( and fast )

[Jon Mello]

What's the story with the Dart? Is it an old road racer or one of those D-Darts that they made for drag racing? If you have anything
cool regarding Koni shocks that hasn't already been posted here, it would be great if you would share some photos of it in this thread.