Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Here is a picture of some of the holes where the rollbar mounted. Looks a little rusty there but it is basically surface rust, not rot. Fortunately the car did not spend a lot of time on the East Coast so it is in good shape rust-wise.

-Jon

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

A Harrison oil cooler was mounted to the driver's side of the radiator so it necessitated moving stuff like the voltage regulator over to the fenderwell. That where they put the remote oil filter mount also.

-Jon

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

This one has been damaged a bit on one side but here's the Harrison oil cooler, which was the type my car used.

-Jon

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Jon...a bolt in rollbar !! ???

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Well, what can I say? I didn't build the car. This was back when men were men... or maybe back when men were crazy. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

Never had a fuel cell in the car either, just a custom gas tank up inside the trunk. Fuel cells weren't mandated in the rule book until a couple of months after my car quit racing.

-Jon

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Jon,

I was glad to see you post the documentation for your #1 Z/28. You can never have enough documentation. It takes a lot of work to research a cars history and you have done a wonderful job.

Thanks again for helping me document my '67 DANA T/A Camaro.
Your information made it possible for me to find what I needed and helped to verify what I had.

Regards,
Mike https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Thanks, Mike. I was glad to help you out. It's all about preserving the history of the cars and helping out others when you are able.

-Jon

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Jon,awesome car and story. Your the man that can get it done right, can't wait to see it racing.

Don Stowers

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Bolt in rollbar? The problem with a camaro is there is no frame to attach to in the back 1/2 of the car so that would be the only way to attach one. With proper cross bracing it should offer enough protection to keep the roof off the drivers head.

He is lucky they quit racing it when they did or it would be a real mess.

Back in the early 70's the SCCA rules only required a front brace from the rollbar forward and then the rules changed about 1980 and they mandated a full cage. That would mean bars would have to come off the front subframe and punch through the firewall and dash following the roof line of the top of the car and attaching to the rollbar. When that happened to a subframe only car they were pretty cut up to get the car to fit the new rule.

Pantera

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Thank you very much, Don.

Pantera, regarding the bolt-in roll bar, I think Belair was probably just surprised it wasn't welded to the body. The 60s was a time of great transition in terms of what people were learning about horsepower, handling and safety. There were actually a few cars with cages in them in '67 but it was not widely practiced. I think people thought it added unnecessary weight but they weren't immediately picking up on the fact that the cages were tied into the suspension pick-up points and significantly helped the rigidity of the car and thus the handling.

You are right though, it is a good thing the car got pulled off the track when it did or there is a high percentage it would not be around or it would be very used up.

-Jon

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

It's surprising but....I guess it gets put in perspective when you look at Wild Willie Borsch's setup !!!

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

I know I'm a little late on this comment but...

You really can't get much rarer than...Z/28 #1

Unbelievable,incredible,outrageous...words cannot describe how great it makes me feel knowing this car is still on planet earth with us all to admire...

You are a very lucky man indeed.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

That car is one of the most significant pieces in automotive history, absolutely priceless https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

[ QUOTE ]
That car is one of the most significant pieces in automotive history, absolutely priceless https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

AMEN BROTHER! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

My first car a 67 camaro, second car 68 camaro ,i bought june 1978 in Oceanside Calif. or Camp Pendelton, i bought The Great Camaro book also ,which i still have along with my 68. Great story ,thanks for sharing.Wish you were closer id love to restore that car for you! I have one heck of a story to tell about a very significant camaro [ the last ZL1] which i hope ill get to tell one day,for now the owner privacy act is in effect.Thanks again for sharing and good luck finding that 68!

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Thanks, guys. Once again, I appreciate the nice compliments. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

-Jon

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Jon, I was curious how your Z is coming along. With the upcoming Z28 feature at the MCACN show, I couldn't help but think of your car. I truly can't wait to see the finished product.

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

It's in paint except for part of the front stripes. The engine and trans are in and the front and rear glass. Still a number of things to do though. Certainly will not be at that show but it will show up somewhere eventually.

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Hey Jon, not to change the subject on this awesome car, but, I see you have another car? 67 z street racer?? love to see a few pics of that one??

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Awesome find. I am glad you saved it.

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Thanks, Dana.

Max, my other Z is a maroon street car and I'll get started on that after finishing up the gold one.

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Cool Jon...awesome color maroon !! I know how it is redoing these cars... it takes a while..I am going on the 20 year resto. plan with my Z... haha

Good Luck..Can't wait to see them both someday !!!

..feel free to post some 'in-progress' pics. of number 1 !!!

..just to hold us over??

... that's coming from another real 67 Z fan-atic !!

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Maroon? Isn't that the rarest 67 Z color? You are a lucky man twice over. Actually more than that, how many 67 Z's have you owned?

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

One of the best cars on this site, was his M Green survivor. Bad ass car...still think of that car.

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Sierra Fawn is the rarest color and Madiera Maroon is the next rarest. To answer your question, I have owned 6 of these Z's and still have 2. The green one was an awesome car, but it has a good home. I'd love to still have them all but I don't have that kind of money.

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Wow, I didn't know a Sierra fawn Z had been found. That's cool. Best of luck with both your restorations. I look forward to seeing the end results in the future.

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Actually, no, a Sierra Fawn Z has not yet been found so that's what makes it the rarest of the 15 production colors. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1967Z28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sierra Fawn is the rarest color and Madiera Maroon is the next rarest. To answer your question, I have owned 6 of these Z's and still have 2. The green one was an awesome car, but it has a good home. I'd love to still have them all but I don't have that kind of money. </div></div>

Sierra fawn?? what color is that?? a light brown??

..you have me doubled in the Z count, Jon,..but I did own all 3 Z's at the same time.

..that green car was really awesome !!! I almost bit when you wanted to trade...I should..coulda... but that car belongs in a museum. ..for those who do not remember, it was radio /heater delet with factory 4:88's if I remember? And How many 67 Z's can be left with origina paint???
AWESOMEEEEEEEEEE !!

I think Jon..(and possibly Jerry M.) are the 2 Top 67 Z fan-atics in the world.

Good Luck with the two you have left !!

Can't wait to get mine done and maybe come up against your street racer some day !!! haha

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Max, Sierra Fawn is a light gold or beige color.

I did have three Zs at the same time also, a gold-on-gold no option car at the same time as my current two but that was just too many projects at one time so I sold the car to a local friend. My green Z had 4.10 gears (not 4.88s). There was a feature on it in this &quot;Member's Rides&quot; section at one time but it's gone now, for some reason.

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Jon, is Emerald Turquoise still a zero count?

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

My bad, you got me. There are no Emerald Turquoise '67 Zs accounted for yet either.

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Jon, thanks for the info. I can only speak for myself, but I find the survival stats interesting. It's always exciting when a new Z is discovered and you are obviously the man keeping track. Keep up the good work. Oh, one more question... What is the current number on survivors? Have we broke 200 yet?

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Wow, just reading this story for the first time. I can just feel the lump in your throat grow as you talked to the original owner!

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: Jon Mello's Z/28 #1
 

Jon, while grabbing some groceries this morning I picked up the October issue of Super Chevy. Inside there were pics from their Texas event, with an interior and an exterior shot of a Sierra Fawn 67 Z. The caption said the owner also had a Capri Cream 67 Z that he was showing. So I guess the only color left unaccounted for is Emerald Turquoise.