Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

Thanks to all who have responded here. Unfortunately sounds like nobody has any real history as to prior owners or originality of the drive train. My first impression after viewing the pics provided on Mecum's website are not great as I noticed the cylinder head discrepancy along with the missing smog system and the detail issues that are incorrect. I unfortunately was not planning on attending this auction so I was hoping for some info to surface (good or bad) to help out my friend who is interested in it.
Thanks, Chris

Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Don_Lightfoot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[quote=DW31S] I assume it should have a smog system. </div></div>

My thinking as well. Any Experts care to comment?

Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mr 707</div><div class="ubbcode-body">a pop is not a trusted document anymore due to boxes and boxes of originals found. Theirs a guy in florida who has an original machine who makes them and he has boxes of original unstamped nos booklets. WE all know who that is. hes been selling them since the late 80s </div></div> Actually we don't all know about it. This is the first I hear of this but I am not at all surprised.

Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: the427king</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No plug in end of aluminum head. </div></div>

Surprised more people didn't pick up on that.

Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frankk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mr 707</div><div class="ubbcode-body">a pop is not a trusted document anymore due to boxes and boxes of originals found. Theirs a guy in florida who has an original machine who makes them and he has boxes of original unstamped nos booklets. WE all know who that is. hes been selling them since the late 80s </div></div> Actually we don't all know about it. This is the first I hear of this but I am not at all surprised. </div></div>


The experts here are pretty good at seeing through the real protecto-plates and the fakes(newer issued)..... Although I am no expert, I have seen some that are just 'too new', especially the booklet..and many of the 'newer issued' seem to have 'many times' a vague address..like a Po box or highway number....researching the address on the protecto plates at the County hall of records is a good way to verify prior property/name ownership..I actually located the original owner of one of my cars by just writing a letter to the protecto-plate address. I also proved a protecto-plate for a 69 L-89 camaro false by looking up prior property ownership history...The owner of the property in 1969 was not the same name on the protecto=plate..a few other details also made it obvious that the protecto-plate and and tha car 100% not original/fake...

It would be nice to see all the paperwork on the car...and the VIN stamps also...I'm surprised noone knows any history on this car...

apparently some issues with correctness, but beautiful car though !!!! I'll take it !!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif[/img]

Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

The experts here are pretty good at seeing through the real protecto-plates and the fakes(newer issued)..... Although I am no expert, I have seen some that are just 'too new', especially the booklet..and many of the 'newer issued' seem to have 'many times' a vague address..like a Po box or highway number....researching the address on the protecto plates at the County hall of records is a good way to verify prior property/name ownership..I actually located the original owner of one of my cars by just writing a letter to the protecto-plate address. I also proved a protecto-plate for a 69 L-89 camaro false by looking up prior property ownership history...The owner of the property in 1969 was not the same name on the protecto=plate..a few other details also made it obvious that the protecto-plate and and tha car 100% not original/fake...



Ding, Ding..........This bit of info should apply to &quot;All&quot; L-89 cars.........Hint .....Hint!!!!

Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

I'm not sure if this is the same car but it certainly appears to be. A few years ago I was asked to help authenticate a car identical to this one. The car had a known history of owners but no docs. The only thing was the title which carried the SAE HP number which would prove it to be a 396. The engine appeared to be a restamp but can't prove that. The broach looked suspect as well. After purchasing the car the new owner told me he had contacted the son of the original owner and the son found the p-o-p. Close scrutiny of the docs would be advisable.

Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

So, cars are, at this point, just a hobby for me. Let's just say my real job makes certain &quot;capabilities&quot; available to me. If you folks want to determine fake vs. real stampings, broaches, etc., buy a Thermal IR camera. There is no way to hide alterations to metal from Thermal IR, you will see any additions, welds, cracks, whatever is not originally poured on the readout plain as day. They aren't cheap, but given all the stuff I see on here about questionable authenticity, that's your ticket. Here's a REALLY good one. You can however get them significantly cheaper....

Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

Maybe you could post a picture of the thermal image of an actual block stamp. Metallurgically, I guess that the internal stress could impact the heating/cooling rate very slightly. I don't understand why the thermal unit would pick up a stressed area in the absence of heat change though. Worth a try - show us what you have observed.

Re: Mecum Auction 68 L89 Camaro
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwhizz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The experts here are pretty good at seeing through the real protecto-plates and the fakes(newer issued)..... Although I am no expert, I have seen some that are just 'too new', especially the booklet..and many of the 'newer issued' seem to have 'many times' a vague address..like a Po box or highway number....researching the address on the protecto plates at the County hall of records is a good way to verify prior property/name ownership..I actually located the original owner of one of my cars by just writing a letter to the protecto-plate address. I also proved a protecto-plate for a 69 L-89 camaro false by looking up prior property ownership history...The owner of the property in 1969 was not the same name on the protecto=plate..a few other details also made it obvious that the protecto-plate and and tha car 100% not original/fake...



Ding, Ding..........This bit of info should apply to &quot;All&quot; L-89 cars.........Hint .....Hint!!!! </div></div>

All 'L-89' cars <span style="font-weight: bold">only</span>??? it should apply on <span style="font-weight: bold">ALL</span> cars that have a protecto-plate. Especially the 'one-of-one's..or is it 'one of two?' These 'newer' protecto-plates have been around for many years.
Many of the property records are on-line now and can be looked up easily. Although many counties do not go back to the 60's on-line. But a 'records searcher' can be found on line that will research the address for a very reasonable fee(usually less than 75 bucks).
The original owner that I found by the protecto-plate address was just a 67 rs-ss small block car, but it was really neat as 'she' wrote me a letter about her 'golden hawk' and even sent me some day one black and white pics !!