The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

I am wondering next to the One-Off Z-28 Convertible. What are the rarest (lowest number) production Camaros? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

If you are talking 1969:
RPO L89 Al Head-311 made
RPO JL8 4 wheel disc brakes-206 made
RPO V75 Liquid Tire Chain-188 made
RPO CE1 Headlamp washer-116 made
RPO AS5 rear shoulder Belts-78 made
RPO AS1 Convert, Ft. Shoulder Belts-47 made
RPO AS4 custom Dlx. rear shoulder Belts-37 made
Just to name a few.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Rick you been hanging around Camaro people to long. pretty soon you will be Mr69

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

theres a 69 Z28 here with the GM Crossram & Steel GM Crossram Hood/JL8 brakes and Liquid Tire Chain options. But I would have to say Chrlies Old 69 that he sold recently with the Experimantal heads

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Al Maynard's Silver 69 Z28 with the experimental 'Hemi' heads and complete GM crossram is exceptional and rare. As I recall, it also has the hard to find optional crossram fiberglass hood.

Last time I saw it, it was resting in Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

rick, you guys amaze me with your knowledge!

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

I would draw the line on rarity of production numbers of a car to motor/drivetrains with convertibles as more rare than coupes. Brake packages should get some recognition as well, such as JL8 cars and Big Brake Vettes. But not nearly as much as the motor option, or fact of it being a Convertible as in the case of the 68 Z28 Convertible being rare. I do know of another similarly rare convertible being a 69 Camaro RS/SS L89 Convertible. Although more than one were built (a very small handful said to be around 11??), I only know of one that survives with documentation. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

The 69 Z28 Camaros with the experimental heads were made up cars by private owners. GM never built the cars. The heads came from Smoky Yunick who had tested these semi-hemi small block heads for GM, but were never installed by GM on a factory car. Charley said it best, when he described a 69 Z28 Camaro as a expensive engine stand for a neat motor that had experimental heads. Still neat cars in any event.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

SuperCars,

Well said [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Thanks Stefano. Of course, in my last post I gave reference to my 69 RS/SS L89 Camaro Convertible. It is the only one I know to exist, which I chose over the 68 Z28 Convertible, due to the L89 being a big Block.

I had 2 opportunities to buy the 68 Z28 Camaro Convertible. The first time when Milton Robson had it, at $170K. Back then (about 1993) that was an unheard amount of money for any Camaro of any kind. Then the second time from Rich Steele for again about $170K in 1998. Rich eventually made a trade for a 63 Z06 Vette, 69 Z28 and a Hemi motor with Al Maynard. I currently own that ex-Al Maynard 63 Z06 Vette from that trade.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

SuperCars,

Thanks for the insight. I have a 69 L-89 Convertible as well. Matching numbers and date codes. It is under restoration as we speak and I expect it to be painted in the next 2 weeks. I have it documented back to 1980. I am working on a couple of ways to find out the originating dealer.

One other question what do you think the production numbers were for a 1969 SS/RS L-78 Convertible?

Thanks for the info! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

See attachment

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

How about the complete other end of the spectrum? While it's not something the supercar crowd often thinks about, what about a true zero option 69 Camaro? I know of an X44, 230 6 cyliner, 3 on the tree, radio delete, no tinted glass, no nothing '69, not one single option. The real $2727 base price '69 Camaro. Frost green on light green gut to boot. I would have loved to have seen the window sticker for this car when it was new on the lot. There would have been a lot of empty space on that page, green on green @ no charge, end of list. There is simply no way of tracking production figures for a beast like this, since figures seem to be based on RPOs not a lack thereof. Not what most Camaro junkies would call their dream car, but an interesting specimen nonetheless. I can't imagine under what circumstances this car was ordered, perhaps a company car destined for fleet service? It's anyone's guess, but I will say it's the only one I've ever seen or heard about. Anyone else know of a true zero option '69, there couldn't have been many. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

As a collector, I don't believe I'd care to own a 6 cylinder/zero option car, even if it was the only one to exist. But in reference to the subject of this post, it could be rare.

69L89rag, "documented back to 1980" wouldn't qualify any 1969 car as authentic. But I hope you do find the documents you are looking for. Looking at your picture attachment which looks flawless, why does it need painted?

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

I have heard that there were only 7 known '69 L-78 ragtops. I don't know if that's production numbers of how many are left... The one I've seen is a beautiful car and was owned by Charlie at one time. It's not an RS car though...

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

I'll bet it was ordered by a dealer as a teaser. Get 'em in the door with an ad like "Camaros, $2495 (some priced higher)"

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Rare does not always mean desireable. A three speed manual transmission Corvette is rare but not deaireable.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

The 1968 Z-28 Convertible probably is one of the highest valued Camaros on the planet but was not a production car. It was a one off custom built by Chevy. There were a number of these one off cars built but most did not escape the factory unharmed. Some may have escaped with changes then sold to GM employees. The design head Bill M. did a 1970 ZL1 Camaro which he was allowed to purchase and bring home. He then rebuilt/restyled the car in 1977 but I think it still exists. There were two 1969 ZL1 prototypes built but have not been found. I think there were 5 or 6 Pace cars that were prepared for use in the Indy 500 race and were custom built. Over the years, there were many of these one off's built by Chevy.
As far as rare Camaros that were built through mostly normal assembly process, the L89 convertible had to be low in production quantity. How about a L89 Pace car or L89 Z10? The cars with dash (-) on trim tag have to be low numbers also. So a L89 RS SS convertible with special paint would be among the most rare production Camaros if there even was one built. Unless some new info is found showing original options, one can only guess.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

SuperCars,
There is a member and he can chime in if he chooses who has a very special '69 Pace car with L89 and JL8.

DjD,
While the number of L78 Camaro rag tops produced is low it is not that low. (I wish it was as I have one [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I would guesstimate that several hundred were produced, but no one knows for certain thus far. The ones to have survived with Documentation are few and far between.

I believe CRG has data based many of the known L78-rag tops.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Joe,

The '68 Z-28 Convertible "was" a production car. I should know, because I'm the one who ordered it for the Chevrolet general manager, E.M. (Pete) Estes.

The Z-28 Convertible was built on the Norwood assembly line like any other Z-28. Yes, we (Chevrolet) added the cross-ram, cowl hood, headers and four-wheel discs at the GM Tech Center after the car was built, to showcase some new equipment to the upper Chevy management, but it was definately a production vehicle.

Jim Mattison

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

I figured there were more than 7 L78's produced but the number 7 has come up several times and was published in a Camaro Performers a while bask as being the number known to exist. A guy named Warren owned the one in CP at the time the photo shoot was done, I wonder if there was something I missed to make it 1 of 7 known?

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

DJD..I think Warren was quoting maybe just a known # of maybe real cars that are accounted for... Stephano I disagree on your guestimate of several hundred being built because during the years I owned mine I actively looked for others but they were few and far between. There just aren't many out there and Convertibles just don't get Junked the way Coupes do.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

What about the poor 68 L89 cars? Does anyone on the board have one, if so please PM me. Thank you.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Maybe one of the CRG will see this and share their numbers on the L78...

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Anyone have an idea how many 67 L78 (396/375hp) ragtops were built? There's a nice red-on-black one in my area I'm thinking of asking about... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

There was a 67 L78 rag sold out of Fred Gibb. It usually show up at the show. I'm thinking it a 1 of on the color and other options. Schonye

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm thinking it a 1 of on the color and other options. Schonye

[/ QUOTE ]
is this the Royal Plum car??

Bud.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Yes it is. Very cool car, and the owner has some interesting stories. Seems the car has a 2.73 rear gear and will run 150+ Schonye

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

A local friend also has a '67 Royal Plum L78 rag - with Canadian docs [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Denis: Go for the L78 - the sound of that motor is right up there with the Z [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Two Royal Plum cars?! Wow I thought there was only one!

Zedder, do you have any pics of the other car??

Bud.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

SuperCars,

The car was painted in 1985. Paint has faded and yellowed. Also some chips and dents. Also the car should be Fathom Green. Which it will be when it is done.

Re: The Rarest First Gen Camaros
 

Bud, Sorry, no pics - it's a project car currently. Actually, there are at least 3 - Maxx from this site owned one also and it can be seen on his site I believe (sorry, can't remember the URL).

Mark