[William]

The only proof of a '69 built with the '68 rear stripe layout is the January '69 Hot Rod magazine test car. The same car was featured in the March '69 PHR and June '69 Sports Car Graphic. I wondered about it but figured it was a Pilot build. About 7 years ago the CRG was contacted by someone having an early LA production '69 Z/28. The window sticker that came with the car had some unusual aspects he was concerned about. The most unusual, the car was not delivered to a dealer, but the LA zone office. The w/s had a stamping that indicated the car had been in company use. As I read through the options, I became certain it was the magazine test car: orange, black comfortweave, N33, N40, U15, U46, U69, VE3. Did not have Z21. That is a very unusual combination of rare options and an exact match to the test car.

It was not a Pilot build; produced early September '68 at Van Nuys. No Norwood cars are known to have been built with the '68 stripe layout. There may be one other Van Nuys car with the '68 stripes.

I am surprised it was sold. Hot Rod not only tested it, they modified it with aftermarket clutch, flywheel, scattershield, comp plus shifter, headers, blueprinted heads, re-jetted carb. They installed T-bars, 5.38 gears and ran it with Goodyear slicks. After a few 12.70s, the rear axle blew.

Still exists; haven't heard from the current owner since.