Who built and sold the first 427 Camaros?

[William]

The Nickey conversion featured in the January 67 Tach magazine was done on a very early production '67 SS350-has no fender flags or '350' emblems.

Exactly who did the first may never be known. Dana, Bill Thomas, Nickey [Harrell], Yenko, Motion all converted '67s.

[1967Z28]

Is it possible the 350 engine ID was removed and the paint touched up in that area? Here is page 1 of another article from late November '66. It talks about the Yenko/Dana connection and also mentions the newly formed connection between Nickey and Bill Thomas.

-Jon

[1967Z28]

Here is page 2 from the same article (11-29-66).

-Jon

[JChlupsa]

Neat stuff Jon, Anyone have an idea on what other dealers were linked with DANA outside of themselves and Yenko.

Comier Chevy down the street from DANA?? or what other West Coast dealers??

[427TJ]

Interesting--in the first clipping they mention use of the 385hp 427 for conversion. Isn't that the '67 Impala SS 427 unit? Also interesting to read Penske's comments on the new Camaro. I guess he soon warmed up to the idea of racing it!

I think it would be fascinating to know which dealer performed the very first big-block swap into a '67 Camaro. I think it's safe to say that the performance-minded dealers (and Motion) were all thinking the same thing when the Camaro debuted: 427! <font color="red"> </font>

[Stefano]

Very cool article! No doubt that all the Key players, which we admire today, had intentions, to put a big block into the Camaro, as soon as they could get their hands on one.

Based on info shared with me, Nickey was ready to perform Conversions even before the first Camaro ever hit the dealership's parking lot.

Dickie Harrell started his deal with Nickey, in January of 1966 and was instrumental in bringing the Nickey Camaro into fruition.

Nickey had a vault in the basement, of the dealership. It was a room made of cinder blocks, with a steal door and lock, where all the counter/crate engines and special parts were kept.

According to those who were there, back in the day, Nickey had a team of (5)Elite Master Technicians, along with complete engines and parts ready to go, before the first Camaro ever arrived.

This was not an after thought for Nickey. The Bill Thomas alliance was primarily established, to fullfill orders and demand, for Nickey Camaros, on the West Coast.

[1967Z28]

Thanks, Stefano. That is some neat information. I hadn't heard about that vault in the basement. It does seem to make sense that some of the high-profile dealers were thinking of swapping big blocks into Camaros right from the start but I don't recall ever hearing of one built prior to approximately December '66. Has anybody seen an earlier 427 (or 396) dealer-conversion prior to 12/66? Who currently has the earliest known 427 dealer-converted (or Motion, or Bill Thomas) Camaro?

-Jon

[Z-11 396]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it possible the 350 engine ID was removed and the paint touched up in that area? Here is page 1 of another article from late November '66. It talks about the Yenko/Dana connection and also mentions the newly formed connection between Nickey and Bill Thomas.

-Jon

[/ QUOTE ]&lt;&lt;&lt; JON &gt;&gt;&gt; THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE NEWSPAPER INFORMATION, IT ADD'S ANOTHER PART OF THE PUZZLE FOR ME , AND MY CAR. '' DANA '' CHEVY WOULD BUILD AND SALE * YENKO * BASED CORVAIR ++ STINGERS ++ON THE WEST COAST,ONLY -3- WERE BUILT...,I HAVE ATTACHED A AD FROM DEC. 1966 IN THE NATIONAL DRAGSTER THAT REFLECT THERE ARRANGEMENT, PICTURED IS THE DANA 427, AND YENKO STINGER..THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING THE INFORMATION....KASEY .

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it possible the 350 engine ID was removed and the paint touched up in that area?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes Jon, early 427 Camaro conversions were performed on small-block cars. In the case of the first Dana conversion, the 350 emblems were removed and '67 Impala SS 427 V-flags and 427 numerals were added in their place. Note the small-block fan shroud and heater hose connections on the firewall in this engine bay shot of the first Dana.



And here's a Nickey/Bill Thomas Camaro, possibly the same car from your article that Bruce posted, showing a big-block shroud but it has small-block heater hose connections ont he firewall.



Last is a photo of the first Nickey Chicago 427 Camaro conversion (overseen by Dick Harrell), performed on an SS 350. Note the small-block fan shroud and iron exhaust manifolds. I suppose the large air cleaner housing is also noteworthy. Note also that all three cars have manual brakes.

[1967Z28]

Kasey, glad you enjoyed the posting of that article and it was useful to you.

Bill, thanks for posting those pics of the engine compartments. Looks like Dana generally preferred the Edelbrock valve covers and Nickey liked to stick with the stock chrome ones (most likely some exceptions for either case).

-Jon