The most "significant" Chevrolet performance car.

[hvychev]

One of the cars that "got me" in the sense that Rob describes it was the first time I ever saw the 68 Dick Harrel Chevelle in Muscle Car Review when Joe Sweezy owned it. I must have read that article over and over. This was before I ever came to this board, so my thought was I would NEVER be able to ever own a supercar of any kind!

[camarojoe]

I agree that the most "significant" Chevrolet is likely more a personal thing than something to be agreed on by the masses. Grand Sport vettes mean nothing to me personally, nor do any Z11 Impalas or convertible Z/28s, not to say they weren't important cars for Chevrolet, and to others, but none of those were significant in ME becoming interested in what I'm into today. I'd say the car that sticks in my head as "the one that started it all" was when Brian Henderson brought his freshly restored fathom green 69 sYc Camaro to a little local show in my hometown on his way to the Camaro Nationals some time in the early 90's. I know I wasn't old enough to drive, and my brother Erik was 5 years younger than i was...so we were both pretty young...Regardless, we knew what a Yenko was from the many stories my dad had told us over the years... and ironically were probably about the only people at that show who did! I talked Brian's ear off for an hour or more about the car, and he answered all my questions and mentioned he thought it was cool that a couple of punk kids showed that much interest in learning about Yenko specifics. It was the coolest car I had ever seen, and at the time there wasn't anyone else restoring Camaros to that level of detail. (probably still isn't as far as that goes!) It was the first Yenko I ever recall seeing "in person", and to this day it sticks in my mind as one of my favorite supercars ever.

That day started a friendship with Brian that has spanned close to 20 years now (wow!) and that Camaro is what got my blood flowing and eventually lead me to where I am today. On a personal level, I'd definitely say that green car was the most "significant" one for me...
-JB

[1967Z28]

MkII Mystery Motor Impalas. Can you imagine how many more cool and seriously fast Chevrolets would have been built had the GM racing ban not gone into effect in mid-'63?

-Jon

[Supercar_Kid]

I'm with my brother Joe on BKH's old FG/Black 69 Yenko Camaro. I'll never forget the first time I saw it at the Ebensburg Weekend of Wheels show...and I'll definitely never forget the first time I got a ride in it...at SCR1 when Brian showed it no mercy. An L88 at 8 grand just has a ring to it you won't forget.

[Xplantdad]

Wow Joe...what a great post!

I can't name the most important...I like them all

BTW, I owe my interest in muscle cars to my brother Gary...I knew what a Yenko, a Nickey, a Bill Thomas and a Dana were from a pretty early age.

[Verne_Frantz]

I'd have to say that everyone has had great choices. Frank's original question was "What do you feel is the most significant single CHEVROLET performance car in existence?"
No offense to Frank, but the word "significant" has too many broad meanings to all of us to really agree on just ONE. Some have interpreted it as the most significant one for "them" personally which got them into the hobby with such focus, others have picked the highest horsepower, or the very first OHV V8. My pick hinged on Chevrolet's most complete racing package ever offered under one RPO. (and by the way, I stand by that; the L-88s nor the Z-06 Corvettes, nor the ZL-1s were offered with an overall package of race-only features as was the Z-11).
Does that mean the Z-11 was the most "significant"? No. It just fit the criteria I used to answer the question, as each of the other cars mentioned fit the criteria of the people who mentioned their picks.

Verne

[Dog427435]

I've got to agree with Joe - sometimes the most "significant" Chevrolet performance car to some can be an uninteresting car to me. Don't get me wrong, I love cars and can appreciate the hard work and devotion that can go into any car, be it a muscle car or the most bizarre creation.
When I was 15 there was a '59 Studebaker Lark post car for sale in a gas station in Hempstead. It didn't matter it was a 2 bus ride to get there - I was there twice a week, to look, until it was gone. He wanted $600 for it, if I could have gotten my Dad to loan me $550, it would have been mine.
The hood and front fenders were molded together and tilted forward. It was bright green metalflake with a 327 - 4 speed and straight axle front end. The inside was an entire black '64 Impala SS interior, buckets, console, door panels and dash. I was in love, hooked on that look, straight axle, custom interior and big motor!
Loving the look wasn't enough, it wasn't a Chevy - This lead me to a long line of '55 Chevy's and my most "significant" Chevrolet - not a factory produced car - but a Two Lane Blacktop style, big block, 4 speed '55 Chevy. We were building them years before the movie came out! Nothing has the look, the feel or brutal power of a car built to those standards. To underestimate the effect of these home built hot rods on GM's future decisions would be an injustice!

[redeuce]

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[redeuce]

Interesting pic from the past:

Estes Camaro circa 1994 on it's maiden voyage North.

[Canada George]

Verne,

I agree with you that “significance” is a somewhat subjective term and would not try to argue any one choice is “correct” but I believe we may have a difference of opinion with your statement that the RPO-Z11 was the most complete racing package ever offered by Chevrolet.

Let me reiterate: RPO-L88 was a COMPLETE RACING PACKAGE; not an engine-only option. This applies to the RPO-L88/ZL1 Corvette only (not the ZL1 Camaro which we agree was NOT a complete packaged race car).

The Z11 was of course one of the most SIGNIFICANT race cars in its time but I don’t believe it can be said it was a MORE complete package. Wanna compare lists?

Regardless, two incredible factory-built race cars. I give the L88/ZL1 Corvette the nod as being more significant because it could be ordered by anyone with the money and patience.