Friendly Chevrolet 427 Camaro Pics

[JoeC]

I like those 60s era drag cars also. They bring back a lot of memories. If a car can be a hero, then I would say that the 1968 Camaro "Grumpy's Toy IV" that Jenkin's used to win the first ever Pro Stock race at Pomona in 1970 is a superhero car. The new Pro Stock class used liberal rules that ran the cars straight up. Quickest car wins. No staggered Super Stock type starts. No hitting the brakes to avoid a class break-out. The Hemi cars were going to be tough to beat. All the big guns showed up. Dyno Don in a SOHC 427 Maverick, Randy Payne in a Boss 429 Maverick, Dandy Dick Landy's Hemi Challenger, Sox and Martin's Hemi Cuda, Wally Booth in his L88 Camaro and Bill Grumpy Jenkins is his little old ZL1 engined 1968 Camaro car number 777. There were trick parts like two plug Hemi heads, prototype sheet metal intakes, duel 1200 cfm Holleys, huge slicks and air scoops, and rumors of back door factory support. Some say Jenkins was running a destroked Cam-Am block - he kept a blanket over the motor in the pits. The finial round was the Sox and Martin 70 Hemi Cuda Vs Jenkins 68 Camaro. The 90,000 fans were on their feet. Grumpy beat the Hemi winning 9.99 to 10.12. Bill Jenkins became the first ever NHRA Pro Stock Eliminator and his 68 Camaro was the Chevy guys hero of the day.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Call me crazy, but I really like the 'dog-dish' plain COPO look!! I would like nothing more than to have one of the two '70 COPO Novas that went to Canada, and retained the stripped-down, no-frills, street racer look. If the car had a race history though, I also agree that it is best to put it back to it's most significant period.

JoeC; Very cool pic of the '68 ZL1 race car!!
Marlin

[whitetop]

I received my drivers license in '76. I don't remember any musclecars back then that were totally original. I can relate to a stock musclecar as much as todays teenager does with a stock Model T. I like the style I grew up with. Most cars had modifications such as wheels, headers, intake/carb, gauges etc. Brians brother's Harrell '68 Chevelle is a perfect example of slightly modified car that has true period correct parts. Lets see more of this.
In my book if you see one stock red '70 Chevelle SS you've seen them all.

Wait to you see what I post tonight!!

whitetop

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

W-Top;
I'm down with the day-two cars, but I just really dig the stock stuff - the plainer the better, probably why I like the Novas. I started driving in '86, and there were no 'stock' restored cars around, maybe that is why they intrigue me so much.
M

[whitetop]

M
You may not understand what I mean by "Day Two". These are cars that have speed equipment that was correct for the period. I'm not talking billet, modern high tech speed parts either that you can buy anywhere today but specifically swap meet fodder. One thing that really gripes me is someone will have a modern day chrome Autometer tach on the column and call it nostalgic!! What is nostalgic in my book is a Sun or Stewart Warner. For instance, I just picked up a set of very early style Lakewood traction bars that are '68-'69 vintage. These bars have changed dramtically in appearance over the years. It's neat to have a piece on the car that was available when the car was new. These bars will be restored just like they were in '68 with correctly shaped snubbers, black phosphated bolts, correct decals etc. It adds "character" to a car in my opinion. Also adds another enjoyable/interesting aspect to a restoration.

I guesss this is what makes this hobby so interesting is that you can build the car how you like....

I won't even get into the argument that most people today build their car based upon what other people think how it should be done

Am I the only one that can't stand the G-machines and Pro Touring look???

whitetop

[Belair62]

I guess if I could I would have them all ! I dont recall 1 single factory bone stock looking car in high school except for a 68 Hemi GTX I think it was. I always remember that car because it barely ran long enough on the clean plugs to get out of the lot ! Everything had wheels,traction bars,tach & gages,even foam steering wheels. I think there is plenty of room for the Pro Touring look too. Especially when they have a lunatic sized big block with F.I. that will outrun all the bone stockers and still be able to actually turn and stop ! Imagine that! I don't have one but if someone out west would like to give me a nice RED one,I would take it.

[Bob Jenkins]

I also started driving around 1976 and enjoy looking at all the musclecars that were around during that era. I know what you mean whitetop, almost every car was modified in one way or another. I really like the nostalgia 1970's street racer look because that is what was popular when I was a kid. It is very hard to find some of those classic speed parts. I did find a white Hurst T-handle for my car on ebay.....wasn't cheap but I wanted one just like I had back in 1979 in my car. Back in '79, I was more into the sleeper '69 Camaro look with the rallies, black wall tires, cowl hood w/no stripes with a Zl1 cammed big block under the hood.....ahhhh, those were the days