1969 ZL1 Copo Camaro Test, Prepped by Dick Harrell -Motor Trend

[JoeC]

#27 was green when it was first raced by Alan Green Chevrolet and Dick Tutino.

[JoeC]

I was looking through some old ZL-1 posts and found one from Bill Porterfield about ZL-1 #2 and #5. He said when he was putting the info together for the Hooper book in 1990 he assumed that #1 and #2 were the cars tested by Dick Harrell but later thought that the ones in the article were #1 and #5.

The 1969 article he used stated that the street ZL-1 in the test article was set up for Shay Nichols (#5).

Bill said Nichols purchased the #5 car from Fred Gibb on 5/7/69 and #2 was purchased by a guy in Oklahoma on 3/6/69.

I assume Bill got the info and dates from Fred Gibb.

If the article was done before the first race , it had to be before Jan 23, 1969.

#2 and #5 are both Dusk Blue TH400 cars so may have been easy to mix them up.

[combinefixer]

Originally Posted by William

The first two ZL-1 Camaros were rushed into production and delivered to Fred Gibb Chevrolet December 31, 1968. The #1 car was prepared for drag racing and failed tech inspection at its first event in AZ. It had been built with the production L-72/L-78 #3959164 #4346 780 CFM vacuum-secondary carb. At that time, it was thought to be a supply problem. However, the 850DP carb had been in production by that time; 1968 dated carbs are known.

A likely reason for the substitution was the production ducted hood air cleaner was not designed for use with a double-pumper carb. The air cleaner had a 90° vent tube on the rh side that interfered with the secondary accelerator pump. It appears likely that Chevrolet Engineering knew this; box #176 on the Chassis Broadcast Copy for #1 & #2 shows carburetor code ‘GE’, the production code for the 780. [Carbs were installed at the Norwood assembly plant].

In interviews with Fred Gibb, he stated the 50 cars he received were built with the 780. In magazine drag tests [Super Stock May ’69; PHR July ’69] of the #1 & #2 ZL-1 Camaros, the ‘street’ ZL-1 was tested with both carbs. Gibb stated Chevrolet retrofitted the remaining cars in stock at the dealership early in 1969. It is not known what modifications were made to accommodate the 850DP.

As for the other 19 ZL-1 Camaros, #3 and #51 were built during the same time span as the Gibb cars. #3 was photographed for a road test feature in the August 1969 Hi-Performance Cars magazine. The engine photo shows a 780 carb, choke plate intact. One of the last ZL-1s [built May ‘69] was raced for many years, sold to its second owner in the late ‘80s. The original owner stated at the time that he swapped the 780 for an 850DP purchased at a speed shop, had the receipt to verify.

37 of the 50 Gibb ZL-1 Camaros were returned to Chevrolet and re-invoiced to other dealerships. By that time, they had been retrofitted so it is likely their original owners assumed the carb was original.

Considering what is known, there is little reason to believe any ZL-1 Camaro was built with the 850DP.

The vintage story/photographs seen here were the work of Ro McGonegal, free-lance auto journalist in the '60s. While it is widely believed the 'street' ZL-1 in the feature was the #5 car, Ro recalled the testing took place on an unusually warm day in January, 1969 at KCIR near Harrell's shop. The only two ZL-1s in existence at that time were #1 & #2.

Incredible history lesson! Great thread.

Wonder why GM didn’t spec the Holley “3418” 850 cfm vac sec carb that the L88’s had been using vs the L78/L72 4346 carb?

[markjohnson]

That black rear valance is kinda interesting!

[William]

A few other items of interest borne out in the photos. Over many years I have seen a number of ZL-1 Camaros restored with the orange HP plug wires. Photos show the #2 car in this feature and the #3 car were built with standard production BB plug wires.

The photos do not show an auto trans idle solenoid. It is shown in the AIM section M40 pg. A10. Another test of a November '68 built L89/auto Camaro shows the same. At some point automatic COPOs were fitted with it; not clear when.

[1971ls6]

What is the consensus on how many cars came with the orange plug wires? What about the burgundy distributor cap?

[William]

Originally Posted by 1971ls6

What is the consensus on how many cars came with the orange plug wires? What about the burgundy distributor cap?

I have the six-page Engineering Parts List for ZL-1 Camaro production. COPOs were initially processed as L78 orders, this listing has all parts added/deducted in production. It shows, for example, the 1115293-coil deducted and replaced by the 1115210.

Plug wires are not listed. No reason to believe anything other than standard production wires were used, as seen in vintage photos of #2 & #3.

Side note, COPO build orders listed the L78 engine. This means the oft-quoted L78 production quantity of 4,889 is overstated. L78 production was 3,823 L72 997 ZL-1 69.

[JoeC]

The first race of ZL-1 #1 was at Beeline Dragway Winternationals Jan 23-26 1969 Phoenix, AZ.

Harrell built it as a light weight Camaro to run in AHRA Super Stock Experimental and for Match Racing

Fiberglass nose , no front brakes , single seat, 2650 lbs.

It ran with a single 4bb at its first race but was soon running a tunnel ram 2x4bb

[dykstra]

It’s interesting in the article that DH encourage the editor to launch the car by way of an essential “neutral drop”!

[John Brown]

Originally Posted by dykstra

It’s interesting in the article that DH encourage the editor to launch the car by way of an essential “neutral drop”!

Must not have had any experience with converters. I hadn't any either until 1973. What a difference they make!