69 Copo Camaros sold new in Canada

[William]

Well thanks for the kind words wwchevy!

The Merollis ZL-1s are now titled or registered in Canada. When we could run VINs nation-wide in the '80s ZL-1 #24 N609838 was on record has having been stolen in MA in 1973, recovered and junked. #11 has been in Ohio since the '70s. There is reason to question the legend that they were all stolen at the dealership. Keep lookin'!

[Keith Tedford]

Wasn't there something a little fishy with these three cars like all registered to the same people or something. Sort of like they were registering something that no longer existed then perhaps build the cars from paperwork. Could be all wrong on this.

[Smokey]

And wasn't that person that had the register to them selling cars at BJ 2 or 3 years ago?

[PeteLeathersac]

"...If the ‘mystery’ Canadian ZL-1 came from Detroit it virtually had to be a Merollis car..."

It'd be worth running these Merollis Vins by George at GM Canada Vintage Services!.
Being the car was somehow directed to Nurse Motors by GM Head Office in a non-standard way it's possible the normal procedures weren't followed...but if they were, the Vin should be included on GM Canada microfilm and something George can access!?
And I'm not suggesting George search his records for anything other than specific Vins given and it may cost the fee for each and every one checked so best to start w/ the most probable and go from there?.

On the missing ZL1 cars Vins being registered in Ontario, YES there's something fishy going on and it wouldn't be surprising if they're registered in the same names as other 'interesting' Vins/cars and suspected 'air cars' we've looked at here in past threads?.


~ Pete

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
"...If the ‘mystery’ Canadian ZL-1 came from Detroit it virtually had to be a Merollis car..."

It'd be worth running these Merollis Vins by George at GM Canada Vintage Services!.
Being the car was somehow directed to Nurse Motors by GM Head Office in a non-standard way it's possible the normal procedures weren't followed...but if they were, the Vin should be included on GM Canada microfilm and something George can access!?
And I'm not suggesting George search his records for anything other than specific Vins given and it may cost the fee for each and every one checked so best to start w/ the most probable and go from there?.

On the missing ZL1 cars Vins being registered in Ontario, YES there's something fishy going on and it wouldn't be surprising if they're registered in the same names as other 'interesting' Vins/cars and suspected 'air cars' we've looked at here in past threads?.


~ Pete

[/ QUOTE ]


Now there is a term I haven't heard in a long time. I could tell you a story about that term but I will reserve it for another time & place.

[midyr]

Frank and George do not have anything on record re the Nurse ZL1. My understanding has always been that it was a back-door last-minute rush arrangement, and I would surmise it never got recorded.

[midyr]

Also, keep in mind that Nurse was the drop off for race stuff only because it was pretty much next door to the factory & head office in Oshawa, and race stuff couldn't go there due to GM's official policy of not participating in or supporting racing.

[Keith Tedford]

I was told, back in the day, that there were litterally tractor trailer loads of spare stuff sitting behind the south plant parts and service building when there was a big CanAm, TransAm race weekend at Mosport. Never saw this personally, just what I was told at the time. It wouldn't surprise me if it was true.

[William]

It would surprise a few well-known racers.

Smokey Yunick, Paul Van Valkenburgh and Mark Donahue each wrote books which in part covered their experiences in dealing with Chevrolet in those days. Chevrolet generally provided tech and engineering support; hard parts were another issue. During the '67 season a trailering accident did extensive damage to one of Penskes' Camaros. Donahue had to scrounge junkyards to obtain sheetmetal to repair it. When Engineering finally solved the rocker ball problem Piggins initially refused to send the parts by air claiming they couldn't afford it. When the son of a GM President needed some Corvette parts to repair his car before a race his "connections" got a GM dealer to open his doors on a Sunday and he paid for the parts. He also shopped in junkyards. By the end of the '69 Trans-Am season Penske and Chevy were not on speaking terms. All Penske did was win consecutive championships for them.

All three had the same experience: dealing with Chevrolet was a constant struggle.

Read the books. It was not what you might think.

[Keith Tedford]

Unless I've seen things for myself, I take them with a grain of salt. I was just wondering if anyone else had heard the story. Doesn't sound like it ever happened judging by these other guys.