The hoopla and reality of the z16

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

Thanks for the pictures of the Z16,that is a beautiful car.The Chevelle I looked at was pretty nice car it was nothing like the one in these pictures.After seeing the car and what you guys had described i figured it was not a real Z16 car.Maybe the guy that sold him the car that put Z16 in his head had told him he replicated a Z16 or something,I am not sure what the deal was or what was said.Although a nice car but not near as nice as the one you guys posted the pictures of.I am going to try to find a little more about the car,just want to see that trim tag on it.Thanks for all the information.

Bobby Dodson

[Hotrodpaul]

Way back in 1985, a collector down the street from me bought a red Z16 in Georgia and brought it back to Houston where I saw him in his driveway cleaning the car. I had just purchased an L79 66 Nova SS for $6000 in the same color so we struck up a conversation about our cars. I remember the car having white interior with buckets and an underdash tape player or radio, 4 speed with a 3.31 (I believe) OPEN differential. One time, after helping him work on the car, he let me drive it to check out the engine and its state of tune. The car was all original and about a year later, he had it repainted in the stock red color and some additional restoration work was done which turned out very nice. The one thing that sticks out in my mind is I was helping him change the rear tires when by accident he let the car down on my foot. Thankfully it was the rear tire and not the front! Sadly in 1986 or so he sold the car for $30,000 to another collector (He paid $15,000 for it) and I sold my L79 in 1994. Later on I realized how rare that car was, and will probably never get to see another one, let alone drive one, in person.

Paul

[ohhawk]

Some Chevelle magazines and books show a picture of a red Z16 with Iowa plates (Dallas County). I believe I remember this car being owned by someone around Waukee, IA. This car has probably changed hands but am wondering if anyone knows anything about this car.