Shay Nichols #5 ZL-1 Camaro...

[Mr70]

Hello..........Sarcasm.....
Didn't mean to make you sweat Heavy....again.


Awesome looking action shot Chuck S.

[Xplantdad]

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Awesome looking action shot Chuck S.

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C'mon Chuck...Tell us about the car...PLEASE!

[CamarosRus]

The #27 ZL-1 was delivered NEW to Alan Green Chevrolet in Seattle area. Dick Tutino was the Service Manager. Not sure if he or the dealership owned the car intially, but eventually I bought the Camaro from Dick. Odometer only had 50 miles on it before being disconnected. This car was raced from almost Day 1. With the M-40 trans I believe it fit in NHRA'a SS/BA class. From 67-70 I was in the Army and away from the Seattle racing scene. I bought the car in 1975, as best I can remember....this was 30 years ago!!!!
I cant tell you about the cars S/Stock racing life, but dont think it was very winning for whatever misc reasons.
The car was converted over to Modified Production in ??? year. M-40 and 12 Bolt were removed and replaced by Mopar 4 spd and Dana 60 diff. I never learned the internals of the engine. It did have an Edelbrock Tunnel Ram with Holly 4500's. Chassis wise this car was very stock. No frame connectors, No roll bar let alone cage, I dont even remember traction bars....... I do rememeber the left rear qtr panel often getting distorted/buckled from the torque. I would open the trunk and using my hand pop out the sheetmetal.
I had drag raced before with my 70 Z-28, but had ZERO experience with anything this fast. I participated in NHRA's Div 6 racing around the Northwest. I cant remember the Nat'l record or the index at that time. I never came close to winning anything.
One interesting little story about this car, was that Dick Tutino had leased or rented the car to the BOEING (airplane) Company. (dont know the time frame) This had something to do with needing a fast accelerating vechicle to run along side and chase the 747 Airplane during its testing days.
.......I also remember receiving boxes of removed parts from car to lighten as race car. I STILL have the back seat, heater box and sway bar.
Other than Seattle locals who know the truth, including NHRA's Jerry Valentine, I CANT PROVE any of this. I dont have ONE picture of Vin Tag, Engine, My Title, etc etc, NOTHING.......

Chuck "who"

[CamarosRus]

[DarrenX33]

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Hello..... McFly............


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Hello..........Sarcasm.....

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You 2 need to be separated.

[hvychev]

Chuck who, did you know at your time of ownership that the car was a ZL1? If so did you know what that was? Where is the car today?

VERY cool vintage pics BTW!

[Tim Penton]

Chuck, That shot of your ZL1 is awesome! Were you driving?

[CamarosRus]

Frank, Yes I knew the car was a ZL-1. In "those days" people weren't collecting Camaro muscle cars (like today anyway) and while the all aluminum engine was the focal point of my car.....overall it wasnt that big of deal at the time.
Tim, Yes that was I in the above pictures. I'll be honest enough to admit I am not a good drag race driver....and had more success when others drove my cars in NHRA racing....
What happened to the car is a LONG controversial story...and best left for me to tell you OFF LINE.....

Chuck

[CamarosRus]

I will tell you that the below pic was my NEXT race car.....

[Jeff H]

I've heard some stories about that car Chuck. Definitely not nice stories so I'll leave it at that too.