Chris Piscitello's 1967 L78 Camaro "The BATCAR"!!!

[Verne_Frantz]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm thinking about burnouts with slicks! We'll see.

[/ QUOTE ]

I like your thinking Chris! Along with preservation.........

Verne

[SIR-VIVOR]

Thank you all for your kind comments. Lance Hill, thanks for chiming in. I'll pass your comments on to Sherman. A special thanks to Sherman Gerlach for having the forsight to save the original drivetrain and save the car for 39 years! I am more than proud to be the new caretaker. Chris

[Stefano]

Killer Camaro

Congrats.

[6t7 camaro]

Bruce in the L78 history you mention that all but 7 cars came with the M21. What did those 7 cars come equipped with? I have seen one that came from the factory with a 3 spd std; was the turbo 400 available?

[67L78conv]

Standard transmission with the L78 in 1967 was the M13 heavy duty 3 speed manual transmission but dealers very heavily pushed the M21 and in some cases the customers were actually told that they had no choice but to get the M21 at the added cost if they ordered the L78. Optional transmissions included the M20 and M21 four speed transmissions, no automatics were available for order with the L78. Of the 7 cars that did not receive the M21 two received the M13 and one received the M20 based on documentation for these cars. The remaining 4 cars are currently either unaccounted for or there is no substantiating documentation to say what was installed at least as far as my registry goes, CRG may have more info but I am not sure.

There were three L78's that technically received an automatic but are special engineering vehicles that eventually were de-tuned to the equivalent of the L34 350hp 396. I generally do not count these three in the L78 list even though they were born as L78's since they are special purpose built cars for Chevrolet use. These three cars were the primary track car built to pace the Indy 500 in 1967 #92, the back up Pace Car #90 which was to take over the pacing duties should a mechanical issue arise with #92 and the proving ground test mule #91.

[TimG]

Great information, Michael.

[Charley Lillard]

My # 92 Pace car was built as a L78 4 speed and then converted to a L34 auto so it never really was a L78 Auto.

[6t7 camaro]

Mike, I have to agree with Tim, great info. I had always heard that a 4spd. was the only choice. Then a few years back there was a car advertised on ebay as simply a "big block 67 Camaro". The picture of the trim tag showed a 2B and a 4K. Who knew it was 1 of 2. I think I stil have auction listing somewhere. Time to go give it a second look.

[67L78conv]

Thank you, I try to be as acurate as possible in all my posts but will readily admit I do not know everything and learned long ago that whatever you think GM did in 1967 there is likely something that was done differently if even for a day.

Sorry for the error Charley, I thought at one point the auto was mated up before the conversion to the L34. I have actually never been able to get my hands on copies of any of the engineering paperwork for any of the changes on the three cars sadly. One day I will find someone willing to share.

Dave, I am not sure I saw that auction but would be very interested in any info you are willing to share on it, in particular the tag and any associated paperwork that was pictured. Feel free to PM me if you have it and do not mind.

[Charley Lillard]

The engineering paperwork is in books somewhere. It is the paperwork that Vince Piggins gave to Al Young when they had # 92. Vince told them that contrary to the engineering order, they only built two cars not three. I will try to post paperwork in another thread if I can find where I have it on my computer.