December 31, 1968
 

So many memories created since the night that brought fame for the ZL1 Camaro. As Helen Gibb related to me years ago, "This is when racing became a serious matter". Before that, she said, "racing was fun and exciting with "Little Hoss", we came home almost every weekend with success and fun stories to share at the dealership."

The picture of Fred and Dick in front of Fred and Helen's house with the #1 ZL1 needs no explanation. The second picture is taken at the dealership customer counter, on the left, Fred and Helen with Jim and Ruth Tice, of AHRA fame. The background shows trophies, pictures, and records won with "Little Hoss", which they raced for 17 months, starting in June of 1967, and ending at the AHRA finals in October 1968. I believe the picture was taken near the end of the 1968 racing season.

The awards and accolades were few and far between with the ZL1, however, Fred finally won the AHRA ProStock Championship at the end of the 1971 AHRA season.

Photos courtesy of Helen Gibb to me, from the Gibb Chevrolet archives.

52 Years ago tonight. Cool pictures and story.

Wow. That is awesome.

How epic was that time period, with history in the making. 52 years later and we are still in awe of how the ZL1Camaro came to be. That picture of Fred and Dick is incredible, and can only imagine the conversation they had, and strategies they formulated that evening.

Thanks for sharing these special photos and history :)

Dan

So cool

December 31, 1968 -- I was celebrating the New Year at Phan Rang AB RVN ... Wow !! How time flies ... :flag::flag::flag:

Is the Number 1 car still around ?

It is in the Brother's Collection.

AHRA track cars
 

One of the 1st advertisements of the ZL1. This ad was placed in the March 7th, 1969 weekly AHRA newspaper, DragWorld.

Ttt

Ray Sullins came on board in the early 1969 season, replacing Herb Fox the 1st driver of the #1 ZL1.

Ray told me he met Herb and Fred during the 1968 season, when they needed to replace the tranny in "Little Hoss" at a meet. He did the swap in about an hour, and impressed Fred with his mechanical skills.

Fred hired Ray to drive the #1 ZL1 because he could perform tuning and repairs during competition and keep the car competitive.

Many of those trophies and certificates are on display in our showroom. We used to have Ray's shirt hanging as well but donated it back to him a couple of years ago.

55 years ago tonight!

55 years ago tonight
 

Remembering back a long time ago, I was in Oklahoma City attending an AHRA National event. Having a little knowledge about the car beforehand and success it was having from the Drag World publication that those who had membership of AHRA was continually updated on class records and proceedings of member tracks. Being in the pits, I heard from the timing tower the call for the “Pro Stockers.” to the staging lanes. Knowing this car was in attendance, this would be the first opportunity to see it perform in competition? Hurrying to the bleachers, waiting for it to stage for the run, the burnout process began. During this process, the ZL-1 broke the passenger side axle. Like a boomerang, the tire and stub part of axle departed away from the car for a distance twisting and turning only to return back to the car and ending with the axle stub penetrating into the body.

When I attended the 1st Fred Gibb Memorial Car Show in 1999, with "Little Hoss", I spoke to Helen about the dealership's racecars. Discussing the #1 ZL1, she said she asked Bill to show her the passenger door repair that was done, due to some damage that occurred on the track. This must have been from the broken axel. This request of Bill would have been when he visited the Gibb's early on with his newfound ownership of the #1 ZL1. This convinced her the car Bill had was their old car, as well as the VIN, found in the New Car Log book.

Great pics of a time when a lot of us young Chevy fans around LaHarpe were blown away by what the FG dealership was doing.

56 years ago, tonight, Chevrolet racing history changed forever.

Very cool story, but what’s with the door handle/seat belt position on the pass side door panel?.

I believe there are seat belt straps used to raise and lower the plexiglass door windows on this car. Not sure why the location of the handle is not in the usual location. There may exist photos of the interior showing this, however I do not have any.