1969 Camaro rally derby caps
 

When you are having a 1969 Camaro judged, are there points deducted for not having the “double fluted” derby caps or is this not a area that is looked at when the car is judged? Thanks Shane.

That's a great question?

I myself would think since they are looking for original lug nuts under the caps and would hope they are also checking the flutes, but your question now leaves me curious as to whether they look for single or double fluted caps or not. I'll be watching this thread to see what comes of that.

Maybe Steve or someone who has gone through Legends can chime in and confirm this?

For survivor judging they are definitely looking for the original double flute, if they are good judges.

In the 1969 Legends Judging Manual, pages 25, 26, 27 Wheels, Wheel Covers and Wheels, Center Caps sections there is little mention of Derby Caps and no mention of the double fluted design, Derby Cap removal or underside inspection. Removal and underside inspection of Derby Caps is not a standard part of Vintage Certification judging.

I am going to check the flute design inside the caps, however the caps I have found on 68-69 survivors and original cars in storage for many years are much more defined, the edges are sharper and the VERY center of the cap ornament is actually a shallow cone - if you lightly run your finger over the center you can actually feel the point, the later caps are "softer".

IMHO IT appears like someone buffed an original ornament and made a mold from that. Rounding the crisp definition and thus the proceeding batches were not as crisp as the first.

I believe I have a damaged cap with the sharp definition - I am going to section both and then the differences will be obvious if they are not currently.


FIRST PHOTO is the shallow cone center

Second Photo is the less defined dome

Interesting!

More photos -
FWIW of the sharpest most crisp caps NONE have a mark indicating they were manufactured in Canada.
Two have 2 flutes internally and one has a single flute, these 3 caps have the same internal structure other than the flutes with the part number and other numbers in the same font, same place, as well as the same recesses etc
The other cap was manufactured in Canada and has additional marks with a HB and recesses, it wax reported to have been purchased AFTER the car was wrecked in 1973.

FWIW The caps on my survivor 71 Corvette are all manufactured in Canada and have 2 flutes.

Who has a 68 Z with the original derby caps?
I would like to see what they look like inside...