Nickey Z28s

[Stefano]

The subject of Chicago Area dealer 1967 Z28s recently came up. So I figured I'd make this post since I have been told by Don Swiatek, then manager of Nickey's Hi-Performance parts and sales operation that Nickey received three of some, of the first built Z28s, to prep for Road Racing.

I also found similar info from 67Z28.com: "Chevrolet didn't especially encourage the purchase of Z-28's by private individuals at advertising the Camaro Z-28 until 1968.

The first 25 Z-28's were built between Dec. 29, 1966 and Jan. 12, 1967. These went strictly to favored dealers, mostly for reworking as all-out competition cars. Z-28 #1 was shipped to Aero Chevrolet in Alexandria, Va., where it was groomed as Johnny Moore's entry in the Daytona 24-hour Continental. Cars #2, #3, and #4 went to Yenko Chevrolet, Canonsburg, Pa., for driver Ben Poster, also for Daytona.

Seattle dealer Alan Green received Z-28's #5 through #7, reselling one to a Daytona, Fla., dealer, one to a local Northwest dealer, and the third to a local customer. That means that Z-28 #7 was probably the first to fall into private hands. Many people believe that the 1967 Z-28 didn't debut until late in the model year, but that simply isn't true. A few were in private hands by Feb. 1, 1967.

Ron Tonkin, a Chevrolet dealer in Portland, Ore., ordered Z-28 #8 and placed it on his Beaver Racing Team, which ran mostly West Coast events. After careful preparation, it was involved in an accident while being trailered to its first race. That ended its competition career.

Nickey Chevrolet in Chicago, which went into racing in a big way (e.g. putting 427's into Camaros for the dragstrip), took delivery of Z-28's #9-#10-#11. Two of these ran at Daytona along with the Aero and Yenko cars.

Roger Penske acquired the 12th Z-28, his friend George Wintersteen picking it up at the factory on Jan. 10, 1967 and driving it back to Penske's Chevrolet agen cy in Reading, Pa. Penske immediately tore down the car and sent the engine to Traco in his push toward entering Daytona.

The next eight Z's went to a variety of customers, in cluding three shipped to other GM divisions and one sold to a GM Proving Grounds engineer named David D. Horchler. Car #21 was delivered to stunt driver Joie Chitwood in Tampa, Fla. Chitwood raced the car and has subsequently used Camaros in all his thrill shows ever since.

In Chevrolet's rush to get the first Z28's out to the races, the first 16 1967 Z28's used a 4-P body to get the cars to the Daytona race on time. The 4-L body style code was used after the first ordered Z28's were shipped out.

The 1967 Z28 was responsible for a long term race relationship with the Z28 and Vince Piggins of Chevrolet. The Penske/Donohue race team was largely responsible for bringing many heavy-duty race parts to the Chevrolet dealers' parts counters. Any part used on the racing Z28's had to be made available to the public.

Mr. Fred Gibb raced a 1967 Z28 for over a year and a half. He was a national winner in his class. It was his love for this car which led to the development of the 1969 ZL-1 Camaro.

To most of the die-hard Z28 fans, the main idea was to make your Z28 like one of the special Trans Am race cars like the Penske/Donohue racing Z28 Camaro."

We also know per Mr. Ed's info that Brigance sold at least a few as well.

[Xplantdad]

Really neat info Stefano!

[camarojoe]

I posted these in another thread, I believe the photos show one of these first 67 Z28's delivered to Yenko, being prepped for road racing. I have some other pics of these Yenko early 67 Z's, I'll see if i can dig some more out if anyone's interested in seeing them.

[Xplantdad]

I know that I would be interested!

[Stefano]

Absolutely! Bring it on.

The 302 was a very popular engine over at Nickey. They were even known to have performed some 302 conversions back in the day.

[camarojoe]

OK then... here goes. If anyone can positively identify the location from the background, please let me know.

This is Don and his dad Frank, checking out one of the very first 67 Z/28's to roll off the assembly line.

[camarojoe]

[camarojoe]

[camarojoe]

One of the first 67 Z at Yenko being converted to race trim.

[camarojoe]

another...