John Lipori's (Musclecarjohn) 1969 Z/28

[Xplantdad]

My 1969 X-77 Z/28 Camaro….Pride and Joy


As much as I love the 1970 ½ Z/28 and I must say the 1970 SS454 Chevelle has been a dream car for most of might life…I cannot put into words the feelings I get every time I am around this car. I would have to say this one is my favorite…and here is my story:


In late 1979, I went off looking to acquire a 1969 Z/28…just like everybody else, right? I had heard of a Daytona Yellow ’69 Z for sale and somehow tracked down the owner. Drove the car…which ran like a bat out of hell…but for some reason, I didn’t pull the trigger. Fast forward about a month and I stumbled upon the ’70 Z/28 which was for sale. Seems the owner had just purchased a Yellow ’69 Z in San Jose (that Reggie Jackson also tried to buy) and the ’70 was for sale. I ended up buying this car for $4500( ) and have never regretted it one bit…that car has never let me down.


Does anyone see a “Yellow” theme going on here…? More on that later.


Strange facts so far:
1) The owner of the Yellow ’69 Z that I didn’t buy turns out to be a good friend many years later and his brother George an even better one. He has a “- -“ paint code ’69 Z he bought off the showroom floor in ’70 (last one left)…and it was PINK Now stranger things have happened but I just can’t see a Mary Kay lady ordering a Pink ’69 Z/28…but maybe she did and then passed on the car…and maybe that’s why this car was still there. Car’s not Pink anymore, it’s been done as a Penske clone with Sunoco Blue paint and Yellow Minilight wheels. Over the counter JL-8 in 1971 and more recently an original GM crossram system which is yet to go on the car. But I am getting slightly off course so back to the strange facts...


2) The DZ engine in the car I didn’t buy later went into another buddies car…a Viper Yellow ’69 Z no less
3) George is the one who did the paint & bodywork on my car and I really think he loves it more that even I. He has restored many a Z/28 and Boss 302’s and together, we put this one together.


Fast forward 26 years later to 2003 where a fellow worker at a dealership I was working at brought a Frost Green ’69 Camaro to work one day and I happened to be driving by and noticed it. It had all the proper Z/28 badging but these days of cloning, that meant nothing to me. The car piqued my interest however and I went off to research what department he worked in. I was able to contact him and asked him if it was a true Z/28 and he assured me it was. I then asked him if he was considering selling it and he didn’t say no so to me (being in sales), I figured that was a good sign and we shook hands and parted company. I’d see him every so often and eventually I would bring my photo albums to show him my other cars…all Chevrolets of course
Fast forward six months later…I get an email from the owner telling me if I would meet his asking price, he would be willing to part with it. Keep in mind he only drove the car to work that one day and I happen to see it and that was the only time I had seen it. The price sounded low for a true Z/28 but I was curious as to what he had. We set an appointment to see the car and determine what it actually was. We meet at his storage and roll up the garage door. I pop the hood and my eyes go straight to the trim tag…”X-77”…bingo The car was complete and unmolested, down to the smog pump set-up…the look was like a time capsule from 1969. Scrapped the engine pad to find the DZ suffix and looked over everything else. The closer I looked, the more original the car was…except later when I came to realize that the motor had a partial VIN number stamped which did not match mine…leading me to believe that possibly this engine came from a wrecked car somewhere back in it’s past.
It was this engine that I exploded last year that I recently replaced with a full solid roller-cammed 383 stroker motor. It features a complete forged bottom end, an 11:1.1 ratio and is backed by a recently freshened M-21 and a 3.73 posi 12-bolt, both numbers matching. The motor was built by Chad Golen of www.golenengineservice.com and was dynoed at 555 HP @ 6600 RPM and 505 Ft Lbs of torque @ 5000 RPMs. It is quite nasty and develops good power all the way up the powerband.


Obviously, it has been destined that I should have a Yellow ’69 Z/28. I know many are against changing the color of a car but in reality I personally don’t think Frost Green was going to cut it for me. I don’t mean to offend anyone with a F/G car, I was originally planning to repaint it back to stock but that old “Yellow” from my past kept creeping back in and I decided what the hell…it’s my car and since I don’t plan on selling it anytime soon…I’ll just do as I please so…2003 Millennium Yellow it is This paint formula requires a 2-1 paint/reducer ratio so it required a lot of product to assure coverage. This formula was so transparent it didn’t cover worth a darn and in talking to other Corvette owners, paint warranty issues is the main reason Chevrolet dropped Millennium Yellow in favor of the current Velocity Yellow.


I have just recently replaced my 15” American Racing 200S wheels with the newly released 17” 200S wheels (17x8” all around) with 235/45’s in front and 255/45’s out back.
I’ve also added a new exhaust system with a pair of QTP electronically controlled cut-outs with side pipes to complete the Trans-Am look. Rear wheel disc brakes will be next on the to-do list.


No power steering and brute horsepower add up to many smiles whenever I drive this car. The response so far finds the car being very well received, more than I could have ever imagined. Just sitting behind the wheel and looking over that cowl hood starts to excite the senses. That’s where I think Chevy really blew it on the 2nd generation cars by not offering a cowl hood. Even the Chevelle without a spoiler front or rear has so many bulges and curves that it looks menacing from any angle…it’s that cowl hood and flapper


There you have it, my 1969 Z/28 with a vintage Trans-Am look to it. Thanks for looking and I hope you guys enjoy it.
Thanks again Bruce for all your assistance.


John
MusclecarJohn

[Tim Penton]

Very well done, looke great!

[SS4Real]

Wow, wow and more wow. These are musclecars at their finest. What a trio. Beautiful cars John.

[47Hammer]

John, You've done a great job on all three cars, I love the road race look on anything let alone your '69. Hot, Hot, Hot!

[Bill Pritchard]

Stunning! Love the look of those 200S wheels

[PeteLeathersac]

Wow John....nothing like a threesome!!! .

~ Pete

[ORIGLS6]

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Cool shot!

[Xplantdad]

I agree! John has been very active in sending in pics and write ups for every one to enjoy. In fact...I could have put up another 15 or so pics of this car alone...he took a bunch!

I'd like to thank John for sharing ALL of his cars with all of us. Having met him in person...He's a great guy.

By the way...ALL of your cars ROCK

[musclecarjohn]

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I agree! John has been very active in sending in pics and write ups for every one to enjoy. In fact...I could have put up another 15 or so pics of this car alone...he took a bunch!

I'd like to thank John for sharing ALL of his cars with all of us. Having met him in person...He's a great guy.

By the way...ALL of your cars ROCK

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Thanks Bruce for your kind words and for you unfailing efforts each week with everything you do here at this great site...

Thanks to everyone for all your comments.The '69 is being very well received so far and I am working with Henry De Los Santos from Super Chevy on a feature for hopefully all three cars.Will keep everyone posted.

Like I told Bruce in many emails,I sometimes have to pinch myself whenever I'm around these cars to remind myself I actually get to drive these machines.I know I don't really "own" them,I'm just preserving them for the next guy.I think we all know they are the real fountain of youth!

[musclcar]

awesome looking cars there john !!