+FIRST CAR DEALER-To Build & Sale -*427* Camaro,s

[1967Z28]

To me there's no controversy, it's flat out not the real car. Wasn't delivered to Dana or even California and was originally Sierra Fawn with gold standard interior instead of Tuxedo Black with black standard. Also an automatic 327 instead of the real DC-1 being a 4-speed SS.

I've heard Bill Thomas was the first person to do development of a big block in a Camaro as early as August '66 but whether that was contract work for Chevrolet or for the Nickey/Thomas partnership is unknown.

[JoeC]

this was discussed over the years and you may be able to find old threads on it

I think Dana and Nickey/Bill Thomas were both working on 427 Camaro conversions as soon as possible and did them about at the same time.

Bill Thomas was a race car fabricator who did some work for Chevy and was well connected with Chevy Engineering

The hard part of the early 427 Camaro conversion was the headers.
The factory BB was offset forward and to the pass side to fit in the Camaro and had an offset cross member and heater box and other parts.

The SS350 to 427 Camaro conversion used the SB parts. It worked but needed headers as the exhaust manifold would hit the steering box

Bill T was making the early Camaro headers and traction bars and other parts

Dana had an early 427 Camaro drag car

attached a pic of a Yenko/Dana ad from late 1966 and an early Dana/Nickey article

[Late BrakeU2]

Originally Posted by 1967Z28

To me there's no controversy, it's flat out not the real car. Wasn't delivered to Dana or even California and was originally Sierra Fawn with gold standard interior instead of Tuxedo Black with black standard. Also an automatic 327 instead of the real DC-1 being a 4-speed SS.

I've heard Bill Thomas was the first person to do development of a big block in a Camaro as early as August '66 but whether that was contract work for Chevrolet or for the Nickey/Thomas partnership is unknown.

I would go with Bill Thomas, he built the super cheetah with an L88 in 64 with clandestine backing from GM.

[EZ Nova]

Originally Posted by Late BrakeU2

I would go with Bill Thomas, he built the super cheetah with an L88 in 64 with clandestine backing from GM.

Would that not be a "Mystery Motor" and not an L88 in 64? Like the Impala's 427 Mark II I believe they were called?

[Late BrakeU2]

Originally Posted by EZ Nova

Would that not be a "Mystery Motor" and not an L88 in 64? Like the Impala's 427 Mark II I believe they were called?

Probably, heard it referred to as "Nascar bred"

Cool stuff!

https://billthomascheetah.com/z11-chevy-2/