69 Z/28 Day II Project (Air Force Brat)

[NorCam]

I've been longing to do a 69 build with a Day II theme so here is the next project dubbed "Air Force Brat". The car is an original X77 sold new at Auran Chevrolet in Minot North Dakota. It's been apart for over 30 years and I purchased it from who I suspect is the 4th owner? He's had it for the past 25 years and it's now on the way up to western Canada where I'll restore the car with my eldest son. I'll dig back through the ownership when time permits and I'm hoping to learn more about the early ownership from it's North Dakota days.

Plans for this build include my son and I creating a righteous yellow on yellow Day II car with all the right parts and pieces to make it into a great little street machine and a throwback to the '70s. Once it's torn down, it's headed straight to the body shop to receive a new trunk pan and have a set of NOS GM quarters installed along with some bodywork. With the body repaired and the shell primed with the jambs painted, it'll come back to us for the underside to be cleaned up and refinished before we start doing the final assembly and paint prep. It will then be sprayed in 76 76 Daytona Yellow lacquer with factory correct stripes before the fun really begins.

Looking to build a righteous small block car with an M22 and some decent gearing inside its original 12 bolt. I have a small stash of Lakewood and NMW parts here and will now be on the hunt for some other period-correct parts to dress this one up nicely. The idea for the name for the car comes from it being sold right outside of Minot AFB. It leaves me to wonder if a pilot or base worker may have bought this car new? I'm sure it was well known with its yellow Houndstooth interior, options group and the Z/28 badges. The original engine and trans were both scattered back in 1974, so it will now make for a great day II car, and once complete it should be a total Brat!


My son did a little artwork and designed a front plate that we'll put on the car when it's done.


The car has a GM cowl hood and all evidence supports it being an original ZL2 optioned car.


Original X77 car in Daytona Yellow with Yellow roof and matching yellow interior.


The rockers on both sides are in excellent condition as are the interior floors.


The drivers' door was replaced from an accident occurring long ago. Original 4 speed tunnel is clean but not sure what Day II gas pedal is in there?


I may struggle with the yellow interior. I don't mind the original yellow, but not a fan of the bright repro colors. Might take a run at restoring the originals.


The original DY overspray can still be seen on the underside. I'll know more when it's here but I may try and save the underside.


One of 188 Camaro's to receive this V75 option for Liquid Tire Chain. On the hunt for an original system now...


The original 12 bolt BU diff dated Feb 24th. This will be rebuilt with some better gearing for the street and already has a Day II cover!


Rear bulkhead with the original X 7 crayon marking visible to the eye. Should reveal better after some cleaning.


Original trim tag still intact. I'm not sure about the filler inside the rivets and will need to see if that's the factory resin?


Rear tail panel is in excellent shape. The car does not have much rust showing anywhere.


Auran Chevrolet was the original dealer. It was taken over by Jim Ryan in 1973. His daughter now runs it as Ryan Buick GMC


Found this dealer tag on eBay and will add this to the rear panel after it's painted.


Original GM quarters that were bought for the car back in the late '90s by the seller. They were purchased with the car.


Both have their original paper tags on the inside and will be used when the body's restored.

Stay tuned as more plans for the car unfold over the weeks and months ahead. As always, I invite your feedback and suggestions for the Day II appointments.