When I started with GM engineering at the Chevy PowerGlide factory in Toledo, Ohio in August 1966, I stumbled across one of these gold color 1967 pre-release Camaros on the factory floor one day... didn't realize it was there... prolly wasn't this one... it had 2 bbl. 210 HP 327" V8 3 on the floor... back then, it was like no car I had ever seen before...

@mikatamminen2786

3 жыл бұрын

not all of them were gold colored...no 10 was light blue and resided with the original owner in New Richmond Ohio at least in 1984.

My pappy one aunt and uncles all retired from the Norwood Ohio planet. Their employment perdated the Camro and some stayed till the bitter end of the closing of the plant. All that's left of the plant is the elavated parking garage. I'm nearly 60yrs old myself but I still remember going to the plant for open house summer tours hosted by the UAW. 😎😎

What a fascinating story. Thanks for posting.

The only thing that keeps the guy who turned this car into a race car from being a total moron is the fact he saved the parts.

@Smittyschannel

3 жыл бұрын

he's still a total moron

@heretohear8662

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, that was a dipshit move!!

camaro,nova,chevelle all perfect body styles back then.

@MBailey1977

6 жыл бұрын

DANTHETUBEMAN you got that right! Don't forget the 67 corvette! Most beautiful car ever in my opinion!

@DANTHETUBEMAN

6 жыл бұрын

AND CORVETTE!! how could i forget corvette?? hahaha some day il have one 3-d printed up out of unobtainium with a warp drive v-8 :)

@gojoe2833

6 жыл бұрын

Don't forget the Corvair, which had the same Coke bottle styling as the Camaro and Corvette and handled among the best Chevy had to offer in 1967...

@DANTHETUBEMAN

6 жыл бұрын

my aunt had one,, my grandpa put 50 lbs of lead shot in bags in the front, that kept the front end from getting light, and it was a great driving car.

@raybin6873

3 жыл бұрын

Yep! GM's glory days!

I'll pay full original asking price of 2,500 bucks , just to keep the tradition going.

Great story love it I was one year old then I have a 67 RS convert bone stock 67k original miles one paint job car

Very cool history, I'm glad someone found and restored it properly...

@classic-kool

6 жыл бұрын

kramden - it's a miracle they were able to do it...

Not having watched this video yet...the first TWO body Camero/ Firebirds with matching and consecutive build numbers ending in 1 & 2 were discovered, bought, restored to factory spec., judged & certified on the Gas Monkey Garage program (being found as barn finds). The first build is (was) the firebird.. These same two cars were donated to a museum as such to this date.

The finest restoration of an original american sports car that chinese restoration sheet metal can offer.

If had known how this car would become such a legend in automotive history in 78 i would have never sold mine and id have a gold mine setting in storage! Because i had 69 z28 that had a color combo ive never another like it!!! Just like you never see the white with black rally stripes as there was only 2 made like that!!!!

In 1966 that was 45 years ago that was a year I was born back then that's what you called real American muscle Chevrolet Camaros were built tough I love them cars I have a 1983 Camaro z28

Those were great engines. They would last forever and silky smooth. Glad the car has been saved. I remember this era of cars when I was ten years of age as the pinnacle of the American car as an artistic expression.

I have a 1969 rs z/28 camaro that was number 29 off the line late Dec of 1968 in norwood their is no coding on the cowl tag under the hood because that early of a 1969 camaro was not coded at norwood the only way you could tell if rs or z/28 or ss was by options put on chrome rear end engine inteary and so on. I found this out when I called gm to find out way their was no code on the tag I am putting the car back the way it was when new I got the car back in feb of 1983 from the late Virgil Cates of mansfield ohio cates speed shop type in on enternet Virgil Cates 33 willys and that is who had the car. The car is almost done it is ready for paint she will look great when done a long time dream come true thanks for reading little camaro note Bob.

@cosmiccloud9382

6 жыл бұрын

Cool! Can I buy it off you? The new camaros are way too fat and bulky, I like the older slimmer ones :)

@gixxer1114

6 жыл бұрын

+Cosmic Cloud yea I don't like the new ones either they don't have that unique american muscle car character and the ones are just lame everyone has one .the 69 is my favorite one

@gixxer1114

6 жыл бұрын

+Cosmic Cloud yea I don't like the new ones either they don't have that unique american muscle car character and the ones are just lame everyone has one .the 69 is my favorite one

@randymorobitto5453

6 жыл бұрын

Robert G - Thank you for doing the restoration! It's fantastic to see someone who doesn't immediately "wanna drop an LS in there," and beat the hell out of it. There are any number of ratty ones out there for those who want to do that.

@georgemcgillicuddy3498

6 жыл бұрын

You just cleared up some questions I have on a 69 Z/28 that I recently bought to restrore . I was wondering if it was an actual Z due to the lack of Code on the Trim Tag .

The Camaro was one of the thier best concepts ever. The first model had the best looking lines of any Camaro since. They could have continued to seel that model year after year for decades had they not kept changing it. A nwer modle does not neccesarily have ot have a new look. It just needs newr technology in it. Better brakes More fule efficient engine. Maybe change th einterior a little add or remove some guages. There's plenty of wys to change a car without mutilating it's beiutiful lines. That's like having your girlfriend get a new body after a few years. Usually it's not as good as the body she had when you met her. On an unrelated note; "The faster you live your life the sooner you reach the end."

No historic value here. But I own a 1988 iroc z28 5.7 liter. 16 inch gold rims. Second owner car had 5,000 org miles when I got it back in 2006. The owner built a garage for the car before he bought it. He passed in 2005 and son wanted to sell the car to pay for his new truck. Car came with a lot of options. It now has 7,330 miles. Has been setting since 2010. I had back surgery that year and again in 2013. Car has not been started since 2010. Owners son said the car had never been out in the snow or rain. Maybe one day it might be worth something lol.

@BuzzLOLOL

3 жыл бұрын

I have an '87 GTA built Jan. 1987, the first month the 350" engines were allowed full production back in F-bodies. It has the TPI 350, but it's not low mileage, it has been driven and had the hell enjoyed out of it! i.pinimg.com/originals/0a/6e/92/0a6e925d76ea7b8a50b40ef04eb7a4b5.jpg

I'm surprised chevy GM actually sold this pilot car...Most manufacturers crush up cool stuff...

@MikeBrown-ii3pt

6 жыл бұрын

kramden they didn't crush a lot of them back then. I've also seen a fully documented 1970 LS6 Chevelle pilot car built in Baltimore at a show. Part of the show display was the "build sheet" with a hand written note on it. The note said "It's going to need wings!". The manufacturers started crushing pilot vehicles when people started filing frivolous lawsuits for any and every reason they could come up with.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this race car driver that chopped his car up knowing well that it was the first one built. unbelievable what people will do

@Mercmad

6 жыл бұрын

Not so much the guy who built a race car out of it but all of the subsequent owners who were probably on a budget ,and couldn't afford a better chassis to race. All without realising the 5 or 6 figure car they had in their possession.

Wow, great info. Thanks!

Amazing documentary! Well done.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around that race car driver didn't knew what this car was and and chopped it up anyway. mind-boggling right

Very cool, I have an August 66 built 67 that I recently picked up thats only 35xx units into the 67 production.

@tymigliore6390

6 жыл бұрын

Rarerat I have the #24?? built from the van nuys plant.not sure of actual build date but know one of the first 2500 Cali camaros

That's a nice story...the sad thing is, even after a meticulous restoration, cars can still end up junked again after they've been sold to a succession of owners afterwards. Even beautiful cars get purchased and then abandoned in collapsing buildings or even just parked outdoors.

Amazing how they Found it :)

Can't believe that Chevy even sold #1 Camaro. It should have gone straight into a corporate collection 😢

My first car was a 67 Camaro .Drove it for a year and then traded it in for a 70 Mustang Mach ! . Still have the Mustang .

This is awesome. Thanks for sharing the vid!

Cool Video. Cheers for posting it mate.

Today's cars have no soul.

@jerrygiarratana9462

3 жыл бұрын

Kia sorrento

I got to see this car at Carlisle in PA a few years ago, a little straight in it again, and just a plain Jane camaro. Still a sexy car though

Glad to see that beautiful beast has been done right...very cool history.

my grandmother owned a 1968 Camaro, which my dad added a wolf whistle for her to hoot at the old men at the retirment community.

@gil8132

6 жыл бұрын

i want to buy one for me too went i ts time move to a retirment community too

@hebneh

6 жыл бұрын

Interestingly, the last car my grandmother ever bought was a '67 Camaro, new. I have no idea why she chose it. She was so short at that point that she kind of looked through the steering wheel instead of over it. On Christmas Eve 1968 she rammed it into a parked car and broke her nose but did all the usual holiday stuff the next day regardless. She was forced to stop driving not long after this, but the car was around till she died in 1974.

WOW!!! Another Great One Of A Kind BARN FIND!!!!! Wooopeee!!!!

So, GM released the FIRST EVER 1967 Camaro to some 'Bill-bob' Okie in Oklahoma, and it was eventually taken apart to be used as a drag car... STUPID.

@travisbrannon4784

6 жыл бұрын

cmscms123456 he saved the original parts for the car in his garage and back then they where street/strip cars so it wasnt stupid they even made yenko and copo camaros back then and the copo was a factory drag car and that is why we have paint codes so it can go back to its original glory.

@karilindholm4387

6 жыл бұрын

LikeA C10 j

Thats cool, I was born in May 1966

Ralph Nader didn't kill the Corvair, the Camaro did.

@gojoe2833

6 жыл бұрын

Dan R yes, the Camaro, the Mustang and GM executives who failed to realize the Corvair's potential as a limited edition Porsche fighter...

my dad worked at Norwood and built that car also came up with sway bar for the big block cars and got a award for it!! I have my 87 irock built Aug 10,1987 the plant closed Aug 27,1987 G.M. never should have closed Norwood assembly could build any of them other models including the new ones!! to put 70 Millon dollars in the state of the world paint system at that time to allow vannuys to build the F car with shitty labor force and sub par paint it's no wonder G.M. is where there at today.

first car I ever owned, used 67 Camaro 327 2v Powerglide in Granada Gold. Monoleaf rear springs and drum brakes. Had the motor mount recall fix which was nothing more than a chain looped around one of the suspension arms. Rusted out around the rear window. Typical 1960s american.

awesome story

This is a pretty cool story.

Awesome!

1966 Camaro R My Favorite!

@bobsmith-wr2ul

6 жыл бұрын

There was no"66" Camaro, they were marketed in the 1967 model year as the 67 Camaro.

@raycarter6225

6 жыл бұрын

may be like the 64 1/2 mustang but sold as a 65.the year after chevy came out with camaro to compete with mustang.being built in fall of 66 with register 66 but title as a 67.even the dealership arent always right. you would have to have VIN number and talk direct to general motors.

During its development, what eventually became the Camaro was 'code named' "Panther ".

Press: "what's a camaro" Chevy: "it's a beast that eats horses (mustangs)"

@skullsclub

6 жыл бұрын

nick longstaffe it's a carnivore that feeds off of Mustangs they made a book on GM and 66 and 67 still was not the first year of the Camaro brought out they're going to bring it out 1964 and unfortunately the car was too powerful for its time. And this is what they discussed in 2 GM book

@skullsclub

6 жыл бұрын

In the GM book they got produced by GM the name Camaro is a carnivore that feeds off of Mustangs. Now also as stipulated that 1966 will not the first Camaro actually built was 1964 they built a concept car and they called it Camaro but it was too powerful for its time so they scrubbed it and it wasn't re evaluated in 66

@raycarter6225

6 жыл бұрын

yeah,yeah. i pit my 67 mustang up against 67 camaro won and i switch to small block chevys.

@MasterChief-sl9ro

6 жыл бұрын

Right... As they had inline 6 cylinders. Hell mine had a 2 speed power glide as well. It was a rat motor. But was no match for a V8 on the highway....

Had a 68 camaro for 18 years ,it was crashed 2 times ,while i was parked

Now this is the best story ever

@jameszehme367

6 жыл бұрын

That is a awesome story got to love a Camaro

What a beauty

They made 220k of these. By 1970 you could buy one for a few hundred bucks in perfect shape they were worthless. Now everyone is acting like they’re priceless......

I've been a GM guy all my life (for the most part even though I admit to owning 2 V8 powered Ford Rangers). However I've never been a big fan of the 1st generation F bodies. I don't hate them, just never really wanted one. For some reason, I've always liked the big aluminum logs at both ends of the 74-77 Camaros and especially the small back window on the 74s which was carried over from the 70-73 models. I own, drive and race a 74. With all that said, I find it interesting that the first of what would become one of the most popular performance cars in history was built with a straight 6. I'm not surprised by this though since many Camaros through all generations were purchased by women. No offense ladies...you obviously like style but most also value economy more than us gearheads. Not all of you though and my 24 year old daughter is the latter type. She's got a need for speed and is working on her own hot rod in my shop right now while I'm sitting at my desk reading my new Super Chevy to my twin 2 year old grandsons lol!

@raycarter6225

6 жыл бұрын

i tried a 413,383,440 dodge.289 ford. went to chevys. everything from putting 327 pistons in inline 6,327,350s..those were the days

@MikeBrown-ii3pt

6 жыл бұрын

ray carter I love the old straight 6s. Years ago there was a 6 cylinder sportsman class at area circle tracks. We'd bore em out and run small block pistons along with a hot Clifford or Isky cam, an Offy intake and Holley 4 barrel. I actually have a 73 GMC short bed in my shop that I'm building a "buzzin half dozen" for right now. The parts aren't cheap (except the pistons) but I've wanted to build another 6 for years and this truck came with one. Here we go lol!

@raycarter6225

6 жыл бұрын

i didnt drive, but thats what my inline 6 was in. 57 chevy,then camero at our local short track. i started out running schooler cams , a good cam maker from jacksonville,fla.i believe he started out with crane then went his own way. call him up.you told him the specs and he would put it on next greyhound leaving.at the time i was getting little help from bobby and donnie allison who we took fishing at lake okeechobee (730 square miles of fresh water fishing)bobby would say, you got a bad ass moter,but your handling is awful. i need a cornfield to turn this thing in,lol

@MikeBrown-ii3pt

6 жыл бұрын

Schoenfeld (?) used to grind cams for them too. Not sure if they're even around now. I didn't drive the roundy round cars either but my uncle taught me how to build engines for his back in the day. I'm a drag racer @ heart when I'm not running my Freightliner down the road. I used to race a 74 Camaro w/a 427 small block in the outlaw 10.5 class but can't afford it anymore. I still do still raise a lil hell on "main" street with it on Sunday afternoons but it stays in the shop on Friday n Saturday nights. Too many kids w/so called hot rods (Hondas etc. w/fart can mufflers) try to test me if I take it out @ night!

@raycarter6225

6 жыл бұрын

never had a big block. hit 10.98 quarter mile in modified production with a 350,blew 2 rods out the side at the finish line. low 11s with 327. things went to 1/8 mile and i lost interest. took all my left overs from the past. build 350 for my 78 truck.it was a sleeper look with cast iron intake,no headers,but was pushing close to 400hp. marriage,kids, and a long layoff from railroad ended my hotrod days

Now, it's a 7 figure $$$ 💰 💰 💰 car 🚗 🚗 🚗

A sleeper in its infancy. Don't wake the baby! LOL

I'd die for it! Im a 67 baby so we're same age.lol

2018 Camaro can't compare to this. Though oddly enough the 1967 front reminds me a little of the 2018

good story.

Great story we are starting ours now. Check out our 67

Actually the Chevrolet Camaro was started production in 1966 the name is 54 years old but correct me if I'm wrong that Camaro is over 50 years old and counting

So First Camaro had Six cylinder 3 speed cool

built in May 1966, did not receive an engine until August 1-9 1966 but was shown to different reps, conventions and executives in the mean time........don't think so.......

0:59 how low and tough is this thing looking ...

John Cafaro is were it gets its name . I think he was the chief designer or something like that but I could be wrong

@garydwylie5988

6 жыл бұрын

Thirty years later (after 1966) John was a Chevy designer; probably was only a glint in his father's eyes in '66...

Norwood Pilot Program eh!

Gas monkey garage owns ,hey moe!!!

I don't get how anybody would turn the first camaro into a drag car????

@raycarter6225

6 жыл бұрын

we were just 18 and younger 20s. had we known we would kept all our sports car

@jeffleblanc8850

6 жыл бұрын

I had a lot of cars that should have been saved but we did not know what they would be today

@raycarter6225

6 жыл бұрын

my 67 mustang,70 dodge challenger rt,( with 383 and 440) 63 dodge dart with 413 cross ram( push button on dash trans) 67-69 camaro ss and z28 with 302 and 350s. i had several m22 and t-10.

@raycarter6225

6 жыл бұрын

had a 348 and 409. couldnt keep a 409 together long nor the 413 dodge dart

@raycarter6225

6 жыл бұрын

those are rare. mine went to junk yard,lol. i could make the 409 and 413 scream,but they were both good at rod busting the block. thats when i went small block chevy. inline 6 with 327 pistons,327,302,350.never messed with the 283 much

@ 13:50 LMAO You mean it was stripped, ran hard and put up wet from the drag strip.

pronounced Noodsen

I don't like the "grandpa" hubcaps

The legend that started it all the mustang killer .This chevy may be hazardes to ur ,💩 Ford's health😱☠u can't loose if u drive a chevy

Camaro forever! Watch it race here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/iXeo2cNwXb2scaQ.html

Had one of the very early 1967 Z-28 with the 302 emblem on the fenders. Added the racing cam, installed cold air box and immediately hit 135 mph on the Mass Turnpike extension. That short stroke engine could really wind up.

too bad the first camaro had a 6 cyl and a super ugly paint color and horrid wheels... jesus that is such an ugly car.