05-26-2012, 10:20 AM | #1 | |
Administrator
|
First Camaro ZL1 Ever Built Auctioned For $400,000
Via Hemmings
The cars nearly bankrupted him, but if Fred Gibb is known for anything among Chevrolet performance enthusiasts, it’s for convincing Chevrolet to fit the storied all-aluminum ZL1 427-cu.in. V-8 into a handful of Camaros, thus creating one of the fiercest and fastest cars on the dragstrip. This past weekend, the first of those cars hammered at Mecum’s Spring Classic auction in Indianapolis for $400,000, a figure some are already calling the deal of a lifetime. Gibb, who had been selling Chevrolets in the town of LaHarpe, Illinois, since 1948, didn’t embrace racing as a means to selling more cars until Herb Fox, one of his salesmen, bought a 1967 Camaro Z/28 and introduced Gibb to Dick Harrell. The next year, Gibb began to use his contacts at Chevrolet to order special cars through the Central Office Production Order system, starting with a small fleet of L78/TH400-powered Chevy IIs. Those sold well, so the next year, Gibb went all-out and pulled some strings at Chevrolet to have the ZL1 – developed for Can-Am racing and not slated for production use – installed in 50 1969 Camaros. The first of those 50 Gibb reserved for Fox to race with the Gibb and Harrell names lettered across the sides. According to Mecum’s description: Quote:
__________________
|
|
05-29-2012, 09:43 AM | #2 |
Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS (Black) L99 Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Pilot Point, Texas
Posts: 2,185
|
if only it was still all original! still looks cool!
|
05-29-2012, 09:46 AM | #3 |
Drives: 69 Camaro Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Buffalo NY
Posts: 282
|
|
05-29-2012, 09:54 AM | #4 |
Drives: 2002 Acura 3.2 CL Type-S Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Cedar Park, TX
Posts: 26
|
Awesome!
|
05-29-2012, 10:13 AM | #5 |
Drives: 10 ABM 1SS/00 Z28 Conv/14 SumWh 2LT Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Kingston, ON
Posts: 960
|
Shows how much the market has softened. Compared to some of the other prices I've seen it seems like a steal at $400K
__________________
1 SS/RS 6Sp White Rally Stripes
|
05-29-2012, 11:44 AM | #6 |
Drives: - Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 76
|
I can remember when that car would have commanded a price 2 times that amount. My oh my how the times have changed. Bill had a trailer that he pulled that car in that literally was adorned in memorabilia, and documentation that would make any auto enthusiast drool let alone the Camaro faithful. I'll see if I can dig up some of my own photos of that car...might even have a few of Mr. Ray Sullins himself in the driver seat.
*Edit* Ah ha! I managed to find one...thought I had more...runs off to check other pictures folders. |
05-29-2012, 12:19 PM | #7 |
Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS LS3, 92 Camaro RS Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Miami
Posts: 531
|
This is a beautiful engine!
Wish I could put it in my '92 camaro. |
05-29-2012, 01:21 PM | #8 |
Drives: the 2nd amendment home Join Date: May 2008
Location: OK
Posts: 14,707
|
That car created more Camaro fans than any other
__________________
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin |
05-29-2012, 02:01 PM | #9 |
|
Just goes to show you that the numbers we used to see are long gone. I'm sure they'll rebound in time but I think the crazy prices we saw in the past were the peak. Sweet car.
__________________
Mods: BBK Intake, BBK LT's and High Flow Cats, Corsa Cat-back exhaust, Hurst short throw shifter, SLP skip-shift eliminator. 7/1/09 Placed order for IOM/IO int/ SS/RS 6M 9/26/09 Took delivery! |
05-29-2012, 04:51 PM | #10 |
|
Its amazing how damn big the back slicks are. Looks like the Cragar wheel is so tiny! LOL
|
05-29-2012, 04:57 PM | #11 |
Camaro SL,UTs
Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS #16429 Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Jordan, UT
Posts: 7,358
|
$400k sounds like a bargain for what that car is. That car should be in the Smithsonian if you ask Me!!
__________________
|
05-29-2012, 05:25 PM | #12 |
Drives: jkelly's wrench Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Niceville, FL
Posts: 196
|
Dammmmmn, that's sweet
|
05-29-2012, 08:32 PM | #13 |
Drives: Camaro's, always have, always will. Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Home of the brave
Posts: 4,851
|
....the Chevy Camaro factory Shot Heard Around The World......and let's not forget the 409's either......<Impala's>
__________________
In Scott We Trust...all others must show proof.
|
05-29-2012, 10:28 PM | #14 |
Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS - 2004 Silverado Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 2,989
|
Based on what I've seen from Barrett-Jackson, Mecum, etc. $400K is a bargain for a car like this. However, value for cars at this level is simply based on how much someone is willing to pay for it. The car could've gone for $800K+ but "that" person was not in the building when this auction took place. It's an amazing car though considering the history and association with Fred Gibb.
__________________
2011 Summit White Camaro 1SS/RS
-6.2 LS3, TR6060, 3.45, G80 2004 Black Silverado 1500 2WD Regular Cab, Short Bed -5.3 LM7, 4L60E, 3.42, G80 2014 White Caprice PPV -6.0 L77, 6L80E, 2.92, G80 |
|
|
|
|