When does a rebuild change to a re-bodied Car?

[Derek69SS]

IMHO, if the original tags are still attached to the original firewall, the car is what it is... if the tags are swapped onto another firewall, it's a re-body. So, if you cut the firewall off the Z and weld it onto another car, I'd consider that a Z.

This gets complicated when a car is severely damaged in the front, and the firewall is caved in, but the rest of the body is saveable.

[tyoneal]

Derik:

Thanks for the feedback.

Is there anyone else that has specific or strong feelings on this subject that can share their thoughts?

What value would a Z/28 Body have over a standard bodied car for a protouring project?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks in advance.

Best Regards,

tyoneal

[67PTCAMARO]

If a car is done pro-touring why would I care if it is a Z28 or not. People change everything in the car to make it pro-touring and still brag about being it is a SS or Z28 or whatever. That was a Z28 35 years ago. Build a plain Jane Camaro pro-touring style and have your handling car pro-touring style what factory did it 35 years ago and called it Z28.
Thats my opinion. If I want a Z28 I would keep it original, if I want a good handling car I would pro-tour it and cal it that way.

[fladoans]

I bought a running plain jane camaro last year and am going the pro touring route. I bought it because the cowl tag was a true X11, but it was never an SS. I took the cowl tag off to smooth the firewall, and it will be put back on and noted as such. I also had to replace the dash, but I cut out the VIN plate and welded it to the new dash. I have replaced almost every piece of sheetmetal on the car.

But I do not consider this car rebodied! I have done what almost everyone else who has a 36 year old car has done and that is replace rusted sheetmetal. Maybe some replace it over time, I just replaced it all at once. But it's still not rebodied - it's restored!

[tyoneal]

My thoughts on it were:

I will badge it as a Z/28 after the full Pro-touring upgrades have been done to it.

Since the drivetrain and suspension was gone many years ago, upgrading it is no big deal. However, if it wasn't a Z/28 at one time, I would not want to mark it as such. Technically at worst it's still a NOM Z/28, right, or would that imply a DZ 302 Engine etc. inside it? It's got to be better than a "clone, memorial or commemerative etc.

There were only 22,XXX Z/28 body's made in 1969. If I had a choice between two cars equally equiped, I would ALWAYS choose the Z/28 Body over any other type.

Wouldn't you'all?

So if I have this right, as long as the dash VIN and the firewall ID are on the original Firewall, then you aren't creating something that could be considered deceptive.

I just don't want to start an expensive project and once finished have a bad cloud on me or my car.

Anyone else?

Thanks,

Ty O'Neal

My project Car will be called, "Fever".

[fladoans]

If you start with a real Z28 - you end with a real Z28. No matter what you do in between.

I say go for it, take pictures of the project as you proceed and if any body asks questions tell the truth. That way you are not hiding anything and if you ever need to sell it the person buying will know exactly what they got a real Z28.

[ProTouring442]

Originally Posted by tyoneal

My thoughts on it were:

I will badge it as a Z/28 after the full Pro-touring upgrades have been done to it.

Since the drivetrain and suspension was gone many years ago, upgrading it is no big deal. However, if it wasn't a Z/28 at one time, I would not want to mark it as such. Technically at worst it's still a NOM Z/28, right, or would that imply a DZ 302 Engine etc. inside it? It's got to be better than a "clone, memorial or commemerative etc.

No, I think if I were looking for a Z/28 I would rather a "perfect" clone over a car with the correct serial number but everything else wrong.

Originally Posted by tyoneal

There were only 22,XXX Z/28 body's made in 1969. If I had a choice between two cars equally equiped, I would ALWAYS choose the Z/28 Body over any other type.

Wouldn't you'all?

There again, I'll say no. If I want a pro-touring car, I want a pro-touring car. Since there is no body difference between a "real" Z/28 and a plain Camaro, I don't think I'd be willing to pay more for a car just because of that serial number. I would only pay more if I were looking for a restoration. On a pro-touring car, I am going to be looking for the work that has been done, not as much on weather or not the emblem on the fender matches some magic number on the firewall.

Just my thoughts,
Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "inamorata"

[tyoneal]

Bill:

Thanks, I appreciate your point of view, you make some valid point points.

I looked at a really nice '69 Z a number of months before, and as nice as it was, I knew it would drive me crazy not being able to take advantage of some of the neat upgrades there are on the market. Plus for the money you could build a hell of a nice car that you could drive and really enjoy.

For fun I wanted a first generation Z/28 as I have had 3 prior to this one, a '67 Coupe, '68 RS, '69 SS.

Thanks again for your honesty,

Regards,

tyoneal