Saturday AACA car show . . .
Read MoreThis car is equipped with the RPO L78 396 CID V8 engine that makes 375 hp. This was the most horsepower available in a Camaro in 1969 except for the very limited production COPO cars, (either 9560 ZL1 or 9561 L72). An L78 Camaro could be fitted with optional aluminum heads, (RPO L89). But few were ordered, (only 311 were produced). If this car had aluminum heads, they would be silver in color, and not painted as seen in the photo above.
Though not nearly as rare as the 1967 Z28, this 1968 model is one of 7,199 made that year. Of the three first generation Z28 model years, 1968 is the hardest to authenticate. The cowl tag on 1967 and 1969 cars contains information that identifies the car as a Z28. For 1968, neither the cowl tag nor VIN number contain any identifying information. This means either a numbers-matching engine or some form of original paperwork is needed to verify authenticity.
Like the previous Camaros, the Chevelle was available with Chevrolet's 396 CID V8 in three stages of tune. This car features the base 325 hp version (RPO L35). Also available were a 350 hp version (RPO L34), and a 375 hp version (RPO L78). This car is one of 4,751 L78-equipped cars produced for 1968.
As a curious side note, both the 1968 Camaro and Corvette were available with RPO L89 aluminum heads. But there are no records of an L89 Chevelle in 1968. Online information suggests that only 7 were built, but no factory records exist to support that claim.The GTX arrived for 1967 as the top trim level in the Belvedere line, and was marketed as a “Gentleman’s Hot Rod” thanks to its upscale appointments. Engine choices were limited to either the 440 CID V8 (375 hp), or the mighty 426 CID Hemi V8 (425 hp).
For 1968, the GTX continued be marketed as the top trim level. It was joined in the showroom by the new Road Runner, which was designed to be the low cost basic trim level alternative to the upscale GTX. The GTX was still only available with the 440 and 426 engines, whereas the Road Runner came standard with the 383 CID V8 that makes 335 hp. This arrangement continued until the GTX's demise after 1971. This 1969 GTX convertible is a rare car, being one of 700 produced that year.Technically, the 1969 GT350 and GT500 were the last Shelby Mustangs to be produced, as all 1970 cars were actually produced as 1969 models, but given a new 1970 VIN number. Power comes from a 351 CID V8 that makes 290 hp. Like all Shelby Mustangs, this 1969 GT350 hardtop is a rare car, being one of 1,087 produced that year.
Three V8 engines were available in the 1961 Ford Galaxie. The base 292 CID V8 makes 175 hp. One level up was the 352 CID V8 that makes 220 hp. The top engine was Ford's 390 CID V8 that was available in several stages of tune making anywhere from 300 hp to a very limited production 401 hp Tri-Power version. I believe this car has the base 390, but I'm not sure.
For 1957, Ford offered two convertible body styles. The specialty Skyliner retractable hardtop convertible made its debut for 1957. Like the name suggests, the Skyliner features a fully retractable hardtop that folds away into the large trunk. It was complicated and expensive, (the most expensive Ford car that year), but still managed to find 20,766 buyers in 1957.
The other convertible available was the Sunliner seen in the photos above and below. This was a conventional soft-top convertible that, thanks to its lower price, outsold its hardtop convertible cousin by more than 3 to 1, (77,726 produced that year).Three engines were available for The Judge in 1970. This car has the base 366 hp 400 CID Ram Air III V8 that makes 366 hp. The Ram Air IV V8 was optional and features an underrated 370 hp. The new 360 hp 455 CID H.O. V8 became available very late in the model year, but only found its way into 17 cars that year.