Image: Chevrolet

You may have caught the recent announcement at the Chicago International Auto Show for the 2012 Camaro ZL1. But wait a moment – wasn’t there a Z/28 that was supposed to be announced? We know that’s what we were expecting, which means that Chevrolet still has something up its sleeve. Still, the Camaro ZL1 will be loaded for bear to confront the Shelby GT500 when it debuts in the not-too-distant future.

The new Camaro ZL1 takes inspiration from the 1969 Camaro ZL1, a Chevrolet whose very existence is due to a dealership in LaHarpe, IL named Fred Gibb Chevrolet.

Image: firstgencamaro.com

Image: firstgencamaro.com

Chevrolet, like all manufacturers, grouped options in segments. For example, the special performance package that gave you a 302cui and 4-speed came to be known as the Z/28 because the box you checked on the order form was coded Z28.

Likewise, the special aluminum 427 available on the Corvette was coded ZL1. This motor was basically an aluminum version of the L88 race motor available from 1967-69 and (under)rated at 430 horsepower.

As General Motors had a engine limit for its smaller cars excepting the Corvette, that meant the 396 was the biggest regular production engine available for the Camaro. So how did 427 Camaros come to be? Through Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order (COPO), a channel usually reserved for fleet orders.

Chevrolet was already building Camaros with the L72 427/425 (known as COPO 9651, with a bunch going to Yenko Chevrolet), so Fred Gibb Chevrolet was able to convince the brass at GM to build a Camaro with the Corvette’s ZL1 motor.

Chevrolet did this with the condition that Gibb purchase 50 cars. This would later prove problematic because Gibb didn’t realize the engine package alone would cost more than $4,000, pushing the price of a ZL1 north of $7,300. Consider that the average price of a car in 1969 was around $3,900 and it’s no wonder Gibb had trouble selling the cars.

Image: fwallpapers.com

All told, 69 ZL1 Camaros were built under COPO 9560. The package plus mandatory extras consisted of the following:

• Aluminum ZL1 427/430
• Dual exhaust
• ZL2 Cowl Induction hood
• Transistorized ignition
• Heavy-duty 4-row core 23-inch radiator
• F62 heavy-duty front springs
• G32 heavy-duty rear five-leaf springs
• Heavy-duty 8.875-inch 12-bolt rear axle with 4.10 gears or lower
• G80 Positraction limited slip rear
• J52 Power Front Disc Brakes
• Muncie M20, M21 or M22 4-speed (wide-, close- or HD close-ratio) or HD TH400 automatic
• PL5 F70x14 white letter tires on 14-inch wheels

To get the full story on the ZL1 Camaro, visit the Camaro Research Group.