Were any '68 shipped original with cowl hoods? Stupid question, I know. I think the answer is "no" but figured I'd ask the experts anyway.

No. :)

Pete Estes 68 Z28 convertible was, but that wasn't exactly a production car.

Pete Estes 68 Z28 convertible was, but that wasn't exactly a production car.

Not his either; I have copies of the original paperwork for it. It was built as a standard Z/28 and later retrofitted with the hood and possibly a cross-ram.

Later, as in at the engineering department before it got to his garage, or later as in after he had it for a while?

It absolutely didn't have it when it rolled out the door of the Norwood plant, on its way to engineering (or his house).

Who knows. There are photos of it on display at Road America late in '68 and it has the hood. By then there was a press photo of a '69 Z/28 with a ducted hood. Probably both fiberglass.

Probably both fiberglass.

I agree - I shot these of the Estes Z/28 at Al Maynard's home about seven years ago; fiberglass cross-ram hood. :thumbsup:

ok assuming the 68 conv. Z does not count...what was the first steel cowl hood?? I always thought it was the first ZL-1...but was there a Yenko prototype built before that with the cowl hood.....apparently the first Yenko is being auctioned at Mecum in May...when was that built?? I assume it had the cowl hood....??? just curious...

The earliest 1969 Camaro currently known to have been built with ZL-2 is the #1 ZL-1.

The first batch of Yenkos L-72 COPOs were built a few weeks later; there was no "Prototype." There may be a COPO built just prior to the 1st Yenko that went to a different dealer.

Thanks William !!