An Old Friend (and I mean old) suggested he bought a new 68 Camaro with a 302 from the factory - it was NOT a Z28 he says (very sure he says)

Now, a 307 maybe, but a 302 in a non Z28 is something I thought rather strange - was this possible, even dealer installed?

Thanks.

No, engine code for a 68 302 would be MO. 307's didn't appear till 69.
I think, experts here may know otherwise.

Early 68 Z28's didn't have the Z28 emblems on the front fenders. Instead they had 302 emblems. Maybe he had a 68 Z but just didn't know it. Ask him if it had stripes.

wouldnt that be a kicker? having a z28 and not know?...i have heard that back in the 67-69 years, the customer could practicaly order ANY option they wanted...

I had an early '68 with no Z/28 badges, but it did have 302 badges and stripes.

The 302 was option Z28 (special engine) so it could not come any other way.

The guy does not recall correctly, maybe it was really a 1969.

Ask him want type of trans was in the car? 4 sp only with 302 engine, no AT.

Dealer installed option? Only if a complete 302 was available over the counter as a service part (which I believe it was). The dealer (locally in Tampa anyway) would install anything into anything if you had the bucks to meet flat rate labor and didn't mind voiding the factory warranty. I was associated (loosely) with two dealerships in Tampa (Ferman Motors, and Abraham Chevrolet). Both had several cars sponsored into various arenas of motor sports (drags, circle track, and road-racing), and employed a large staff with similar aspirations.

I have watched five 454 HO's go in place of the factory 305 before being shipped to Clearwater to be armor plated and then flown to Saudi Arabia for their ultimate use by the royal Saud family. I have seen 302 and 350 HO service engines installed in Camaros, Chevelles and Vegas and Chevette's as a dealer installed option. I have also seen two 502's go were a 350 feared to tread in some K20 Silverado pick-ups. I have similarly watched Detroit diesels go into wrecker chassis' with the gas engine pulled out and sold on the floor of the shop to the highest bidder (around $350 for a new 350 EFI LT1 engine).

Was it possible only if you had money, and didn't want to wait for a COPO (which Ferman routinely ordered for their clients). Exclusivity is in how you want to define it. If only a factory built car, documented with a trunk full of paper counts; that is fine by me. I have been and probably will remain, only interested in the car, not the paper (you can't have as much fun with paper; unless you’re a lawyer or accountant).


Larger Dave


PS: Check Sarasota County's stats (located just south of Tampa on south side of bay) It has the highest per capita number of millionaires in the US. Tampa is home to CENCOM and SOCOM so every person who has a interest in the middle east and their oil money comes through town. Ferman Olds is the oldest GM dealership in the country, and Abraham (formerly owned by Mr. Ibrahim) used to be the largest US dealership so they had some clout with the Central Office when it came time for production orders. Tampa Bay is the ninth largest metropolitan area in the US so there is a large volume of cars going through the nine dealerships (Chevy) in town.

i have heard that back in the 67-69 years, the customer could practicaly order ANY option they wanted.

All special orders needed F&SO approval. Even special paint had to go thru the COPO office so you could not order any option you wanted unless Chevy allowed you to.

Hey Larger Dave, I just recently found out my 69 X-11 was bought at Ferman Chevrolet.