[JOE58]

Does anyone know the exact reason that Chevy gives for why the 1969 Camaro production ran late. I have read that there was a strike but since there was more then one assembly plant, was there a strike in both plants? Or was there a strike before the retooling to convert the lines for 1970 Camaro production?

[X77D80]

Good question! I'd like to know as well. I have one of the latest 69 Camaros out there. It's an 11A car and the vin is 123479N711330.
Anyone have one later??
See link below for pics.

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69 Z/28
www.camarogenerations.com

[gheatly]

The reason I have heard for production running late was because GM was having preproduction problems with the new 1970 body style. Rather than stop production of the already successful 1969 model, GM continued to produce it until the kinks were worked out of the new model.

[68SS396]

X77D80, I checked out your pictures, nice car. Yours is now the latest one I know about. Previously the latest one I knew was a six cyl 711297

[Joe B]

As a side note Chevrolet's back up plan (in case the new Camaro couldn't be ready) was to turn the '69 Camaro models into 1970 (minor, if any changes) models. They even had photo's (1969 Camaros with 1970 Licence plates ready for brochures etc). There was all kinds of law suits over the dealers selling '69 models as '70's. It was deemed necessary at that time to change the styling every two/three years. Ironically the second generation lasted 12 years.

Here's a headline from one of the double page '70 magazine ads that ran:

"New Camaro. Now our competitors know how the captain of the Titanic felt."

This advertisement had artwork as opposed to photography very common back then in advertising.

the closing tag read:

See it, Feb. 26th At your Chevrolet Sports Dept.



[This message has been edited by Joe B (edited 12-07-2000).]

[Mark C]

N711922 is the last VIN of record, so yours must be about the last day of production.


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Mark Canning
1969 Indy Pace Car
350/300HP RPO Z11

[76Maro]

We just had this same argument over at the 2nd Generation Camaro board, with no resolution. I have heard both stories, but one of my car mags recently stated that it was a strike which postponed the introduction of the 1970 Camaro.

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1976 Type LT Restification (in progress)

1968 2 door sport coupe...wife's car!

[John68rs]

CHP says it was a strike in this months issue. But that's just what they say ~ John

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1968 RS, 355/4spd/12 blt w/3.55's.www.camarogenerations.com

[pete b]

JohnZ, where are you...

[tom3]

I remember reading somewhere a long time ago that the 70 was really intended to be a 71, the 69 to run through 70. The impending emissions and the Mustang intro got GM into high gear and the car came out early, not late as we believe. Probably, we'll never know.

[JohnZ]

As I recall, there were several critical failures during tryout of nearly-completed major body panel dies at Fisher Body; modifications didn't fix the problems, and the first-stage draw dies for the quarter panels had to be redesigned and started all over again. Major draw dies of this nature take over a year to make under normal circumstances, and the die shops had to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to cast, machine, finish, and run press tryout on the redesigned dies in only 8 months. Chevrolet also had major problems with the front of the fender dies that probably would have delayed the program anyway, but the Fisher delay kept that issue from surfacing. This was back in the days well before the computerized draw die simulation technology we enjoy today, when dies were designed manually from wooden surface models that represented the inside of the metal surface. Computers spot these metal-forming issues today before any die work is started. Back in 1969, the first Texas Instruments calculator was considered to be an electronic miracle, and all the best mainframe computers could do was print invoices and paychecks. We've come a long way...in those days, the level of individual personal computer power each of us enjoy tonight on this forum occupied a three-story building and took about 20 full-time people to maintain. Ah, progress....

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JohnZ
'69 Z28 Fathom Green

[pete b]

Thanks John!

[pipeman]

Did I hear John Z correct, We can make our own body panels with our home computer,WOO HOO, any body need any q-panels?

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69 rallye green X77 Z/28,1967 SS 396 Conv. 1974 c-10 454 swb

[67rs327]

I really dont care why the kept making 69's well in to 70 I am just glad they did !!! just think if they had stopped the 69 production when they were supposed to the number of 69 camaro's would have been way less than it is and the number of the first generic camaros would be way more !!!!
SCARY ISN'T IT ,,,,,,,

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67 RS 327 deluxe tach gauges , camaro's rule !

[This message has been edited by 67rs327 (edited 12-08-2000).]

[1st & 2nd GENGuy]

From the book The Great Camaro by Michael Lamm "But complications of various sorts crept into the program, and introduction of the new body style had to be postponed until Feb. 1970-thus the 19701/2 model designation."