Jeff,Very cool info!! Sent you a PM,Dan

 

It is interesting that they mention Yenko Stingers in the article because Dana and Yenko worked together on some projects in 1967. They both were involved with the 1967 L88 Corvette that went to LeMans with under the table Chevy factory support.

Dana sponsored one of the Yenko Stingers that ran on the west coast.

Dana and Yenko ran a ad in late 1966 where Dana was to sell the Yenko Stinger and Yenko was to sell the Dana 427 Camaro.

attached ad where the drawing looks similar to the 67 Camaro Dana drag car

 

Dana also sold their own Stingers thru the Yenko order program.The only one of three known to exist is in Tennessee.

 

I have copies of original paperwork on a Black 67 427 Harrell Nickey Camaro.Payment of $3673.65 receipt stub from Nickey dated Jan 6 1967.All this info was copied after I received it from the original owner Bob A and forwarded to Valerie Harrell by me. Right now from what I know thru talking to another "Known" person is Dana was the 1st to do the 427 Camaro transplant. I would say Dana first and Harrell right there next as far as first ones.

 

Bill Thomas and Dick Harrell were working on early Funny Cars and early 427 Camaros.

Bill had a fabrication shop and did work for Chevy on road race Novas and Corvairs before the Camaro came out so he had the connections to get started early on 427 Camaros.
Bill sold early big block conversion parts for 55-57 Chevys also.

Hard to say who had the first 427 Camaro on the road as Dana, Nickey, Bill Thomas, and Harrell were all working on them in late 1966.

They mention Bardahl in the article and here is a cool picture of an early looking car.

 

http://www.detroithorsepower.com/forum/index.php?topic=4101.0

Everyone was using Bill Thomas headers for their conversions including Nickey.The traction bars also came from Bill.I'm sure there were local drag racers/mechanics swapping Big Blocks into camaros not everyone needed Thomas,Nickey,Dana etc. to do it.

 

Joe,Real nice article in a magazine called Drag Strip on Mr Bardahl 427 67 Camaro. Issue is June of 1967.This car is on the cover.Car is a RS front end,car is all red with pin stripe coming down top of quarter,door and fender.Mentions Dick Harrell prepared 427 motor in the article.427 had twin AFB's.Mentions Guy Tipton was also associated with Bill Hielscher on this car.Real nice 6 page article.If you want Joe can I email you pictures to post on Team Camaro? Dan

 

Tim,This Mr Bardahl car used lift bars.Nice shot of them in the article where they mention Tyree Automotive as making them.Anyone ever here of Tyree Automotive?By the way on the top of the front fender it says Harrell.

 

http://www.detroithorsepower.com/forum/index.php?topic=4102.msg24639T

This was from July issue of CARS magazine.While doing research there was a question years ago on whether 67 Nickey camaros recieved emblems or not this showed they did.

 

Tim,Dana Chevrolet used Doug Headers,at least on the 1st couple cars...

 

Dan see if someone has a Dougs catalog to see when they made available headers for the BB 67.I shouldn't have said everyone off the cuff but I do believe thru all my research Bill did the first conversion.

 

Here's another company in Illinois offering 427 conversions.

http://www.detroithorsepower.com/forum/index.php?topic=4103.from1242403610;topicseen#msg24640

 

I believe the TACH article on Nickey is the earliest story on a 427 camaro conversion I don't have it in front of me so I can't compare mag dates.In it I don't believe there was a mention of Bill but I do believe Bill did the first conversion and first Nickey conversion .

 

Tim,Yes your right about the TACH article.I think I have it,just gotta find it in all my junk. Ok heres something,Popular Hot Rodding April 1967 Bill Thomas West Coast Nickey Chevrolet 427 1967 Camaro article. Shows they used traction bars not lift bar.Used Nickey Thomas Headers.

 

Tim,Found a Copy of the article in TACH.Don't have the whole Tach book so I can't tell the date of the article.I believe William sent me these copies years ago.It is about Nickey Harrell 1967 427 Camaros.Car Craft February 1967 has the 427 Nickey Chevrolet/Dick Harrell/Bill Thomas article.

 

The TACH article was january I believe? I posted the whole article on the Harrell site and tore it out of the mag to do it thats why I can't find it.

 

Not to leave Motion out of who did the first 1967 427 Camaro tranplant,but Hi Performance Cars magazine issue June 1967 has a Motion 427 Camaro .Shows a Dark Blue 1967 Camaro SS with funky 427 badge in center of grill.Shows it to be originally a SB SS car. First page says,Chevrolet dealer goes the performance route and scoops with the first warrantied aluminum head L-88 Camaro.Shows the car sitting in front of Baldwin Auto Company,Baldwin Chevrolet.It must of been before the Fantastic Four signs on the Dealership.No Fantastic Four signs on Dealership in picture.Could this be Motions first 1967 427 Camaro to be sold thru Baldwin Motion Chevrolet?

 

The Tach magazine was Jan 67. The magazines were later as they took a long time to come out.

The newspapers clips were as early as Oct 1966 with Nickey and Dana announcing 427 Camaros. They came out about the same time and were before the others as far as I can tell.

Motion was not long after them and did build 1 with an early L88.

Yenko was working on the early Z/28 race cars that had to be ready for Daytona.

here is a Dana ad and picture

 

The Tach magazine article has some great pictures of an early Camaro that looks like it was right off the car carrier.

It has the SS 350 grill and gas cap but not the V8 350 fender emblem.

Later cars just had SS on grill and gas cap

 

here is the last page of Tach article

a Nickey Camaro with Dick Harrell at the driver door

another pic of Bardahl drag car

pic of Nickey Camaro with guy working on the car in Bill Thomas jacket

 

Joe,Cool stuff ,the picture of the Red 67 Bardhl car is the same picture I have on my Drag Strip magazine ,issue June of 1967.This magazine has the 6 page article in it with lots of pictures of the car! Yes thats the TACH article I have,very cool Jan of 1967!! I also have a Motor Trend magazine dated September 1967.It shows the Nickey/Bill Thomas 1967 427 Camaro. SS350 in front grill and Nickey badges on front fenders.No 427 markers on outside of car.

 

Joe,The picture you posted of the RS 1967 Dana 427 Camaro with the "Special Dana" fiberglass hood is found in a magazine article I have.Magazine is Motor Trend issue is July 1967.Nice 2 page article on this car,5 pictures and cool info.NO 427 badges on front of fenders or grill.SS gas cap.

 

I have another magazine,called Car Life,issue April 1967.Real nice 4 page article with lots of pictures and info.Shows the same Dana RS 1967 Camaro but with the SS hood not "Special Dana" Fiberglass hood.No 427 badges on front of fenders,says SS there. This article shows a nice close up side shot.On the side of the front fenders it says-Dana ,then Camaro below that,then 427 with cross flags.

 

The picture with the guy in the red jacket was take at Bill Thomas Race Cars in Anaheim. The guy in the red jacket is Pat Lafon, while the other gentleman is Warren Williams.