Toy Room,
There was 1, 1968 camaro Z/28 Convertible made for a GM executive.
No T-Top that I know of.

Billy

 

My brain is still trying to process the SS Z/28. So, I guess that would be that ultra-rare car that comes with two engines? I would, of course, be interested in how that gentleman reconciled two option codes that each specify a different engine coexisting in a single car.

The '68 T-Tops car usually parks right next to the SS-327 at most car shows, BTW.

 

Maybe with the top half way down, the convertible is a T-top?
Any car is a SS / RS / Z/28 with the addition of the badges. I am beginning to believe all Camaros were Z/28s.
I have a friend that put a RS horn cap on his 67 Chevelle. Most people at the car show didn't find it unusual.
Ignorance is bliss, and there are a lot of people out there living in bliss.
Our 68 RS has no badges on the outside other than the gas cap. Guess that makes it a Plain Jane.
You have to live with them, they are everywhere.

 

Maybe he seen these

 

About 25 years ago I had one mechanic tell me that my SS/RS was a SS badged RS. He said that you couldn’t get the two packages combined. I didn’t dispute his statement, however I about bit my tongue off keeping quiet.

FWIW, he didn’t work on my car. I had stopped by where he worked to pick up some parts.

 

He’s off about 10 years. I was 18 in ‘78 working at Frank Woods Pontiac as a service runner when the T-top TA’s came out. I thought that was the coolest thing and wished my 70 Camaro had them. I thoroughly enjoyed driving the new TA’s and that’s when I learned you could put the T400 in 1st and stay WOT and it would change itself into 2nd and snag a good second. Lol

 

So we as the “fault finders” in people who don’t know as much about cars, what do we do? Brand their forehead? Shoot them? Or?


My grandfather bought a ’65 C10 brand new in March 1965. I now have the truck.
Used to be an old man that lived here that always asked about my grandfather’s ‘64. Up until he passed, on some of my runs in to town, I’d swing by the nursing home, pick him up and take him to the local burger stand for something to eat. He alway’s went back and told the nurses at the home that he got to ride in “Mr Webb’s 64” (Webb was my grandfather)

My 67 Camaro gets called a Mustang, or 69, my wife’s old Bronco gets called a Blazer. all usually preceded by “Nice xxx” to which we just respectfully reply “Thank You”

What good is it to argue with someone over something so trivial? Life is way too short

 

So we as the “fault finders” in people who don’t know as much about cars, what do we do? [...] to which we just respectfully reply “Thank You”

What good is it to argue with someone over something so trivial? Life is way too short

Most of the time, people are sharing their comments not because they want to learn, but because they want to share their vast knowledge. So, correcting them won't generally work very well. Occasionally, you'll find some who are happy to be wrong and to learn, but those are the exceptions.

I used to have a young, brilliant guy on my team at work. I used to always preach to him about the "burden of being right." Just because you're right doesn't mean you can go around explaining to people how they're wrong (and expect them to accept it). For him, it was all about picking the right battles and finding tactful ways of expressing his position. For us, it's not a lot different.

I think a soft correction is fine, see where that goes. You can learn pretty quickly if the other person is willing to die on the "there was a 396 Z/28 option in 1967" hill or not. Then, just nod, per your advice, and wish them well.

For those who love sociology/psychology and want to better understand why there are so many misguided "experts" on Camaros (and other cars), look up the Dunning-Kruger effect on YouTube. It explains everything!

 

I put a 302/290 sticker on my air cleaner lid because I could…..engine is a 6 cylinder. I loved listening to friends debate this at a car cruise or show.

 

I thought at one time American Sunroof made a T Top kit for first gens. Site does not show it, of course it would be such low volume to not be worth it.
On that note a friend RIP added an electric sunroof to his 79 Z28. Took it to a shop. Wrong template. Sunroof fell through the hole. Do not recall whether they went with a larger sunroof or welded it back in. Always leaked and became a dry weather ride only.

 

I thought at one time American Sunroof made a T Top kit for first gens. Site does not show it, of course it would be such low volume to not be worth it.
On that note a friend RIP added an electric sunroof to his 79 Z28. Took it to a shop. Wrong template. Sunroof fell through the hole. Do not recall whether they went with a larger sunroof or welded it back in. Always leaked and became a dry weather ride only.

40 years ago I saw a 1969 on the highway with T-tops. Just didn't look right.

 

40 years ago there was an outfit in Columbia SC who would install a T-Top on your 2nd gen F body. I wanted one on my wife’s ‘75 Camaro but never did it. Now glad I didn’t waste our money on one. But never saw a T-Top on a first gen.

 

I thought the T-top popularity was Smokey and The Bandits fault.
At least the aftermarket hack job ones.

 

When ever the first gen Z28/SS/RS discussion or debate comes up, I keep it simple by telling who ever seems to be confused that,.. the Z28 and SS are performance options while the RS is a dress up or cosmetic option. That's why you can have an SS/RS, a Z28/RS (or a standard Camaro RS).......but you can't have an SS/Z28.

If they still question it, I mention the main element of the Z28 option is the 302ci engine, (the only engine available in it) while the SS came with either the 350 or 396....but usually the performance vs cosmetic option fact settles things.

 

I’ve been a huge Camaro guy my entire life and I believe you are absolutely correct, there was a 1968 RS/SS L78 model with a 396 cu inch and a 12 bolt rear end / only 272 were built to my knowledge and no Camaro had T Tops!

 

morrisclassic is right, there was 1 '68 Z/28 Convertible built for Pete Estes GM exec. that was most influencial in bringing the Z/28 into production. I have seen the car at Camaro Nationals.

 

I see plenty of those rare SS’s with the Z/28 options on the road- the double stripes down the hood and trunk on an SS are a dead giveaway- lol

 

He’s the guy that sold the 327 out of a 68 Z28 convertible to the man I was talking to the other day…

 

Uhhh… Come on guys. For confirmation that the extremely rare rsSS Z/28 actually exist, go to any Facebook Camaro Group.
Oh yeah, and you’ll also find out that every 1st Gen Camaro made came with rally stripes.

 

And don't forget the sticker on the radiator.

 

I agree with Frank, the first gen Z 28's, were "fully optioned". You could get a Z28/RS, but to the best of my knowledge the only options added were the hide away headlights and the tail lights were different with the reverse lights in the body below the bumper. In the gentlemens defense, i have scene many car shows on tv where the Z28/RS was referred to as a "Z28/RS/SS" by the so called experts on tv. So that may be where he is getting his info?

 

I just love when someone asks if the 454 came stock in my 68 or they look at my car and ask if it's all original

 

Take into account my fellow enthusiasts, that just because it wasn't officially offered for sale to the general public, doesn't mean Chevrolet engineers didn't make 1 or more as experimental prototypes and somehow it ended into private hands. "They NEVER built a Convertible Z/28". They never built this or that. "Pilot cars are not to be owned by anyone, but GM. They're not legal for the street and will be crushed upon the start of production ". And so on....I've seen my share of "they never did it, built that", and I can tell you for a fact, nothing....and I mean nothing that surfaces is out of the question of possibilities. Remember the C3 Corvette? T-Tops. Engineers need to try and see feasibility. Prove me wrong.

 

But we know about most of those things because we can find a paper trail. Eventually, someone uncovered the paperwork on the 68 Z28 Convertible, e.g. While many things happened that shouldn't have happened back then, there were traces, engineering drawings, work orders, and so on. Where is all of that stuff to support your theory here on T-Tops? I don't know that it's our job to prove you wrong ... rather, the converse is true.

 

Photos from the GM grounds…from the CRG site I believe. Pretty sure a T top was possible and might have escaped the property, just like the others that were not supposed to make it out alive. Check out the roof….

 

I would hardly call those "t-tops"....targa roof perhaps, but not t-top roof.
Back then, every European car maker was experimenting or offering Targa tops so, I can see why Chevrolet might have played around with the idea, just like the few 1st and 2nd gen Camaro station wagons.

 

Well that blows alot of thoughts out of the water. I had never seen that before. I'm kinda glad they didn't continue it. I don't like it, but each their own. Good detective work.👍🇺🇸

 

We are pretty knowledgeable on Camaros, but not on DeSotos for example, so I just take it in stride when someone asks a interesting question. How about a removable hardtop, saw a split window done an Fatomworks.

 

Wondering if that prototype T-Top had a removable rear window ala Corvette. Otherwise it would be like sitting in a wind vortex!

 

It looks to me like it is more of a retractable roof that slides back. The area behind it looks like it been enlarged. Fugly!

 

No, not in this lifetime.
Just my opinion, your Camaro, outfit it like you would like it.