Summary

One of 10 original Dick Harrell 427 '69 Camaros. This highly documented and correctly restored car is surely one of the finest. No expense was spared to bring this street and strip terror back to its original as built configuration from 1969.

Details

It was January of 1969 when the Chevrolet Assembly Plant in Norwood, Ohio shipped one Camaro SS396, Lemans Blue in color to Bill Allen Chevrolet in Kansas City, Missouri, a car that was subsequently delivered to the renowned Dick Harrell Performance Center just across town. This special ordered car was destined to be one of the just 10 new 1969 Camaros converted by Harrell to 427cid power plants and a host of other performance modifications to build one of the fiercest street/strip musclecars of the era. Dick Harrell, known from his drag racing successes as 'Mr. Chevrolet,' built a solid reputation particularly in the Midwest as a builder and tuner of some of the fastest Chevrolets just as they came out of his Kansas City operation. In 1969, Californian John Penso was a member of the crew for The Flying Dutchman Funny Car. John got to know Harrell as they frequented the same Drag Strip points meets across the land and at one point inquired with Harrell about one of his trick street/strip 427 Camaros that were building a reputation of their own. At first Harrell tried to interest Penso in a ZL1 that was in his inventory ready to go but Penso was unsure about the reliability of the all-aluminum motor with his plans for a combination of street and strip enjoyment. He settled on a built to spec iron block 427 SS Camaro and a good number of other Harrell Performance Center upgrades. John Penso instructed Harrell to build the car he dreamed of but put the 4.56 rear gears, the ZL1 camshaft and Lakewood traction bars in the trunk for later installation after his drive back home to California. And that's just what he did, ending up with an unbeatable Southern California street warrior. Unlike so many of the greatest sixties muscle cars, this car did survive intact albeit having gone through a few owners and a few moves, one as far away as Hawaii where it was tracked down by enthusiast Tim Lopata. A bit tired but amazingly still retaining the CE427 dated motor installed by Harrell, this car had actually never been wrecked, rusted or greatly modified over nearly four decades. An outstanding, no expense spared restoration was completed to bring this ultra-rare Camaro back to exactly as it appeared when new, ready to hit the track, the street or the show field. Certification from Dick Harrell Performance Center accompanies the car along with the original Chevrolet invoice to Bill Allen Chevrolet and a copy of Allen's February 1969 invoice of sale to Dick Harrell Performance Center. The original Norwood assembly plant Cowl Tag authenticating correct color, trim and build configuration is included with the other supporting documentation on this rare car. Well documented, properly restored and respected at any showing. Other supporting documentation and photography along with a breakdown of dated components will be included with the car.