Trim tag
 

Hello I was wondering if anyone is knowledgeable on 1967 Camaro trim tags. Is this what they called a “Blue Topper” brass hat executive pace car that was at the track in 1967? I thought that all O-1 cars were festival cars and the only difference between the two is that this one is O-4 for a blue top. It also has the O161A code as well. Thanks for any help.

The Pace Car program in 1967 was a local Indianapolis Zone under taking that was backed, in full, by the Central Office. According to the surviving Zone managers that Tony Habib tracked down and interviewed - Blue top was the appearance that Chevrolet Officials actually wanted the Pace Car to look like and there was political pressure involved and friction between IMS and Chevrolet in advance of the race.

Anton Tony Holman of IMS strictly specified "white cars with white tops" and then after pressure to accept Blue toppers by Chevrolet- Holman got mad and then pushed back and required Chevrolet to pre-deliver two pace car replicas to IMS one full week in advance of the scheduled delivery of the full Zone 25 commitment fleet to IMS - all for simple cosmetic approval by Holman.

Norwood Plant Manager Herb Leitz personally represented Chevrolet at the pre-delivery meeting at IMS.

Chevrolet then pushed back and produced blue toppers anyway at IMS with Zone managers and Brass arriving in Blue Toppers at IMS for the race.

So based upon interviews of Zone personnel, and Management, including the Norwood Plant Manager, - there should be a total of 10 Blue Top Camaro Super Sports used by the 10 Top Indy Metro Area Zone Managers and another batch of 7 or 8 Blue Top Pace Car Replicas that were used for the visiting Brass from Chevrolet Central Office.

Below is Zone Manager David Welday at IMS with his "Official Vest" on.

Thank you! Very helpful information. Shane