ZL-1 Camaro

[PeteLeathersac]

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Awesome shot of Rollie Johnson’s Rat Patrol ‘70 Camaro w/ Original Engine from ZL1 #54.
Thanks to Pro Stock John for posting the picture over on this other great thread…
https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=177759

~ Pete

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[PeteLeathersac]

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Here’s an early picture of the ‘68 car that may as well land here too.
Reportedly it’s the same car as Post-72 on Page-8 but before Rat Patrol paint job.
Anyone w/ more info/pics of either Rat Patrol or ZL1 #54 also any Cliff Bristow cars, please share.

~ Pete

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[PeteLeathersac]

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Check out this Cliff Bristow Ad from 08/70, specifically the BRAND NEW ‘69 Camaro at the bottom.
454 Auto w/ No miles + PS/PB and VT also Custom Interior too, good chance it’s ZL1 #54 after its Original
Alloy Engine was removed for rehoming in the new ‘70 Rat Patrol Camaro?
Thanks again PSJ for getting me going on this subject again as I have more saved yet to post.

~ Pete

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[PeteLeathersac]

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A few more Cliff Bristow Ads + Clippings w/ either he or RJ and the Rat Patrol cars.
Note 10/16/70 Ad w/ 454 Camaro, likely ZL1 #54 again as above 08/70 Ad still available?
More to come!

~ Pete

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[PeteLeathersac]

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It’s 1972 and Cliff Bristow Motors running smoothly, lots of GM product rolling through their doors including family cars/trucks also performance cars and parts plus racing success w/ the ZL1 powered Rat Patrol Camaro!
Perhaps we’ll get lucky and Cliff himself will show up here again w/ more to add but looking at these next few Newspaper Ads and articles, things seem to go from good to bad very quickly.
It’s April and the Rat Patrol Camaro is up for sale, perhaps Cliff and RJ had a new Vega in the works?
May 28/72 came the Fire, then things got even more difficult as the Bank put the squeeze on.
Reading the 03/74 article, a fella can’t help but feel for the Bristows as they dealt w/ all that was happening.
Amazing how quickly Cliff got things done on likely no sleep plus totally understandable why stop payments issued when the bank didn’t follow through on their end.
Although all too late to save Bristow Motors, it’s cool the 1974 Judge seemed to understand and sympathize w/ the facts also offer the lowest sentence possible.
Here’s to Cliff Bristow also Rollie Johnston and the ZL1 powered Rat Patrol!

~ Pete

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[PeteLeathersac]

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…Rollie was a man of many passions.
In the late 60’s, Rollie met fellow car racing enthusiast Cliff Bristow. They partnered together, and with the help of Head Mechanic Dallas Hehr,
Rollie built the engine for “The Rat Patrol” and then raced the car for several years, and was the 1971 NHRA Canadian Points Champion…

Above an excerpt from a tribute to Rollie Johnston, Driver of the ZL1 powered Rat Patrol ‘70 Camaro who passed away exactly two years ago today, link here…
https://strathmoretimes.com/2022/joh...roland-rollie/

Rollie Johnston - ‘70 Camaro 427 Rat Patrol
1971 Records: 1/4 Mile: 9.485 ET, 146.10 MPH 1000 Ft. 0.000 ET, 0.00 MPH 1/8 Mile: 6.180 ET, 115.08 MPH
1971 Average: 1/4 Mile: 10.161 ET, 137.00 MPH 1000 Ft. 0.000 ET, 0.00 MPH 1/8 Mile: 6.465 ET, 109.33 MPH
1971 Minimum: 1/4 Mile: 10.837 ET, 128.45 MPH 1000 Ft. 0.000 ET, 0.00 MPH 1/8 Mile: 6.795 ET, 104.02 MPH

Below Pics reportedly the Original Engine from ZL1#54 after extensive repairs/rebuild as this 2017 thread…
https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=144923

~ Pete

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[jerry j]

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=144923

[jerry j]

https://www.yenko.net/forum/attachme...1&d=1704833963