Brought Home The Dream: '69 RS Z/28

[mssl72]

Ahhhhh, that sounds nice...

[cruiserofland]

As I learn more about the history of the car, another question for y'all: anyone know of Foreign & Domestic Auto Body in Libertyville, Illinois?

This car was restored there from around 2000-2010 (or possibly earlier), I believe by the owner of the body shop, who then unexpectedly passed away not long after finishing the car. I understand that he bought it to restore from the original owner, and since the car was sold new at Ferris Bros Chevrolet in Harvard I'm guessing the car spent those first thirty years in Illinois, then about ten years around Tucson and the last two years here in California.

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

Better fix the Amp Gauge, needle is jumping around. Glad you are enjoying your Z...

[cruiserofland]

Originally Posted by Mr.Nickey Nova

Better fix the Amp Gauge, needle is jumping around. Glad you are enjoying your Z...

Yeah, I need to check if it’s a gauge problem or a true reading of alternator output.

Turns out this car has the seemingly hard-to-find factory-style non-finned rear brake drums. I’m thinking to save these and run parts counter finned replacements since I plan to keep putting miles on the car. Just about every time I turn a wrench I learn something new about these cars!

Interestingly the drums are different left and right. Left side is p/n 3841177, which I think is the OE number but I don’t see a date code. Right side is p/n 3993560 which might be the early ‘70s replacement part? Note that the star adjuster windows haven’t been knocked out. Fun stuff.

Also pulled a wheel trim ring to see the date code. Looks like August 4th so not original to the 2D car but still fun to have YH wheels.

Happy New Year, all!

[Jonesy]

Your are right, the drivers side drum 3841177 is correct. The pass side is a later model drum.

[Mr.Nickey Nova]

Date code on the 560 drum looks like Feb.23 of 73??

[cruiserofland]

Aha! Yeah, looks like maybe a leading 8 actually on the 560 drum. Maybe during the resto the restoring owner could only source one of each. I don’t see any other markings on the 3841177 drum - maybe a replacement drum didn’t have a date stamping?

[cruiserofland]

Did some research on Newspapers.com to learn about the history of the original delivery dealer for this car, Ferros Bros Chevrolet & Buick in Harvard, Il. Figured it might be of interest if any others have a car from dealer code 164, zone 61

Ferris Bros went out of business in the late '70s, and the only car that comes up in an internet search of them is a yellow '70 LT1 'Vette that sold at Mecum Indy in 2017 so not sure how many performance cars came out of there. Still, fun stuff. Pretty cool they would just put the sales manager's phone number in the paper!

Also curious that the NCRS report erroneously has the dealer in Wisconsin... and this 02D car was, like many, built in early March, this one on the 6th.

The archaeology aspect of the hobby is pretty fun too

Anyone from the area recognize the dealer?

"Good deals are made on Ferris Wheels!"

[cruiserofland]

I decided to honor the history of the car a little bit and make up a Ferris Bros license plate frame. Since they’re from the Midwest I would bet they did dealer emblems at the time but being a California kid (and the concept being a bolt-on) I went for a frame, with the style influenced by so many classic California dealers.

The title blocks are 3D-printed in ABS plastic, then I hand-painted the letters, bonded the blocks to an old frame I had, and then clearcoated the blocks. I decided to leave the black print texture as it both mimicks the texture often found behind vintage license frame letters and showcases how this one was made. And then up close it’s clear that this isn’t original but a modern riff on a classic look.

Pretty happy with the result

[ELEFUNTMAN]

Great job!!