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This is the rarest, most significant
Chevelle in existence. It is one of the most historically significant
Chevrolets, one of the most important muscle cars, and a milestone among
automobiles. |
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#1 Z16 Chevelle Malibu SS396 Engineering
Prototype |
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Documented and accepted as the first Z16 built.
The
Z16 was used to introduce the new 396 engine. The first SS396 Chevelle. This is THE Chevelle that
spawned ALL SS396 and SS454 Chevelles that followed. L78, LS6 - All factory Mark IV big block Corvettes, Camaros, Novas,
Impalas likely followed this car. None
known have an earlier build date. |
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In late December, 1964, a
Malibu SS rolled off the assembly line at Chevrolet’s Baltimore, Maryland
assembly plant. It was a nice SS and loaded with options, but really not that
special: Regal Red with a black vinyl top and black interior and options were
power steering, power brakes, power windows, tilt wheel, AM-FM radio, two
speed wipers ……..and a 300hp 327 with a four speed trans. It is probably not
a coincidence that the car was equipped this way. According to former 1960’s
Chevrolet Engineering employee Art Armstrong, Engineering specified the
equipment they wanted and the car was ordered by D.H. McPherson or a
subordinate to have as many options and details as near their specifications
for the Z16 as possible. Upon completion the third week of December at the
Baltimore plant, instead of the normal shipment to a dealer, this car was
immediately shipped to the Chevrolet Engineering Tech Center in Detroit,
Michigan where it arrived by December 21, 1964. The Engineering Center then
began the task of converting this car into the first Z16. Many of the unique
Z16 parts were, of course, not yet in production, so many of them were hand
built and fitted. Apparently, once the prototype parts were deemed
satisfactory, they were approved for production. D.H. McPherson was the executive in charge of the
project and reportedly drove this prototype for some months after it was
built. Art Armstrong believes it very likely the car saw time at the Milford
Proving Ground (Chevrolet’s test track and facility near Detroit) as was
common with pilot cars and test mules. The official assignment of the car to
the Engineering Center was for an “experimental check”. It was sold by
Engineering (through a dealer) in February 1966. Chevrolet General Manager “Bunkie” Knudsen,
introduced the Z16 at Chevrolet’s Desert Proving Ground in Arizona in
February or March, 1965. An article in the May, 1965 issue of Mechanix
Illustrated confirms this. The first known Kansas City built production Z16
was built in late February, 1965, so it stands to reason that the two
prototype pilot cars were two of the cars at the introduction. While the #1 Z16 appears like all other “normal”
Z16s at first glance, there are a great many small details that the Chevrolet
enthusiast will pick up on. “Sample”, “Experimental” and vendor tags and
markings on many parts make the #1 Z16 not only unlike any other Z16, but a
true one-of-a-kind car! *** The #1 Z16 was a very unmolested car prior to being
restored in 1989. The original, untouched interior was intact. The engine had never been out, and all
sheetmetal - except for a strip at the leading edge of the roof where it had
rusted under the vinyl top - is original. This car has been owned by noted Z16 collectors
Chris Daniels and Terry Gunter (each have owned nine Z16’s, with Chris
restoring many himself). Floyd Garrett
purchased the car in 1989 and hired Doug Garrett (no relation) to restore
it. Dave Miner later owned the car,
along with three other Red Z16’s. |
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1989 Chevelle Report CLICK HERE! |
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Information
presented is believed true by the author (Dave Miner) and every effort has
been made to verify the facts. Information is offered with no absolute
guarantee of |
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Home |
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www.Z16Chevelle.com Contact: |
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More information on this #1 Z16 on the pages below! Scroll down this and each page for many photos! |
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Original Owner and Photos!!! |
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