Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Nees
And just for the record, the 350/255 Camaro was ONLY available with a FLAT hood!
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Not totally correct, Billy. The ZL2 option cowl hood was introduced in the salesman's option book in October 1968 shortly after the introduction of the 1969 model year. It was available on the Z28, which it was designed for, from the beginning. Starting in October, the ZL2 option could be checked if the car was also equipped with the Z29 Super Sport package. Then, central planning released the Pace Car package which was roughly equivalent to an SS and included the hood as part of the "recommended" options. Sales strategies and customer demand dictated that the Pace Car package not be a necessarily performance option, but a visual package that included items that promoted the performance image of the Camaro and the Indy 500, so the base required engine was a four barrel engine so the ZL2 hood could be installed. Hence the 350-255 was the base engine that had to be ordered if a Pace Car package equipped car was purchased. Many Pace Cars were sold with the 350-255. Since the 1969 production year was abnormally long due to the late introduction of the 1970 model and the immense popularity of the 1969 models, by late April of 1969 to the end of the production in September, the lines got really blurred about restrictions of option combinations. The ZL2 hood option became available on any four-barrel equipped Camaro by that time, so 350-255 cars did come with the hood.
As a personal note, I coached a friend of mine in optioning a 1969 Camaro he ordered. He was attending college at the time and was receiving some money from his dad who required "no hot rod". He ordered a base Camaro with an F41 suspension, 350-255, four speed, positraction, spoilers, ZL2 hood, disc brakes, HD rear axle, custom interior and several other comfort features. Nice car. Not too fast, but one that many would covet today.