So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=SC0512-126287

An original engine unrestored 62 Bubble Top Z11 - with aluminum front end?

They don't say anything about the background of this car and that really makes me wonder where it's been all these years.

I don't think I've seen one of these in the flesh for many, many years.

Anybody know anything about this car?

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

I would have to guess a museum or private collection.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

My understanding is that they made 12 aluminum front end Impalas.
As far as a Z-11 I'm pretty sure they were 63 only

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

That's what I had always believed. A local racer with close ties to Bill Thomas and Dickie Harrell managed to get some Z11 parts in the summer of 63 for his 63 Biscayne. He told me he had been chasing them since they were introduced earlier in the year.

He was always a straight shooter but I never decided about his story that a couple of years later a guy in a suit came to his shop wanting the parts back. He said the man had GM employee identification and that the parts had odd, 5 digit part numbers with a large X cast in.

I don't know much about this era so I never knew whether to take the story as gospel or not.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Chevy did make those front ends for 62. Detroit dragway always held a race before the US Nationals, in August of 62 Dyno, Strickler-Jenkins and Frank Sanders showed up for this race with the parts on the cars before heading to Indy they were not approved and Sanders and Dyno went out got rental cars and swap front ends for the race I seem to remeber that Sharkman was there also. BTW that where the First 62 lite weight Fords showed up ther were ten of those but they had fiberglass hood, fenders, doors and decklids they also had Alum bumpers.
Zintmaster Chey in Kokomo, Ind had a Z-11 Impala it has been in several Mags over the years. It was White

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

So there were Z11s in 62? Or just the aluminum? I wonder who needed the most help. My impression is that the Fords were heavier than the Chevys but I'm just guessing.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

My belief that the Z-11 was 63 Impala Sport Coupe only. John Hagen ran a red one and I remember it running 11.80. Pretty fierce in 63.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Z-11 heads look like big block heads?

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Dave Colbert has posted on here with a lot of info about the Z-11's and cars and uses the name Bad Banana. He posted pictures of a '63 I believe he had from new and raced.

Dave's cars were alwasy fast..........

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Jeez,an AMC guy has to give the straight scoop on this.Bill,go to your room.







51 more to go.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Ed.......51 more to go of what untill what........????

51 More days.....and than what....
51 More beers...and than you switch to Tequila
51 More cigars....and than you go with a pinch...
51 More guns.....and than.....Oh Boy....

I'm bored.....

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Rich posts to reach 5000.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Also had a two piece intake if I remember.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

It seems that the late year releases of factory performance parts included aluminum front fenders ,hoods, etc. for the '62 cars. Also available were the two piece intakes and the high port Z-11 style heads. Those didn't get called Z-11's until the '63 car came out. If you put those heads and the aluminum on a '62 car, you got moved from Super Stock into A/MP. The original idea was to make the Z style heads, intake, and air cleaner an option on the '63 Chevy 409's, but that never got done. Too bad. If more of that stuff was out there, the 409 legacy would have been that much greater. The term Z-11 was from the RPO designation of the factory '63 impala race car with the 427 inch engine with the high port heads, the two piece intake, and the cowl induction air cleaner.Included were aluminum bumpers, fenders, brackets, inner fenders, and the hood.Only around 57 of those were ever built, and I've been told that only 7 still exist. Rare? Yes. Find one and you've got something.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

oh.......!

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

62's were not Z-11 alas posted above but those in the know had the to be 2 piece intake bigger port and valve heads heavier valve springs and cam for z 11
Dodges & Plymouths were lightest
Pontiacs second
Chevy third
Ford fourth. The new lite weights got down to around 3450
Mopar were around 3200

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Wow! Lightweight at 3450???

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Compared to 4000-4200 lbs it is !

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Here's another '62 409 Chevy, less all of the lightweight parts...

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=&startRow=937

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Don't forget these are 116-120 wb cars my 62--406Galaxie weighted 3870 new before I stated on it all of these cars except Mopars where full framed cars Mopars were uni-body

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0512...d=050912155857

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0512...d=050912155857

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0512...d=050912155857

- Unrestored 409 Bubble Top
- Original matching number block
- Aluminum front end
- Factory equipped Mark 2 service package
- Z11 heads and intake on 409 block
- Heads and intake alone worth $30,000
- Radio delete
- Heater delete
- Believed to be 572 original miles
- Mickey Thompson slicks.

Just curious, are these really what the prices are for these parts worth, whats a '62 aluminum front end worth today.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

I have a friend in Texas who purchased an 62 Bubble Top Z11 - with aluminum front end about two years ago for his collection of cars.

He told me that they made a total of 18 of these very rare cars for a select few people.

I forget what he told me he paid for the car but if my memory services me correctly is was north of $100,000 dollars.

The car had been completely restored to original condition.

Pat lives in McKinney, Texas and was a former drag racer who owns car dealerships.

Jimbo

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Cheby did not build 1962 Z11's the the body and engine parts were racer installed they were not made available to the select racers till early August of 62 by then they were most likely building the production 63's.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

A few more pics of it...sharp looking car.

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0512...d=051312182422

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0512...d=051312182422

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0512...d=051312182422

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/SC0512...d=051312182422

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Well, it's no surprise that the auction scene isn't always what it seems.

I just watched this car cross the block with bidding stopping at $150k. The auctioneer didn't say either "and the bid goes on" or "sold". I assume it didn't meet reserve but it was unusual that the auctioneer just said "final bid" as the car rolled away.

I did notice that today's description stated that the Z11 option was a service package.

Re: So Rare You Have to Wonder
 

Wonder what the owner was trying to get or asking for it...