Fred Gibb 1969 ZL-1 Camaro Car #1 Mecum Auto Auction Indianapolis 2012

Car #1 of the ZL-1 1969 Camaro's. The car was originally ordered and owned by Fred Gibb of La Harpe, Illinois. This video is of the car, and the car being sold at the Mecum Car auction held in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 18th 2012. The car sold for $400,000.
Edit 5-31-19
Last year (May 2018), I met Reggie Jackson at the 2018 Mecum Car Auction in Indianapolis, IN. It was rumored that he was the one who had the winning bid. So with the chance to talk to him about this car, I brought this up to him.
He told me that he was not the one who won this auction, but said that he has owned another ZL-1. But what followed was about a 10 minute discussion about the #1 ZL-1. Having grown up in LaHarpe IL, it was rare to find anyone who knew anything about my town. But for 10 minutes, I was talking to Mr. October about LaHarpe, IL. He knew the whole history of the car. It was amazing.
www.dustinwood.com

[@larryshugart4507]

I used to live in Blandinsville which is a small town near LaHarpe Illinois. I was blessed to see this car and the Little Hoss run several times at the drag strip. What a great time in my life. I was also blessed to be able to drive one of the 50 Chevy II that Fredd had with the 396/375 hp. Now that was a wild ride. I have to say though that the best ride every was in one of the 25 ZL-1 Cameros the Fredd got in. Good old days!

[@markl.3074]

Thank you Vince Piggins for bringing us the ZL-1.

[@stevenkoski228]

This is the Holy Grail of ZL1 Camaros! Know this; on gas it ran 9’s@143mph, Dick also ran it on nitro, running a best 7.35@209mph. Truly historical.

[@SidsCardShop]

It amazes me that computers have enabled almost identical performance (9.650 seconds at 140.09 mph) from the Dodge Demon, a car that can be driven comfortably all day by easily switching it back to the showroom 808 hp. Sadly, the Demon does not have a key that will make it sound like this beautiful monster. One Sunday I stood beside ZL-1 #6, unprotected in an outside lot at Holley Chevrolet in Brownwood, Texas (Gibb could not sell all he ordered, so Chevrolet re-distributed several), and at the time did not even know what it was, but was astounded by the $4,000 engine option, although I did not care for the silver color or the automatic transmission. I was ignorance on two feet.

[@robadams9523]

I know the car you are describing and it sat just inside the service area of Holley Chevrolet for many years covered in a clear plastic cover. The story I heard was someone ordered it but couldn't pay for it. Also heard that when it sold, the buyer took it to the drag strip in Killeen and promptly blew the engine. Not sure if either story is true.

[@SidsCardShop]

@@robadams9523 Thanks for reaching out - it means a lot. I can believe both stories. My first new car was a 1966 Pontiac Catalina 4-door (post, not hardtop) with the 376 hp tri-power 421 and Muncie M-20 4-speed with Hurst shifter. I installed a tach on it and assigned myself a 6000 rpm redline, drove it 102,000 miles and never had a problem - just a lot of fun. I loved the "sleeper" concept, maybe before it became a word. One of the stupidest things I ever did was to sell that car to the son of a used car dealer who had been lusting after it for a long time. He soon tired of it and sold it to one of my second cousins (small town) who promptly blew it up and had a 389 installed in it. Youth has value, but seldom does it include wisdom. It was a one-of-one beauty that turned more heads (solid black) than the black 1969 Corvette that followed. You and I are probably close in age (I'm 80) and could probably swap a lot of stories. I was born in Hamilton but grew up 10 miles east beside State Highway 36, and was a member of the Texas Army National Guard stationed in Brownwood for 6 years until November 1971. That's why I was at Holley Chevrolet that day. Do you ever think about all the changes you have seen? I think we have seen more changes in our lifetimes than all the generations before us combined. Tell a 15-year old that the iPhone did not exist when he/she was born, and see what kind of reaction you get. :-)

[@ronclaman156]

That's right Fred Gibbs only sold 50 of 69 built because of outrageous costs of them

[@SidsCardShop]

@@ronclaman156 A different application of "outrageous" could have been spoken on October 15, 2005 at the Mecum Auction in St. Charles, IL when #18, dusk blue with the original engine, a 4-speed and 17,000 miles sold for $840,000. At that time, only 41 cars were known to exist, with only 7 of them having the original engine. Chevrolet built many replacement engines in 1969, with the expectation that most of the cars would be forced into engine failure on drag strips - and racers did not disappoint them.

[@ronclaman156]

@@SidsCardShop I live fairly close to Laharpe Illinois became camaro fan when brother purchased 67 rs convertible in 69 which my nephew proudly displays in his garage. Now

[@benjiarehart2878]

This was a steal for 400k. I've seen cars go for way more on Mecham, that I would consider far less valuable cars than this one, in my opinion. I bet, if he ever sells it, he will make a profit down the road. That's one car, I would have bought it I had the money. Such an important car.

[@abeltorres8076]

the microphone they used captured that symphonic rumble PERFECTLY turn it up and its like your next to the damn thing!

[@bmw540dinan]

Dick Harrell would be proud to see his work of art being sold for 400k. I saw him race when I was 12. Bristol Tn. He was a great guy!!

[@jackflash19672010]

My wife's uncle owns the #2 Fred Gibbs ZL1. He couldn't sell it gave it to his daughter. Never tubbed, roll caged but restored.

[@Dustin-Wood]

Is that the one that used to race out in California on circle dirt tracks? I had someone close to the source once tell me a story about how one of the Fred Gibb cars was missing for years, and someone tracked it down out there, and I mistakenly thought it was car #1. The guy who was selling this car when this video was taken, promptly made sure that I was incorrect.

[@jackflash19672010]

Dustin Wood its a true survivor, never raced.

[@alloyrat]

#1 and #2 were both dusk blue with auto trans.

[@TulsaGirlForever]

You can see some Dick Harrell racing pics his daughter Valerie has posted on the Dick Harrell Enterprises channel. Good stuff & nice memories of a great racer, builder, husband, father & friend to many. I live where he grew up in NM & the Dirt Dobbers Auto Club that he co-founded w/ his friend Sonny Ward is being carried on by some of the "young guys" that grew up watching Dickie race out South of town on the track. Valerie has her Harrell Camaros & Bill Porterfield in MI has also got one he sets up & cackles with, a real delight to see these pieces of Harrell history still around. Don Hardy in TX also has one. Dickie would be proud!

[@MrNitrocat]

Yes I know that Valerie has/had a car. Not sure if it this one or not, and is the girlfriend of Dale Pulde of War Eagle funny car fame. Great people and both Dick and Dale will always be icons in drag racing.

[@daddyriff2096]

I grew up in blandinsville Illinois and have seen the shop this car came from in La Harpe. It was only like 6 miles from home

[@mothertree]

the fastest time this car ever ran was at quaker city drag strip in salem,ohio in 1993 a 9.32..about a half hour from my house.what a great car American muscle

[@howabouthetruth2157]

And just think........that's with a normally aspirated engine. No fuel injection or turbo's or super charger. One bad ass machine for its time.

[@13SKULLWRECKER]

This car just resold for 1,2 mill this month

[@mrmcgregor2000]

This is one of the most famous Camaros of all time. I wish I could have seen it in action on the drag strip

[@alloyrat]

Car #1 would be VIN# 124379N569358. The original color was Dusk Blue. It came with a TH 400 trans and white lettered tires

[@williammarkhart7047]

I had my picture taken with Dick Harrell in 1970 at Phoenix. I was in the Air Force back then.

[@gsxr907]

I am no expert...but I have been to Mecum and BJ... This was a awful price for this car I did hear it resold but this car has history beyond history and is super rare. Cars sell for more at BJ

[@jeffrogers3876]

For sure, there were Yenko cars going for more than that consistently. In fact I was at Mecum Portland on 2017 n watched Fathom Blue 68 Yenko sell for $435,000 + vig. While spectacular it in terms of importance and rarity isn't fit to be in same garage as the Harrell ZL1. Never have understood why Yenko cars get so much love price wise compared to rarer better looking cars from Nickey, Dana and especially Baldwin-Motion which I consider the top of food chain I terms of overall looks performance and production #s!!

[@howabouthetruth2157]

GREAT VIDEO........THANK YOU.

[@Dabber422]

You getting a lot of car for 400.. Would love to see that car in my house...

[@chazbme]

Spec sheet in windshield said Weiand "channel" ram. It's a Tunnel ram.

[@lindahenion3469]

Awesome video Dustin. That's one of my favorite Camaros of all time. I posted a picture from your video on The Block By Chevrolet Performance under their Forum-General Talk-"Show Us Your Favorite Chevy". I was trying to post it so the members of The Block could see it, but it didn't post. If you can do it, you need to post the video on that site. They would love it. Curts67

[@markpalio5786]

BEELINE DRAGWAY, The Track That This Car Debuted At, No Longer Exists-But The Car Lives On!! Would Love To See The Car Sitting On The Property Where It 1st Raced.

[@jamespalmer9556]

in 1993 my parents had an opportunity to buy a all original 1969 SS Camaro same color as this one dark red in pristene condition for $9500.00 on the showroom floor at edwards chevrolet in birmingham, Alabama and they bought a 1993 chevy lumina instead for 15k and i was so damn pissed to this day i still remember it like yesterday, they flirted with the idea of buying the Camaro and i thought they was but didnt, if they had got that camaro it would be easily a 30, 40, 50 thousand dollar car

[@Dustin-Wood]

Any details on the sale? Link?

[@rob99rst]

damn that thing has a nice cam. 400k was a steal--> never happen again

[@ericou812]

the 3 thumbs down must be chinese import lovers

[@alexander1485]

Not japanese?

[@BobbyTucker]

@@alexander1485 , A Chinese pimp who's ho's all came down with STDs at the same time.

[@timpriddy349]

Rich people paradise......

[@erickort1987]

this serial number 1 by the way

[@mercmarc]

all that torque and no subframe connectors?

[@darrellsomers5427]

Mecum gives them away should have sold it through barret Jackson

[@irocitZ]

That's a good deal for the right person, unfortunately I'm not that guy. I wish I was, because I would have kept bidding.

[@leeduke9518]

Who could own that car and sell it

[@dougauzene8389]

Donald Jr..... ;-)

[@ericou812]

question...do they have the original interior parts?

[@Dustin-Wood]

ericou812 Original to how it came off the line? Or original to how it was the first time it was modified?

[@GlassTopRX7]

It was the first of the 69 aluminum block 427 ZL-1 ever made.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

That's an honest question to be asking, but keep in mind these utlra-rare aluminum 427 ZL1 engine/Camaro's were produced & sold SOLELY FOR ONE PURPOSE: TO RACE IN SUPER STOCK COMPETITION. That means practically every buyer of all 69 of these cars produced had NO intentions of leaving them in "factory condition". Many if not most had the rear ends tubbed to allow huge drag racing slicks and roll bars added, among other things LEGALLY REQUIRED if you were going to enter into competition. This run of 69 total ZL1 Camaro's are one of the very rare EXCEPTIONS to "keeping them factory stock for value". These engines were factory rated at bare minimum of AT LEAST 450 hp or more, just the way they arrived to the dealers. Some claim they were factory rated as 550 hp, but I haven't been able to confirm that. But or course these monster engines could easily by tweaked to produce far more than that, as they certainly did.

[@johnasbach577]

@@howabouthetruth2157 Actually they dyno'd a completely bone stock ZL-1, driving no accessories, can't even remember if they had a belt on the water pump and may have had dyno headers on it but it made 525hp. With all the jewelry on it and exhaust manifolds it made 376 hp.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

@@johnasbach577 "With all the jewelry on & exhaust manifolds it made 376 hp".......NONE of these ZL1's came with power steering, air, power brakes, smog pump, etc. I don't know that I would be calling an alternator "jewelry". These motors had to have somewhere around 13.1 compression and who the hell would've spent that kind of money for a ZL1 equipped with this insanely expensive all-aluminum engine to run it with "exhaust manifolds". The factory-installed exhaust manifolds were meant for dealer delivery ONLY, due to federal regulations and if I'm not mistaken, EVERY ZL1 ordered came with factory headers supplied in the trunk of the car. And you can bet the farm EVERY buyer had every dealer slap those headers on upon arrival. So why the hell anyone would "dyno this motor with exhaust manifolds" ( and "jewelry"? .......WHAT "jewelry"? ) is beyond me. Not saying they didn't test it that way, but it's a total waste of time, especially when everyone should know the INTENDED PURPOSE FOR THE ZL1 WAS SANCTIONED RACING.

[@michaelmarzano237]

great car, Really Great. The blurr filming affects ruined it for me, WAY over used and didn't do any good. IMHO

[@Dustin-Wood]

Sorry, blur effects is due to being shot handheld. Not on purpose.

[@johnrees6290]

This car was raced with thermoquads, not the modern dominators seen here.

[@markpalio4411]

They Went From HOLLEY To Thermoquads? This Car Started Life With A 780 Holley But Didn't Pass Tech Inspection At The WINTERNATIONALS In Phx As GM Spec'd The Engine W/850! GM HAND Delivered An 850 So It Could Race It's 1st Race.

[@mauser98k85]

I’ve got a picture of my dad’s Hemi Dart beating this very car at a dragstrip in 1969 or 1970. Mopars rule!

[@DONDIVA1969]

Still couldn't beat the Hemi's

[@bo2web]

When people live on a few dollars a day!

[@karlknudson4991]

first thing id do is remove all crome tail lights duck tape all the open gaps and pour two gallons of paint stripper on it letr sit in shade cool place wash off ,dry pull tape 8inch hog sander off all remaining paint ,metal finish all dents ,acid wash prime with catalized primer block out 3 times ,painter upwith some stock carbs and wheels,and exhaust cutpaint put together and cover it up in garage,take out on special occasions,be way fun car to sport!!

[@markpalio4411]

And Join The Other ZL-1's That Are Restored To TRAILER QUEEN Status! This One Was RACED And It Was Put Into Condition At It's Pinnacle Of Racing. Not Many ZL-1 Owners Have TRUE RACE CARS.....