Mecum Auction to Offer Special 1967 Camaro Cherokee Styling Car
Mecum, the high-performance and collector car auction specialists, are excited to announce the incredible 1967 Camaro Cherokee RS/SS Convertible General Motors Styling Car will be auctioned at the 22nd Dana Mecum Original Spring Classic Auction, May 13-17, 2009, in Indianapolis, Ind.
“Originally debuting in Detroit back in May 1967, this candy-apple red customized convertible has 21,000 original miles,” said Dana Mecum, president of Mecum Auction. “Mecum is honored to offer this one-of-a-kind vehicle to automotive enthusiasts, collectors and historians at our annual Spring Classic event.”
A styling exercise for GM design veterans Bill Mitchell and Vince Piggins, the 1967 Camaro Cherokee was pulled off the Norwood, Ohio, assembly line and sent to Mitchell’s famed GM Design Center where subtle exterior modifications transformed the car into a fashion icon. A ducktail spoiler was integrated into the rear end while Corvette-style split bumpers were fitted to the front and back. Sheet metal modifications were finished in the car’s original Aztec Gold Metallic, which served as a base for a gorgeous Candy Apple Metalflake Red trimmed with Gold pinstriping.
“The fact that this Camaro Cherokee even exists today for all of us to enjoy is truly incredible, as corporate liability issues and racing bans at General Motors had long dictated that it was doomed to the scrap heap even before it was completed,” Mecum continued. “It truly is a rare piece of automotive history whose excellent condition and originality represent the cornerstone of its value.”
Distinguishing itself from counterparts, the Cherokee’s most distinct characteristic was – and still is – a hand-crafted fiberglass hood scoop, the upper element of which is formed from Plexiglas to reveal eight polished ram tubes that feed a set of four 48mm Weber downdraft cars atop an aluminum Moon Can-Am intake.
The noteworthy Mark IV big block is an “unstamped” pre-production L78 unit rated at 375 horsepower – the official factory figure before the addition of the Weber/Moon induction system that added at least another 50 horses. Original red interior has been replaced with a custom black that still adorns the car today; the original custom console and a tilting Corvette steering wheel also complement the interior.
Additional technical specifications include:
- Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic transmission
- 12-bolt Positraction rear end
- J52 front power disc brakes
- Koni front and AC Delco rear air shocks
- Power steering
- Custom fiberglass hood
- Hood-mounted tachometer
- Driving lights
Featured as a “Camaro for the street” in a 1967 issue of Hot Rod magazine, the Cherokee served Pace Car duties at Road America Can-Am under the helm of Sir Stirling Moss. The car caught the eye of Mitchell’s friend Augie Pabst, who owned the car for several years before trading it to Vilter Chevrolet-Buick in Oconomowoc, Wisc. The Cherokee then transferred hands to Dan Frank of the Custom Top Shop until 1979 and was later sold to Brooksfield’s Edward Maurer, where it drew the attention of collector and current owner Terry Lietzau, a 30-plus-year muscle car enthusiast.
The Camaro Cherokee is a main attraction at the must-attend Original Spring Classic Auction at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and will be auctioned on live national TV at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2009. The event is open to the general public and tickets are available at the door for $10. For more information, visit www.Mecum.com. The Original Spring Classic Auction, which is expected to feature more than 1,000 vehicles, will be broadcast live on Mecum’s popular television series, “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More” on HD Theater – Discovery Communications’ first 24-hour high-definition cable network, offering compelling real-world and motorized content.
The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars, muscle cars and Corvettes for more than 20 years. In spring 2008, the company sold its 50,000th car. Consignment, Bidder, event and accommodation information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling 815.568.8888.
