MECUM AUCTION TO OFFER SPECIAL
1967 CAMARO CHEROKEE STYLING CAR
Cherokee is Main Attraction Among Countless Extraordinary Cars to be
Auctioned at Indianapolis Event
MARENGO, Ill. - 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 Show until 1987 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
or by calling 815.568.8888.
The Original Spring Classic Auction, which is expected to feature 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.
# # #
Schedule:
Spring Classic Auction
Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, Ind.
May 13-17, 2009
Vehicle check-in: Monday & Tuesday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Preview: Gates open Wednesday through Sunday at 9 a.m.
Vehicle Auction: Wednesday - 2 p.m.
Thursday through Sunday - 10 a.m.
Neon Auction: Saturday - 7:30 p.m.
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