Article: Z-28 Number One

[Steve Holmes]

So where did Camaro racers in 1967 get their spoilers from? It would appear a selected few may have got them through GM, but most came from privately made moulds. “This car did not have a spoiler on it when originally built”, explains Jon. “No '67 Camaro did, although some were made available to race teams or were built from factory blueprints. My car did not have a spoiler on it at its first race but did at its second (Sebring). I don't know if Hugh Heishman made his own or what”.

Jon gave the Camaro its public unveiling at the 2015 Monterey Historics, where it was displayed with the Historic Trans-Am racing group in which he is involved. Not surprisingly, it drew a crowd all weekend, and has further raised the bar in historical race car accuracy and correct presentation, and is truly a credit to Jon and his efforts. Sadly, Johnny Moore has since passed away, but his daughter Kelly Wick was at Monterey, and brought along a pedal car that has been in her family for many years, and which was painted and lettered by the same guy who originally painted the Camaro.



Although this, the very first Z-28 off the assembly line, was originally created as a stock road car, it was used on the race track before it was ever used on the road. It was one of just four Camaros to contest the Daytona 300, the first Trans-Am race in which the model was eligible and available, and for the series the Z-28 was created for. It was also the first Camaro to win an SCCA National. Had someone other than Jon Mello bought and restored this car, its possible it might now look just as it did when it first rolled off the assembly line, rather than as it raced. We definitely think it went to the right owner, who restored it the way it should have been; for its racing history is as significant as its chassis number, and the two are forever entwined.



Article courtesy Muscle Car Digital Magazine.