Performance Years Enterprises is proud to announce the release of the Fred Gibb ZL-1 Camaro, AHRA S/S drag car..! Serial Number 1 of the ZL-1’S.

This car has been sought after by 1/18th scale collectors for several years & we have been patiently working with the Gibb family to finally bring this project to reality.

This will be a LIMITED EDITION of ONLY 700 CARS..! Please pre-order early.

Fred Gibb was a Chevrolet dealer in LaHarpe, Illinois from 1948 until 1984. In the Super Car/Racing circles he is best remembered as the father of the 1969 ZL-1 Camaro. The ZL1 Camaro is also known as COPO 9560.

Fred Gibb special ordered and sold 50, 1968 COPO 9738 Novas with 396/375 engines with experimental Turbo-Hydramatic transmissions. Some of these special Novas were also converted into 427 Super Cars! It was ultimately the 1969 Camaro ZL-1 which ensured Fred Gibb’s lasting mark on muscle car history. Without him, the world would never have had the infamous ZL-1 Camaro.

His close friendship with Vince Piggins of Chevrolet provided Fred Gibb the necessary avenue to have his concept of the ultimate Camaro race car come to fruition. This project included Chevrolet’s ultimate big block of the day, an all aluminum 427 ci engine. This engine was coded as ZL-1. Chevrolet liked the idea, but wouldn’t grant approval unless they were guaranteed to sell at least 50 cars. Fred Gibb assured GM that he could sell the 50 cars himself, at a projected price of $4,900. Thus, the Gibb concept was hurried into production.

The first two Dusk Blue ZL-1 Camaros (#1 & #2) were delivered to Gibb Chevrolet December 31st, 1968. It was so cold that the cars wouldn’t start and Fred had to pull the cars off of the transporter with the dealership tow truck. They were exactly as specified. 48 more ZL-1s were delivered in March of 1969. However, there was a major problem. The sticker price was not $4,900, but rather a startling $7,269, nearly doubling the price of a cast-iron 427ci Camaro (COPO 9561). The high cost was due to a new GM policy, which stated that instead of the auto manufacturer absorbing most of the research and development cost associated with specialty vehicles, it was to be passed on to the cost of the vehicle. This drove up the cost of the COPO 9560 option from an estimated $400 to $4,000.

This race car is Serial Number 1, ZL-1. This car started out life as a Dusk Blue ZL-1 Camaro. The car was then race prepared by Dick Harrell. Dick made the first pass down the Phoenix International Raceway Winternationals just a few weeks later. Herb Fox took on the job of piloting the Gibb ZL-1 and then Ray Sullins spent most of the time in the driver’s seat.

Fred Gibb Chevrolet had been performing engine swaps/conversions right at the dealership. Gibb was involved in racing from 1967 through 1971. Gibb Chevrolet started racing a 1967 Camaro Z/28 known as “Little Hoss”. Earning numerous race wins, Class Championships, setting World Records and an AHRA World Class Chanpionship helped Gibb establish a reputation as a major Hi-Performance Chevy dealership.

Fast Forward 40 years and the Fred Gibb Chevy II Novas, race cars, conversion cars, as well as any of the original ZL-1 Camaros are some of the most significant and sought after collectable Chevrolets of all times. The best ZL-1’s still command more than $1,000,000 in the market place.

These photos are of an early prototype, corrections & features will change slightly from this sample.
The Cragars will be all chrome, the headlamps will have a blue tint, the “Fred Gibb” door logo will be gold chrome, it will have the correct SS tail lamps and the clear plexiglass hood scoop will be polished along with some other minor decal color & placement and paint detailing. These cars will come in a CUSTOM window box..! The car will have opening hood, doors & trunk, with all of the cool details that Hwy 61 always packs into their cars.

IN STOCK NOW!

ORDER NOW

If you have any questions, please give us a call at: 507-437-3663 or email us at:
jeff@performance-years.com