This is a $175,000 car all day long. Throw in the $25,000 the Cross Ram in the trunk will net on eBay, and I call it a bargain by at least $50,000

Nineteen sixty nine was the final year for the first generation Camaro and for many collectors, the Z/28 is the ultimate derivation. It was fast, not only in a straight line, but also around corners. It drove like a real sports car, with a high-revving small block, and also came only with a four-speed and decent brakes.

A few enthusiasts noticed option code JL8, which put a set of Corvette disc brakes on all four corners of the Z/28. Chevy said 206 people ponied up the $500.50 they charged for the JL8 option, but real numbers indicate only about 56 JL8 Camaros were actually delivered from the factory. The few that survive are the most desirable Z/28s built.

The Z/28 offered here is a rare factory-original JL8-equipped, fully documented, numbers-matching 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Cross Ram Sport Coupe.

Including its original window sticker, dealer order form, and original factory shipper invoice, it was bought by auto writer Dave Emanuel and featured in several articles on Z/28 performance written by him in the 1970s. There are fourteen factory options on it, including 4.10 Positraction rear, rear deck spoiler, cockpit instrumentation, cowl induction hood, and M21 close-ratio four-speed, in addition to the Z/28 package and the JL8 disc brakes. Emanuel also ordered it in Le Mans Blue (the most desirable color among today's Camaro collectors), with the fold-down rear seat, center console, Endura front bumper, sport steering wheel, AM radio, and deluxe interior trim.

It is fitted with the standard four-barrel Holley carburetor, but also comes with one of the rare and desirable Holley Cross Ram dual four-barrel intake manifolds, still in the original factory packaging. Carefully restored and in better than showroom condition, there is probably no better 1969 Z/28 anywhere. The engine and all-important components are numbers-matching and original to the car. It is not a "clone," a "replica," or a "tribute." It is a real, factory ordered JL8 Z/28 and is the best '69 Z/28 in the world.

If missing the original Ram Air hood and Ram Air air cleaner parts, you are looking at spending $10,000-$15,000 if you can find the right originals

In March of 1969, Pontiac released a little publicized option package, the Trans Am Performance and Appearance Package. Only two ads were published, one in Road and Track and another in Motor Trend. The Trans Am was conceived to campaign in the SCCA's road racing series. Pontiac paid a $5 license fee to SCCA for each T/A sold. This fee continued to be paid through 2002 models.
The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am has long been regarded as the performance icon of the "pony cars."
This Trans Am retains the original matching 400-ci motor with an automatic transmission. Options include a factory AM radio, power steering, power brakes, and sport wood steering wheel. A fresh suspension has been installed, along with a Positraction differential, all new brakes, lines, and springs. The Ram Air components have been serviced to insure proper functionality. Included with the purchase is much factory paperwork, original books, manuals, and keys. Full documentation of the refurbishment is also available, showing $15,000 in recent receipts.
This first-year Trans Am was purchased new in Farmington, New Mexico. The current owner is only the second person to hold title. The only repaint was completed by the original owner. As this is one of only 114 Pontiac Trans Am Ram Air III with an automatic transmission, the new owner can rest assured that it is one of the lowest production and most sought-after muscle cars to exist today.

"I'm a real Southern boy. I got a red neck, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer"

My mother went into the Peace Corps when she was sixty-eight. My one sister is a motorcycle freak, my other sister is a Holy Roller evangelist, and my brother is running for President. I'm the only sane one in the family"
Among Presidential relatives, no one stands out as more colorful or more controversial than Billy Carter, brother of 39th president Jimmy Carter, from Plains, Georgia.
Billy Carter was born on March 29, 1937, thirteen years after his future President brother. It was said that Carter's father, Earl, was as easy on Billy as he was tough on Jimmy, and, as such, Billy was close to Earl and often seen in his company. Billy was 16 years old when "Mr. Earl" died, and he was devastated.
The death of Earl brought eldest brother Jimmy back from the Navy to run the family peanut warehouse that everyone, including Billy, assumed would be taken over by Billy. Billy was "mad as hell" at both his brother and the turn of events.
Billy married his 16-year-old sweetheart and joined the Marine Corps at age 17. After a four-year stint, he eventually returned home to Plains. Brother Jimmy, finding himself more involved in politics, relinquished daily operations of the warehouse to Billy. According to the PBS television show American Experience, it was Billy who ran Carter's warehouse, and he did it well. "I have made more money for the business than Jimmy ever did," Billy boasted, by all accounts demonstrating a sharp mind, strong work ethic, and natural ability to get along with people.
As Jimmy became Georgia's governor and eventually Democratic candidate for President, the press found a gold mine in the persona of Billy Carter, who could almost always be counted on for a quote, often about one of his favorite subjects, beer. "Paintings are like a beer, only beer tastes good and it's hard to stop drinking beer." Or, "Yes sir, I'm a real Southern boy. I got a red neck, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer."
In 1976 Jimmy Carter ran for President and won. Billy Carter ran for mayor of Plains and lost. Billy continued to hold court at his Plains gas station, an important part of the social scene in a town that small.
One year later, Billy Carter, part businessman, part philosopher, part good ol' boy, got into the beer business, lending his name to a brand called Billy Beer. With appearances around the country, Billy became the toast of the talk-show circuit. Billy, who was said to drink as many as 30 beers a day, found himself having to live up to his reputation.
It wasn't too long before things turned murky for Billy; he became associated with Libyan interests after a trip with Georgia legislators. A suspect loan for $220,000 and some not-too-well-thought-out comments by Billy served as fuel for President Carter's detractors and produced a Presidential scandal that became known as Billygate. The simple explanation that Billy (a gas station owner) and the Libyans (an oil-producing state) were in the same business did not fly among those who felt Billy's cross-cultural relationship was about influence peddling.
Billy Carter died of pancreatic cancer in 1988. The same disease felled both his sisters and his mother.

I remember when I sold one for a record price of $30,000. I'm sure
someone called the buyer a lunatic for paying so much

Don Yenko was the major Chevrolet performance dealer for many years, and was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the 427 Camaro. He converted numerous cars to 427-cid engines before planning a new "Super Car" distributorship for the 1969 model year. Knowing that demand would outstrip his ability to perform all the labor and time-intensive engine swaps, he convinced Chevrolet to build a quantity of 427 Camaros.
Yenko sent these cars to various shops to receive the special emblems, decals, stripes and other options. Fitted with the standard Camaro coupe trim and steel wheels, the muscle car had a deceptively sober appearance, given away only by the rumble of the Z-28 dual exhaust. All 1969 Yenko Camaros received a spoiler to complement the Yenko stripe design, along with special badges, decals and headrests lettered "sYc" for "Yenko Super Cars."
The Yenko Camaro presented here is fully documented and complete with the COPO certificate from Ed Cunneen. It received a full restoration by Brian Henderson of the Super Car Workshop, while the interior was found to be in excellent condition and left as original. It has won numerous awards, including Best of Show at the 1998 U.S. Camaro Nationals.
With only 17,000 documented original miles, this powerful Yenko Camaro's 427 produces 450 hp, coupled to the M-21 four-speed transmission and 4.10 BE-coded 12-bolt rear axle. Finished in striking Rally Green, this car will complement even the most discriminating collector's stable.

In 1953 the Cadillac Motor Car Company introduced the Eldorado line of cars. Original sales brochures described the car as "dramatically styled by Fleetwood to capture the heart of all America." The standard equipment list read like a menu and it was far and away the most luxurious car America had mass produced in its long automotive history. The car was pure Hollywood and engendered names for its exterior trim and chrome­. For example the rear bumper protuberances became known as "Dagmars," after the voluptuous television starlet of the day. At $7,750 it cost five times that of a Chevy and twice as much as a Cadillac '62 convertible (the continental kit was extra).
GM styling head, Harley Earl, could not have guessed that the Eldorado would be met with such widespread acclaim or that it would be in such demand since only 532 were produced in 1953.
This 1953 Eldorado was the concept of its owner who, with the assistance of world renowned custom car builder John D'Agostino, assembled a team of skilled professionals to create one of the world's most spectacular custom cars. It was built as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe who was often seen behind the wheel of her 1953 Cadillac Eldorado. The owner had this Eldorado for seventeen years prior to commissioning the custom work and it was in excellent overall condition, running smooth with 57,000 miles before the work commenced.

The Cadillac Automobile Company was founded in 1902 by Henry Leland who had a successful background in the manufacture of firearms and precision machine tools. His initial foray into the nascent motor industry was as the manufacturer of engines and gearbox parts for the successful Oldsmobile curved-dash runabout.

When he decided to make motor cars in his own right he named his company - appropriately, as it happened - after de la Mothe Cadillac, the Frenchman who founded the settlement which became Detroit.

Although General Motors took Cadillac over in 1909, Leland continued to control the firm until 1917 and his insistence upon engineering excellence survived.

The 1914 Cadillac became the American pioneer of the V8 motor car engine using a design by an Englishman, McCall White, whom Leland had recruited from Napier. Cadillac also gave the industry one of its quantum leaps in technology in 1929 when constant mesh between top and second speeds was introduced. This device was based upon the work of E.A. Thompson, who had patented his idea in 1922 and was marketed as Synchromesh.

Another Cadillac first, in 1930, was the announcement of America's largest capacity motor car engine and the world's first production V16. Cadillac survived the depression and emerged after the Second World War as America's most prestigious car manufacturer, eclipsing Packard.

The excellent example of a V16 pictured here has two-seater roadster and dickey bodywork, which is most likely original coachwork coming from another chassis. It is made of steel, has beautiful black paintwork and chrome plating, and a beige fabric top. The interior has red leather seats and red carpets, and is in excellent order throughout. It is a truly beautiful motor car, combining engineering of extraordinary innovation and quality for its time with considerable period elegance. The car is also said to be in excellent mechanical condition.

Cadillac cars were the inspiration of Henry M. Leyland and established the tradition of interchangeability of components. They became part of General Motors in 1909 and were soon the leaders of that group. In 1914 they introduced the world's first commercially successful V8 engine, which stayed into production in its first series until 1926.

In 1926 the series 314 V8 engine was announced, and although it had the same bore and stroke of previous models, it was an entirely fresh design which itself remained in production until 1936. The series 341 cars of 1928 were the first Cadillacs designed by Harley J. Earl, and they bore a distinct resemblance to the famous styling found on the LaSalle, Cadillac's companion car introduced the year before.

Prior to 1928 sales were running generally in the 20,000s annually, a figure that would nearly double in 1928. Also by 1928 General Motors owned 100% of Fisher, and their custom line was in much demand on the longer 140-inch wheelbase with underslung springs, which allowed Harley Earl to design his first Cadillac as a long low car.

The car pictured here is a pristine example, delivered new to Europe and was first purchased by a wealthy Spanish lady, Dona Teresa Martin de Saavedera, who came from the province of Badajoz. The Spanish owner from whom the current owner purchased the car believed that the car was purchased from the Paris Auto Salon of 1928 although that has not been confirmed. It was first registered in the official records on November 30, 1928.

The car was always chauffeur driven, and during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 it fell first into the hands of the Loyalists and later into those of the Insurgents, remaining chauffeur driven in both instances, as it was the best car in the province. When Philip Wichard acquired the car for his collection, it had two bullet holes in the windshield frame. After the war it reverted to Dona Teresa, and title passed by inheritance to her son, Jose Porras Martin de Saavedra on January 28, 1958. In November 1960 the car was bought by Mr. Alvarez Esparrago also of Badajoz from whom Mr. Wichard purchased the car in 1968 having seen an advertisement in "Road & Track."

Walter Seaburg of Sydney, OH, was commissioned to carry out a nut and bolt restoration and this was carried out to his usual exemplary standards. The car has been an Antique Automobile Club of America Nation First Prize Winner. The restoration work was so good that 12 years after the restoration, the Wichards had taken the car to a show for display only and were persuaded to enter the car into competition. The Cadillac was entered and was awarded 100 points! Special features include an unusual hood ornament which is the crest from the Badajoz province, a full set of lights, a rear mounted trunk and the beautiful painted canework detail.

 Desirable to collectors, this Indianapolis 500 Pace Car replica Camaro is, like the original, an RS/SS convertible. As is usually the custom with Indy 500 pace cars, 100 examples were built for use by press and dignitaries during 500 Month at the Speedway. A further 3,674 Camaros equipped with the Pace Car were later marketed to the general public. This car is one of those 3,674.

The 1969 Camaro was the last year of the original Camaro package which had been introduced in 1967, and was succeeded by a much larger version in mid-1970. It also was one of the Camaro's most successful years (in part because it was in production for 17 months!) with a total of 243,085 built. More important, the '69 Camaro had GM's usual "we've worked out the bugs by now" quality and an options list that seemed to go on without end. This list included the legendary COPO (Central Office Production Order) Camaros for Don Yenko (iron block 427) and Fred Gibb (ZL1 aluminum block 427). It also was the last year for a Camaro convertible until 1987.

The Z11 Pace Car package consisted of orange stripes and orange/black houndstooth interior and could be ordered with the usual assortment of Camaro options. The Indianapolis cars had 375-hp, 396-cubic-inch engines. and automatic transmissions, in a hopeless attempt to allow them to withstand auto journalist and VIP abuse. The RS (Rallye Sport) package of covered headlights, headlight washers and special taillights and SS (Super Sport) package of upgraded suspension and front disc brakes are important attributes of the package and contribute to its value.

Purchased by the current owner in 1996 from the family of its original owner, the 24,000 miles on this Camaro's odometer is correct. It has both power steering and power brakes. The car has been gone through in detail by renowned Camaro expert Bob Harris of East Aurora, New York and is presented to a high standard.

To back up the 396's power, and slightly greater weight than the standard 327 cu. in. Chevelle engine, the SS396 package included stiffer suspension. It also displayed the usual options and identification features that were de rigeur at the time to let bystanders know the driver of an SS 396 was the master of real power, at the stoplight or driven.

The SS 396 offered here has the hydraulic valve lifter 360bhp L34 engine and close ratio 4-speed transmission, a combination of serious muscle with excellent driveability. A center console separates the optional vinyl covered bucket seats, which are however more sporty looking than body hugging. A console mounted tachometer permits the driver to monitor both engine revs and the position of the 4-speed shifter simultaneously, while the road takes care of itself, not usually a problem on the SS 396's straight line quarter mile dashes. While the convertible body style's extra frame stiffening adds 100 pounds over the 2-door hardtop's curb weight, 360 bhp deals adequately with the increase in mass. Correct style red line tires complete this SS 396's presentation.

The engine bay, motor and interior are all in excellent condition, all showing virtually no wear or usage. The Chevelle has been well maintained and used sparingly since William Lassiter purchased the car in the mid 1980s. An older restoration to showroom condition, this SS 396 convertible is a delightful combination of 60's style and performance, an icon of the Muscle Car era.

Americans in the '50s were fascinated by the future. Newspapers and magazines were full of stories about futuristic technology-rocket ships, jet airplanes, and even television. Car companies were quick to capitalize on the trend, offering a dizzying variety of fantastic show cars. They were shipped from one city to another, and people would line up around the block for a glimpse of the latest chromed and finned creation.

One of these special cars was the Pontiac Bonneville Special. Designed by renowned GM designer Harley Earl, the car was inspired by a trip to the Bonneville salt flats. The car was never intended for production; the idea was to show the public that Pontiac was leading the industry in innovative thinking. Features like a plexiglass roof with gull wing door panels, a sleek fiberglass body, bucket seats, and a futuristic interior gave the public an insight into what the car of the future might look like.

Two of these cars were built so they could be displayed simultaneously at the Los Angeles and Detroit Auto Shows. The example offered here is believed to be the California car. With repair and conservation, it should be possible to preserve much of the car's originality. Of course, a full restoration would allow an astute collector to recreate the amazing impact the Bonneville Special had when new.