Can somebody tell me what a Z-16 is?
Thanks

chevelle433

I will try.

A Z-16 is one of only 201 produced, '65 Chevelle SS, H/T, 375hp/396 BB equipped cars that were made! It also has Big Car 11" drum brakes on all four corners!

The engine differ's from later 375hp/396 motors b/c it has a .500" lift hy-cam in it instead of the .520" gross lift solid cam the later one's have.

I hope some of the other, more knowledgeable guy's on this RARE car chime in.

pdq67

PS., it is rarer then a '67, Z-28 Camaro at 601 produced...

It also has special emblems not used on any other car and all were highly optioned

simply put, the 1965 Z-16 chevelle is the first chevrolet A body to recieve a big block from the factory ( you'll notice I said Chevrolet). As stated before, all cars were highly optioned and most were given to high profile celebrities of that era. They are auctioned off pretty regularly at the high profile shows and bring huge money. Jason.

The above descriptions are appropriate for this website since the most famous Z-16 was a 65 Chevelle option, but more generally, Z-16 was a RPO (Regular Production Option), and meant different things in different years. In 1986 and 1987, RPO Z-16, was a Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe. This Monte Carlo had the fastback rear window designed for Nascar racing.

I was the fortunate owner of a 87 Z-16, and wish I still had it.

Bruce

simply put, the 1965 Z-16 chevelle is the first chevrolet A body to recieve a big block from the factory ( you'll notice I said Chevrolet). As stated before, all cars were highly optioned and most were given to high profile celebrities of that era.

To go further along these lines, Chevrolet did this (lots of options, and high profile celebrity owners) to help promote the upcoming SS396 1966 Chevelle... Kind of a tease to whet the appetite of the buying public... Some of the options were AM/FM radios with the Multiplex units, power windows, wood steerong wheels, etc. They all (I think) had the "mag" style hubcaps.

These cars were all 4-speeds, and only 3 colors were available (Red, Yellow and Black). They also had very unique rear trim. There were 200 Hardtops and only one convertible (whereabouts unknown, and the convertibles color might be different)...

Can somebody tell me what a Z-16 is?
Thanks

chevelle433


Go to this website...it will explain pretty much everything...:)

http://www.z16chevelle.com/

As an added plus...Dave's a really good guy, too!

Bruce

Go to this website...it will explain pretty much everything...:)

http://www.z16chevelle.com/

As an added plus...Dave's a really good guy, too!

Bruce

I've brought this up before but this site claims the very first Z-16 and shows a red w/black vinyl top coupe. A few years back a Year One catalog also had an article on the first Z-16 and it doesn't have a vinyl top. Year One's example has photo of 'EXPERIMENTAL SAMPLE' tag and, to quote, "This car has been fully documented by Chevrolet as the original 'Tech Car' prototype..." The Year One car also sports a standard hardtop frame, unlike production Z-16s with the convertible frame and the rear axle is stamped "Z16" unlike the others. At the time of the catalog it stated the car was owned by Floyd Garrett.

So...which is the first Z-16? I saw a (probably the web site's) Z-16 when shown by Terry Gunter at CB a few years ago and it appears to be a prototype since it was built at Baltimore, red w/black vinyl top, and all 'production' Z-16s were built at KC. Appears as though the Z-16 community has a dilemma - who's on first? :confused:

The site also states, "Documented and accepted as the first Z16 built. 200 more followed." On a facts page it's stated that two prototypes were built. So which is correct? How many 'production' (from KC) Z16s were built? Is the one reported convertible in this normal production or was it a 'one off' built for Bunkie Knudsen as has been stated? Numbers are all too confusing. :confused:

Edited 2:25 CST
Just corresponded with the current owner of the Z16 mentioned above. Seems the two cars are one-in-the-same. When Floyd had it at his museum (and Year One wrote the article), Floyd elected to not reinstall the vinyl top and Mr. Gunter did when he acquired it. :thumbsup:

And here I was getting ready to read about a barn find. You know the ones…. Setting next to a ’68 Yenko Camaro and a ’71 Hemi ‘Cuda ragtop….. Dan Blockers or is it A.J. Foyt's car.... The things dreams are made of.

It should also be mentioned that the Z-16 Chevelles came with a 160 mph speedometer. Yes, there's supposed to be one Z-16 convertible that sooner or later will pop up. My info source also tells me that the two prototypes were built in Baltimore. Rain Man

Just curious, as I never thought about this before...

Were the two prototypes actually considered in the "201" original cars, or was it actually 200 built at Kansas City, plus the prototypes, plus the convertible?

Like 2 more makes a difference anyway... Just curious, as I have always assumed those Prototypes were included in the 201 total, but does anyone really know?


And another thing...

These cars were supposedly given to many celebrities, etc... But does anyone have info on any other celebs having one, besides Dan Blocker?

Speaking of special rear trim, I noticed on True-Connections site that they will be soon selling reproduction rear trim. Won't be long before several convertibles start showing up....

Speaking of special rear trim, I noticed on True-Connections site that they will be soon selling reproduction rear trim. Won't be long before several convertibles start showing up....

Someone already sells the trim, but its expensive (like $2400!)...

They have repro 65 guages and tachs, do they have a repro 65 speedo? and 160 MPH one? repro power windows and wood wheel are available...

The multi-plex and the dash-top clock are harder to locate...

Can Impala spindles be used (for the bigger brakes)?

rumor i heard about the 201 was that when the car was built they made 200 ,some higher up at gm loved the car so much they built #201 for him,convert or not? don't know

IIRC, there is something on the cowl tag that denotes the car is a Z16.

IIRC, there is something on the cowl tag that denotes the car is a Z16.

Yes there is and their may be two items but not sure about the second but I've never seen the code on another 65 body tag. And, even though all were suppose to have the same accessory equipment (aside from paint color, interior color, and vinyl/no vinyl top) I've seen different accessory codes on the body plates. Examples: One I have has all tinted glass (coded E) and one has only the tinted windshield (coded W). One has as U in the 4th group and one doesn't.

Neat story - I know of two Z16 owners (one a member here) that the body numbers are sequential. Both are red w/black vinyl tops and have same options listed. The only difference is one had red interior and one has white.

A book I have mentions this.

ONLY 201 cars were built total, 200 coupes and 1 ragtop. The whereabouts of the ragtop is unknown. I don't know if anyone has ever seen it in the last 30 yrs???

All but 2 of the 201 cars were built at Leeds Plant in Kansas City. 2 Chevelle coupes were built at Baltimore, shipped to Warran Michigan and assembled into Z16's. These cars were reportly used for promotional purposes, lent to magazine for testing etc.. Those 2 cars would have B in the VIN and a Baltimore Fisher body plate.

The Z16 Pkg retailed for $1,501.05
It contained the following parts:
-Special reinforced frame
-larger drum brakes
-special suspension w/front and rear sway bars
-simulated magnesium wheel covers
-14x4 steel wheels
-7.75x14 Firestone gold stripe tires
-Special molding and nameplates
-special instrumenation w/6500 rpm red line tach


Z16 Mandatory options:
A47 - Rear Seatbelts
A49 - Custom Delure front belt with retractors
B70 - Instrument panel pad
J50 - Power Brakes
L37 - 396-375hp engine
M20 - Wide ratio 4-sp tranmission
N40 - Special ratio power steering
U16 - Tachomter
U69 - AM/FM Radio
U79 - Stereo Converter
Z13 - Confort and Convience Package w/LH remote control side mirror

Vinyl top was not part of the required options, Black was the only color offered.
Interior colors - Black, red, white
Exterior colors - Red, Black or yellow
Red interior was N/A on yellow car.

A friend has been working for the local Chevy dealer since about 1968. He is now part owner. He tells me that back then somoene around here had a yellow 1965 SS 396. He recalls it being in their shop for service when he was in parts dept. He thinks the guy bought when he was in the army and came back here with it after getting out. Dave also had a 1965 Malibu for many years back then. The guy apparently moved as he has never seen the car since back in the early 1970's. Or maybe its stashed in some barn only miles from me??. Never know. Not long ago a lady passed away in her 90's. Seems that her and her husband were in the used parts business back in the 40's and 50's till he died at a young age in the early 60's (killed in mine accident). Anyhow, she still owned some old building and one of them was full of old use cars parts from the 30 to the 50's. Heirs sold the contents for nearly 1/4 milliion, at least thats the rumor. Everything had been tagged with date, miles on car and who owwed the car it came off of. When the husband dies, she nailed up the place and never sold a thing again. There was also a like new 1958 Chevy PU in there.

Well, I know where one of the two Baltimore cars are - a visitor/member here owns it. It's the same car that was in a Year One catalog and was owned by Floyd Garrett for some time. When restored, Floyd didn't have the vinyl top put back on (only Floyd knows why?) but it was later sold to Terry Gunter and the vinyl top was reinstalled. This is the car he had at CB a couple of years ago. It's now changed hands again and can be seen at http://www.z16chevelle.com. That was my take on the 2 prototypes that turned out to be one car...there very well could be a 2nd one. (?)

I read somewhere on the Internet that a convertible was built for Bunkie Knudsen when he was at GM but whether that was a one-off (and the convertible often sited) wasn't known. I am curious though if the often stated figures of 200/1 are "production" numbers or do they include the 1 or 2 prototype coupes? IOW, maybe there were only 198 production coupes built...?

Luckily KC was one plant that used the 5 group option codes and Z16's have the letter "M" (396/375 engine) in the 4th group to tell them apart from non-Z16s.

I have learned a lot about these cars from this site for several years. But one thing is also for certain from what I have been told. Joe Average couldnt just walk into the Chevy dealership in 1965 and order one. These cars were all built for promotion and were likely already spoken for to whom could show them to the world and get the word out on the new car model, the SS396.

I don't know how that guy around here got one then. Dave is adament about seeing it back then. Weather the guy got it new or bought used (likely) from a dealer, who knows.

I am sure back then they were just another car when used. When something new comes out, everyone wants one but when the next model year comes along, last years models loose appeal and people buy new.

Been there on that myself. Back around 2000 when GM came out with the Duramax diesel, you had a hard time to find one to buy. Now they are all over the place used, so those that waited months and some a year were quick to trade them in for a new model.

yeah, there was one in the neighborhood when i was growing up in the '70's. sure wish i had the foresight to know what they would be worth now. think i would have sold some body parts (human, not auto) to acquire that car. i do remember it being a bit rough even back then.

I've been reading all the post here with interest. I don't really do to many post but am truly interested when I see something come up on the Z16's . When I was nineteen I traded my 64 Impala convertible in for a 65 impala convertible , I ordered it with a 409, 425 hp. 4sp. That was right around nov. or dec of 64. They took my 64 on trade and gave me a 53 yes a 53 chevy to use as a loaner car until my 65 would come in. Well as most of you guys know that was when they stopped production of the 409 and were changing over to the 396 . To make a long story short my car was never there when I would go check to see if it was in. Well around March of 65 I started getting up tight with the dealer because my car was never there when he promised it. ( Keep in mind that he already took my 64 and sold it ) Finally in April of 65 I walked in to the dealership and he had two Z16's sitting on the showroom floor. One was red with white interior and the other was yellow with a black vinyl top . The twin to Dan Blocker's. After checking the cars over I fell in love with the yellow one and told him I would take that car instead of the Impala which was ordered and never came in. That's when the story started to fly that these cars were not for sale to the general public and there was no way he could sell me one of these cars. As I walked out the door I politely told him he would hear from my attorney the next day. On April 29th , 1965 I took delivery of my Z16. Of course back then I didn't know what these cars really were. When I got back from Vietnam and got out of the Marines I sold that car around 1972 to get money together to buy my own business. ( BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE . Not buying the business but selling my car. ) After a couple years and trying to buy the car back I started looking for another Z . Well finally after about 30 years I found the Z that I have now. I know there's gonna be some guys out there that will doubt this but I still have all the booklets on the yellow Z including the warranty book with the plate still in it. Oh and by the way the red Z that was on the showroom floor with my yellow one was traded to a dealer in Texas . I have a couple of old pic's of the car but don't know how to load them to show you. Sorry this is so long but I could go on and on about the times and fun I had with that car. ( Yes I'm still trying to buy it back. ) But I"m also really happy with the one that I have now. Of course I guess luck was on my side and I have the best mom and dad that anybody could ask for. Boy , Did I just give my age away ?

Sam

I don't know how that guy around here got one then. Dave is adament about seeing it back then. Weather the guy got it new or bought used (likely) from a dealer, who knows.

I didnt mean to contradict what you were saying, I actually made that post without reading yours. Im thinking if the car had been seen in the dealership after 1965 and you mention being seen in 1968, then the car would have already made its rounds or whatever and then sold into regular public. Probably via used car lots.

Another interesting fact about the '65 Z-16's is that for some strange reason they all supposedly had 3.31 NON-posi 12 bolt rear ends. One story is that it was so the celebs driving them wouldn't get into trouble with them swapping ends during "spirited driving".

Chris

I know this. Its just today people think of these cars as the holy grail but to us back in those days it was just another car you could not afford. LOL

I worked for about 6 months as a mason's helper to just get enough money to put a down payment on a 1966 Impala SS 396 demo at the local Chevy dealer (I was 18), got the car around Dec of 1965 and then in May of 66 I was drafted into the Amry. The car sat for 2 yrs with my parents making the payments till I could pay them back, I traded it in for a new 1970 LS5 Chevelle. I don't ever recall ever seeing a Z16 in 1965 or ever. The only reason I recall anything about it was my friend Dave had a 1965 Malibu for years and thats all he ever was interested in. Even to this day and being near 60 yo's oil, he still is looking for a mint 1965 Chevelle.