Barn finds usually involve opening an old building and discovering a forgotten classic sitting somewhere inside, but Dennis Collins‘ latest rescue required a much more literal interpretation of the term.
He and his Coffee Walk crew traveled to rural LaFayette, Georgia, chasing what they believed could be a desirable 1969 Chevrolet Camaro convertible that had been sitting in the same location since the mid-1970s, largely untouched for half a century.
Getting close enough to properly identify it was going to be a challenge. The structure that once protected the Camaro had deteriorated so badly that portions of the barn were resting directly on the car.
Collins wasn’t about to leave without it, though, and what followed was a complicated extraction involving jacks, heavy equipment, and plenty of careful maneuvering before the Camaro finally saw daylight again.
It Really Is A Z11 Pace Car
Once the crew could access the Camaro, several clues suggested they had found something special, including its cowl hood, color scheme, and 350-cubic-inch V8. Confirmation came from the trim tag, where the Z11 code identified it as a genuine 1969 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car model.
Chevrolet built the Z11 as a special Camaro RS/SS convertible celebrating the Camaro’s role as the 1969 Indy 500 pace car. The production versions were finished in Dover White with Hugger Orange stripes, a white convertible top, and a distinctive orange houndstooth interior.
Collins estimated production at roughly 3,655 examples and noted that the car they found was the more common 350 automatic configuration. Far rarer versions could be ordered with the 396 big block and a four-speed manual.
The Barn Was Literally Sitting On The Camaro
Identifying the car was simple enough, but getting it out without causing additional damage would be a much more difficult task. Broken sections of the barn were pressing against the Camaro’s body, including areas around the front fender and windshield frame.
By gradually removing debris before lifting and supporting parts of the structure, they were able to relieve pressure from the car and eventually attached recovery equipment near the rear differential to slowly drag the Camaro free.
Remarkably, the keys were still with the car, the transmission could be put in neutral, and the wheels weren’t completely seized. After decades exposed to the Georgia elements, however, the body wears what Collins jokingly described as some serious “patina.”
It Hadn’t Left The Area Since New
According to the seller, his brother purchased the Camaro new from a local Chevrolet dealership and eventually parked it in the 1970s. A 1976 license plate still attached to the car supports the claim that it had been sitting for approximately 50 years.
Collins also found plenty of encouraging original details, including the air cleaner, fuel filter, and equipment for the hidden headlights. He was told the original engine had never been removed.
The Z11 certainly isn’t about to win any concours trophies in its current condition, but its one-owner history and bizarre resting place make it an unusually fascinating survivor. Collins ultimately purchased the Camaro after completing the rescue.
Would you restore this Z11 back to showroom condition or preserve as much of its half-century-old patina as possible? Let us know in the comments.