Mecum expects 1,000 collector cars to cross the block July 20-22 during its third annual Denver auction at the Colorado Convention Center, where the docket features an array of muscle cars, sports cars and classics.
Leading the list is a bright-orange 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe, No. 30 of 69 produced that year. It also is one of the few surviving examples with its original all-aluminum 427cid ZL1 V8 linked with the factory four-speed manual transmission. Original equipment also includes heavy-duty suspension, brakes and other performance components.
The Camaro was factory built through General Motor’s Central Office Production Order program, the famous COPO back-door system in which select dealers arranged through a GM program manager to create world-beating race cars ostensibly for street use. The ZL1 engine was factory rated at a conservative 430 horsepower, but is said to develop as much as 550 horsepower.
This ZL1 was restored in 2004 from a car showing just 8.4 miles, according to Mecum’s catalog description, and has been driven only 384 miles. The Camaro is a multiple award winner, including racking up 986 out of 1,000 points at the Camaro Nationals.
Another special Chevy at the Denver auction is a 1966 Corvette convertible originally owned by Walter C. Davidson Jr., son of the co-founder of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company. The yellow roadster equipped with the 327/300-horsepower V8 and automatic transmission has been driven just 38,680 miles.
Classic GM muscle cars crossing the block include a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 hardtop and a 1970 Pontiac GTO convertible boasting the 462/525-horsepower engine.
For information about Mecum’s Denver sale, visit the auction website.