I was talking to a fellow this past weekend, and he claimed that the 350 engine in the F-bodies needed to go through emissions testing before being released, and it was not until mid to late December of 1986 that it was actually put into a PRODUCTION F-body. He actually had a date somewhere in the 20's that he told me I do not remember.

If this is true then it might clear up something. IE The bogus rumor of 50 1986 Camaro Z28's with the L98... It might actually be that there were 50 1987 L98 Camaros made in 1986, or before 1987, it would depend on how you look at the information.

Does anyone know when the L98 was released in 1987? and who has an early 87 L98 Car.

My 87 350 has a sequence # of 16692 (Van Nuys) 02/87 so it would not apply.

John

 

I drove a red hardtop 350 Formula in late July 1986, off the lot from Stowasser Pontiac in Santa Maria, CA. It was when I went with my parents to pick up their special ordered 1986 GP.

 

Not to argue... But do not new cars typically appear in September or August? Usually July is kind of early for a next model year car. I know in 1990 the 1991 cars were released Waaay early, my 91 had a build date month of May 1990 and it was seq number 04xxx

John

 

Yea, but I know when it was we picked up the GP. I actually thought it was later for those same reasons but my dad has all the paperwork when we picked up the GP and it was the same day we drove the Formula. They had just taken it off the truck and prepped it that morning.

There are probably still black marks on Main street from it

In any case, the December story aint true.

 

Is the C+D article around? I have one at home but IIRC they said something that they were not able to release the car in 86 because of the EPA tests or lack of them. Maybe it was another article... I remember something about it though.

 

Most assembly plants for US manufactures usually shut down for model change over at some point in late June or early July.(normal model years, not shortened ones obvioulsy)

They usually have a 2 week to mth shutdown while model changes are implemented and then production is started slowly and speeds up again as kinks/ new issues are worked out.

So u never end up seeing the new vehicles until 1-2mths later cars are built and inventoried and shipped actually takes a while.

later
Jeremy

 

My car is too far out with a vin of 493xx. It was built in July 87. No help there!

 

Consulting my VIN list my earliest VIN's for '87 350 Camaros are:
HN131672 for Norwood build date 12-86
HL133531 for Van Nuys build date unknown.

Anyone have an '87 Camaro in the 133000 range built at Van Nuys? If so please list your mfg date.

Thanks, David

 

My Friend has a 350 tuned Port IROC-Z but it has the 86 interior, third brake light on the window, and the car has no AC system at all. not even a delete pulley, oh and its V-Belt. call that strange, and the car is completely origional. has 50k miles. grandfather owned it since it was new. and never removed anything from the car. then gave the car to him and all he does is clean it and take really really good care of it. oh and its a hardtop also. and all the numbers match. it really does confuse the hell out of me. first time i saw it i was like. "wow this car is a freak of GM, it shouldnt exist" but i think the build date says December 1985 or something i dunno

 

If he is your friend, get the VIN and get the date from the Drivers door.

This is for prosparity...

John

 

Not a 350 with an 85 or 86 build date unless it was built in December 86, but then that would be an 87 model year.

 

maybe it was december 86 but i know it has the 86 style from the factory. i think its a test car. his grampa knew ppl from GM

 

GET THE VIN! yes I was yelling

John