This 1968 Dana Camaro has been featured in numerous books
and magazines through the years. This Camaro has 8,600
original miles and is unrestored. Nevertheless, it looks like
a new car.
It is the only Dana we know of with extensive documentation
including the original order invoice, sales invoice, and
finance agreement.
Through this website, we were contacted by Frank LaRoche
who was the original owner of this Dana Camaro. Just back from
Vietnam, he special ordered this car. He spent a lot of time
with Dale Armstrong who was the chief mechanic at Dana
Chevrolet at the time in putting this car together. Dale
Armstrong went on from Dana after that to become a famous head
race car mechanic affiliated with several of the winningest
race teams.
On the original paperwork, the car was ordered as a 3.73
posi, but it was changed by Dana to a 4.10 positraction rear
end. The car came from Chevrolet factory painted with its
original paint which is still on the car. It entailed a
special order process in which Chevrolet painted it a
different factory color other than which was available in the
stock color choices. Frank says Chevrolet actually had to do a
production stop in the assembly line to accomplish this. The
color was referred to by the Dana sales people as "Chevy
truck orange". He didn't recall the actual factory name
of the color. In reference to this Camaro having the double
dash paint code on the trim tag, some car enthusiasts are
mistaken in the belief that it designates that a car was only
sent from the factory in primer. This Camaro was positively
painted orange by Chevrolet at the factory.
Per its invoice, it is equipped with an L71 tri-power 427
by Dana. The factory options are as follows: RS/SS, Muncie
close ratio 4-speed, 3.73 posi, power disc brakes, special
instrument package, custom interior, center console, AM/FM
radio, tinted glass, light monitor system (i.e. fiber optic),
LH outside racing mirror, and paint delete (i.e. special code
on the trim tag designating primer only or special paint
choice).
This is where Dana took over. Dana-supplied high
performance equipment consisted of the aforementioned 4.10
posi rear, an L88 camshaft, lightweight clutch, traction bars,
and Dana's trademark fiberglass hood.
Another street brawler in the making, Dana was in direct
competition with Yenko, Baldwin Motion, Berger, Nickey and
others -- and wasn't about to be left in the dust. Dick
Guldstrand, a well known racer, also "turned
wrenches" and built engines for Dana. It's possible he
may also have had a hand in building this particular car.
