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I found an Interesting story the other day.
This ex Joe Chamberlain Camaro, was found in really bad condition in New Zealand and has now been restored.


Apparently this was the first Camaro built by Chamberlain, from the remnants of a wrecked road car, he competed in a half a dozen or so Trans Am races in it, before being invited to race in NZ, after the NZ series finished Chamberlain sold the car and returned to the US. At which point Dennis "the Menace" Marwood ran the car in both NZ and Australia for several years with some success. After which the car went through a series of owners being modified and chopped up until the car became a shadow of it's former self.

When the car was finally rediscovered it was a mess but upon restoration each coat of paint revealed the one underneath as it was stripped off, finally leaving no doubt as to the origins of the car.

Obviously upon returning to the US Chamberlain built the Lennox Camaro to continue with his Trans Am Racing. But it's nice to see this old warhorse, back to it's former glory. Perhaps one day it's new NZ owner will take it back to the US and give it a run in the Historic Trans Am, talk about the long way home.

Great looking car! Thanks for sharing the story.

Great car. Great story

Thanks for sharing this with us I always like to hear about forgotten war horses that are found and return to their former glory.
It is a beautiful car and a wonderful story.

Cool story Ted, thanks for that. I saw Marwood race that Camaro at Warwick Farm in one of the support races for the F5000's.

Got to stand next to it in the pits but didn't get any snaps as I ran out of film and on my apprentice wages didn't have enough change for more film :(

Chamberlain came out to N.Z. again with his new Camaro and I *think* I read somewhere that the second Camaro was found twelve months or so ago in California :think:

Chris.

Absolutely right there Chris.
Chamberlain came out again with his "new" Camaro along with Ron Grable in one of Jerry Titus' Firebird's, as a US team. In Red, white and Blue and sponsored by American Airlines.



I believe the Firebird is also still in NZ somewhere, also under restoration.

Apparently the Lennox connection for the second Camaro, came about due to Chamberlain being the Owner of Arrow Heating in Oregon, Lennox was a major supplier to Joes Business. You can see the Arrow heating signage on the rear quarters of the car in the picture in the first post.

Great stories! Thanks for sharing!

That Firebird is VERY good looking!