#l-72

For many, 1967 was a high water mark for American muscle cars from the Big Three auto makers. It also needs to be noted on the 67-68 cars there are no Impala or “leaping antelope” emblems which does lend itself to some nomenclature confusion as “Impala SS” doesn't actually appear on any of them as they are officially “Chevrolet SS 427s”. Regardless, the ex-Bill Wickman car is a mystery of sorts to automobile historians. This Z24 is one of the 2,124 made and has the elusive L-72 (427 ci/425 hp) engine code of which only 11 were known to be installed in 1967 in Chevy’s full-size line-up of Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala, Caprice and station wagon models. Seemingly this car should not exist. As seen in the September 2012 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine and on the cover, this unique vehicle has all the right parts to be able to make all the right moves. A body shop owner in Joliet, Illinois, Bill restored the car in 2010. So, how did this rarity come to exist? Seems the “Special high performance Mark IV engine” was only made available mid-year and with little fanfare other than a March 21, 1967 Chevrolet Engineering Service Bulletin that stated it would be available as regular production option (RPO) L-72 on and after 4/2/67. The car was part of the Russo & Steele 2014 Newport Beach CA car auction as consignment #8073 and at the 2014 Mecum Auction in Kissimmee FL as lot #S221.