It was November 1, 1968, and Dan Rettig was growing impatient. The 18-year-old Illinois native had ordered his new Dusk Blue 1969 Camaro Z28 from Milan dealer Bob Erickson Chevrolet in late September, and, as it always has in youth, the now month-long wait had seemed like a lifetime. After a week of checking in at the dealership every day after work, Rettig arrived on November 7 to find two brand-new Z28s on the lot, fresh from their delivery. Neither car was the one he had ordered, but one of them caught his eye with its unusual mix of Burgundy paint and Red stripes, and the next day at 5 p.m., he and his father (and cosigner) arrived to close the deal and take the new car home. By 8 p.m., he had scored his first ticket on the way to driving his new Z28 332 miles before returning home at 2:30 a.m. the next morning. So began a love affair that has lasted ever since, during which Dan Rettig and his Z28 have become well known to the muscle car community, where he is acknowledged as owning the only known Z28 factory finished in Burgundy with Red stripes. Showcasing an older restoration that has been carefully maintained and preserved, this unique early-production 1969 Z28 also arrived at the dealer without spoilers, which the factory only began installing after its October production date. The rest is classic Z28 fare, headlined by the DZ-code 302/290 HP solid-lifter small-block V-8 and Muncie 4-speed manual transmission, dual exhaust, rear bumper guards, heavy-duty radiator and thermostatic fan, quick steering, power front disc brakes and Rally wheels wearing Goodyear Wide Tread GT Polyglas tires. Additionally, the car incorporates the Z21 Style Trim Group, including bright wheel arch, drip molding, fender louver and lower sill trim, Z23 Special Interior trim, a center console with U17 Special Instruments, a Soft Ray-tinted windshield and a pushbutton radio with rear antenna. Featured at the 2009 Chevy VetteFest as part of the 1969 Camaro invitational display and pictured in the March 2009 issue of Muscle Car Review, this one-of-a-kind 1969 Z28 is documented with the dealer invoice, owner’s manual, original keys, vintage photos and a notarized letter of testimony from Mr. Rettig attesting that the car’s Red stripes were painted at the factory.
