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#72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Discussion & questions regarding the Berger Chevrolet Berger SS Camaros.

daytonajim
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Re: #72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

Photo from Dick Jacques - July 17, 2020 - Thank you so much Dick.
72SS Matt Berger.jpg
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Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars

daytonajim
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Re: #72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

2002 Berger SS Camaro.
This car was built specially for NASCAR racer Johnny Benson, Jr.
It was painted Chrome Illusion based off of one of his race cars. It is the one and only like it ever produced. It is a Phase 2 car- 435hp+. 6 speed. T-tops.
Johnny Benson signed it 3 times.... under the hood, on the gauges, and by the trunk.
It is also signed by everyone else involved with the build of the car.
The paint is truly incredible.
The original sticker price was $60k+ in 2002.
Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars

daytonajim
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Re: #72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

From WMCC - Doug Warren

Date: Tue, Jul 1, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: GMMG Camaro
To: sgristina@gmail.com

Hello Scott,

Thank you for the compliments about our Club. We have a wonderful bunch of families in our Club and have a great time with our Camaros.
Berger Chevrolet, here in Grand Rapids has been our Club sponsor for years, so we had an inside line to the development and sale of the GMMG cars. Matt Murphy, owner of GMMG, has been a personal friend of mine for almost 20 years. We own one of the Hot Rod Magazine Edition Camaros. In fact, it's the only white one of the 36 made.

Normally these cars don't change hands very often, but there is one member looking to sell his GMMG Camaro. It's a 2002 Berger SS and is a one-of-a-kind version. It's a Phase II, 435 hp, built for Johnny Benson and has a chrome allusion paint job. It's the one with blue, purple and green hues (none of that brown shade you see sometimes), with black stripes. I think it stickered for over $60,000 when new, but I think it can be purchased for considerably less now. It's pretty low mileage and in perfect condition. It's a beautiful car!

The owner is Stuart Johnson and his phone number is 616-698-1867 home, 616-485-4439 cell. Tell him I gave you his number. I have included a photo of it from our Club display at last winter's Autorama car show.

Doug Warren
WMCC

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Last edited by daytonajim on Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:19 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars

daytonajim
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Posts: 1881
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Re: #72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

March 24, 2021

Hi Jim,

My brother, Scott, forwarded me your email. I have tons of JB Camaro stuff

I'll forward you everything I have. Hope all is well. Thanks, Jason


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SS39 & SS72
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Last edited by daytonajim on Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:24 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars

daytonajim
Site Admin
Posts: 1881
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:26 pm
Location: Balsam Lake, WI
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Contact:

#72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

2020 Berger Show.jpg
2020 Berger Show.jpg (138.76 KiB) Viewed 3351 times
Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars

daytonajim
Site Admin
Posts: 1881
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:26 pm
Location: Balsam Lake, WI
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Contact:

#72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars

daytonajim
Site Admin
Posts: 1881
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:26 pm
Location: Balsam Lake, WI
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Re: #72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

photo by Matt Avery - July 3, 2021 with Jim Smith @ the farm
MattAvery July32021.jpeg
MattAvery July32021.jpeg (429.33 KiB) Viewed 1350 times
Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars

daytonajim
Site Admin
Posts: 1881
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:26 pm
Location: Balsam Lake, WI
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Contact:

#72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

Matt Avery photo - July 3, 2021 with Jim @ the farm
MattAvery July32021.jpeg
MattAvery July32021.jpeg (429.33 KiB) Viewed 2729 times
Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars

daytonajim
Site Admin
Posts: 1881
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:26 pm
Location: Balsam Lake, WI
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Contact:

#72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

x Bus Card Jim4 (2).jpeg
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Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars

daytonajim
Site Admin
Posts: 1881
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#72 Johnny Benson Chrome Illusion SS - Jim Smith

Post by daytonajim »

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Dick Harrell # 9, 18 (Organic Green) #27 (Vic Edlebrock's) - Bobby Labonte Blackbird #38 - Johnny Benson Berger SS #72 - PE Brickyard PR1 (red) - DHPE#4 Brickyard - silver - DEI #54 - 3 of 4 'real' 2000 Daytona 500 GTP Pace Cars
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