1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396

Description

From the price, you might think this is a nice Camaro with a replacement engine or a crate motor. Guess again. This is a real-deal 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS396 with its numbers-matching L34 396/350, a 4-speed, and Hugger Orange paint. Need we go on?

Given that pedigree and the quality of the paint job on this car, we're guessing it won't sit in the showroom for long. Code 72 Hugger Orange is this car's original color and not too long ago it received a very high-quality paint job that matches the original high-visibility hue exactly. They took no liberties with the look, which means an original-style hood with chrome inserts and hockey-stick SS stripes that are the least common but arguably the most appealing on these cars. There's a fantastic shine to the finish that suggests a lot of time on the bodywork underneath as well as on the final surface. Panel fit is pretty good all around, not perfect, but then again, this car should cost $10,000 more than it does, so small flaws are all we can find. A blacked-out SS grille, appropriate badges all around, a chin spoiler, and a ducktail spoiler out back are all familiar pieces of the Camaro look and Hugger Orange always works. The blacked-out tail panel was only found on big block cars and this one wears it legitimately. If you want to get noticed, few cars do it better than this Camaro!

The black bucket seat interior is standard Camaro fare, with reproduction seat covers that look right, a three-spoke steering wheel, and nice-looking door panels. The console carries auxiliary gauges and there's a correct AC tach in the dash, both optional even on the SS, and the Muncie 4-speed is managed by a Hurst shifter. The woodgrained accents add a little contrast to the monochromatic interior, and it's ideally set up for the serious work of driving. The factory AM/FM radio is in the dash, but the presence of the big subwoofer enclosure in the trunk and a pair of powerful speakers on the rear package shelf suggests that an upgrade would be very easy. By 1969 headrests were mandatory and they make the interior look racy, and this car includes seat belts throughout, a nice bonus that a lot of old cars omit. The aforementioned trunk has a reproduction trunk mat in place with no surprises waiting underneath.

This is the cars original, numbers-matching L34 396 cubic inch V8, which is rated at a robust 350 horsepower. Docile enough to drive in traffic but still seriously fast, it's the one you want in a Camaro you're going to drive. There's a big Quadrajet on top and a correct intake manifold to help with authenticity. A few chrome pieces in the right places, reproduction decals on the air cleaner, and correct tower hose clamps on reproduction hoses give it an authentic look. It starts easily and runs great with a big hit of big block torque at any speed. There's also a recent alternator, radiator, and exhaust system with throaty mufflers that sound exactly right. The 4-speed Muncie snaps through the gears feeding a 12-bolt rear end that plants power though a pair of traction bars on the leaf springs. Correct Rally wheels wear 235/60/14 front and 245/60/14 rear BFGoodrich T/A radials that really stuff the fenders.

This isn't a trailer queen and it isn't designed to earn trophies. It does, however, have an awesome pedigree and delivers that big block performance that's still legendary today. Call now!