1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS

Description

If you're in a hurry to simply check off boxes, you've got the right car. Snarling V8. Stick shift. Great color. Air conditioning. Disc brakes. Throaty exhaust. Buckets and console. Bitchin' wheels. A sweet paint job, with stripes. Sure, you could stop reading now, but we might as well give you the full tour.

If you're looking for date codes, you've got the wrong car. This Camaro represents the greatest hits list of 1969 along with some extra cool hardware thrown in for good measure. Now, if you're going to do a tribute, you have to start with all of the proper SS and RS trim bits. At both ends you'll find new chrome, a hideaway headlight grille in the front and RS taillights with valance-mounted reverse lights out back. The standard hood was tossed in favor of a new cowl-induction piece, and this one is as clean as it is mean thanks to the "hockey stick" SS stripes running down the sides. Why more people don't install this is a total mystery-aesthetically they're miles ahead of the played-out hood stripes. RS trim also lands in the form of rocker moldings and quarter panel strakes. The very cool decklid spoiler is the last thing most of your drag race victims will remember!

Open the driver's door and slide into the comfortable bucket seat. Grab onto the sport steering wheel with your left hand while your right instinctively finds the big Hurst shifter poking through the console. It's a natural combination, and it looks dynamite. Chevy refers to the upholstery as "standard," but there's nothing low buck about fully padded door panels, bucket seats, and dash pad. The stock gauges are just below the horizon while a trio of Sunpros hang out in a classic chrome holder just forward of the shifter. A Classic Autosound AM/FM/cassette head unit belts out tunes while the stock control levers activate the modern heat and A/C system. There's nothing missing here from the clean headliner to the pedal dress up kit. You'll want to spend a bunch of miles in here. And man, that's one clean trunk!

Under the hood is the staple of hot rodding-a small block V8 displacing 350 cubic inches. If you're going for power and reliability, it's tough to beat the combination you'll find here. A chrome air cleaner hides a dual-feed Holley carb sitting atop an Edelbrock Performer RPM manifold. An HEI distributor generates the sparks while ceramic-coated long tube headers carry away spent gasses. A mild cam hides deep in the V while chrome valve covers and pulleys add extra shine. A painted firewall hosts a brand new brake booster and master cylinder combo while the left side of the motor clings tightly to the A/C compressor and power steering pump. Drop down low and look underneath to find fully prepped floor pans and a detailed suspension. New fuel and brake lines, a new fuel tank, new disc brakes at all four corners and a new dual exhaust system with Dynomax Ultra Flo welded mufflers are definitely highlights, while the 12-bolt out back and gorgeous 18-inch Boss 338 wheels put the whole package over the top.

Meant to cruise, and meant to look good while doing it, this Camaro is chock full of great features. If you didn't call at the end of the first paragraph, what are you waiting for now?