1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396

Description

If I had to pick one car that will always be in demand, it would be the 1969 Camaro. This particular '69, however, is altogether more desirable thanks to a cool color combination, high-quality build, and a brutal L78-spec 396 under the hood. The best-looking of the pony cars with one of the nastiest motors ever built? Yes please!

Dusk Blue isn't very common these days, what with everyone going with Hugger Orange, but that's this Camaro's original color, documented by the code 51 right there on the cowl tag. And while I'm always very, very careful to not over-sell a car, this one is just beautifully finished in every possible way. Body gaps are trim, the panels line up like they should, and the contrasting black hockey stick decals were installed with precision. You can see the quality from 20 feet away, both in the dazzling shine of the two-stage urethane and the way the "speed lines" coming off the fenders slash through the fenders and doors. A cowl-induction hood is a standard feature on the fastest Camaros, so it's not out of place here, and the usual ducktail spoiler lives out back. Shiny stuff really glitters against the Dusk Blue paint, so the bumpers were polished up, the stainless rocker panel trim and gill inserts look great, and proper SS badges were installed in the right places. Oh, and let's not forget the '396' badges on the front fenders, an important part of the look.

Code 715 on the cowl tag means dark blue buckets inside, a great choice with the Dusk Blue paint. Full of all the options every gearhead wants in his Camaro, including a center console with gauge package and a factory tach in the dashboard. The seat covers look brand new, the carpets are the correct weave and color, and new door panels are nicely detailed with just a bit of chrome. There's a much-needed grab handle for the front seat passenger, while the driver wraps his fingers around a standard 3-spoke steering wheel and the trick horseshoe shifter. A factory-style Delco AM/FM radio still lives in the dash, more evidence that no corners were cut and they stuck to the factory recipe wherever possible. The trunk is tidy and clean, carrying a space-saver spare and needs only a new mat to look right.

Rebuilt about 100 miles ago, the thundering 396 cubic inch V8 under the hood was rebuilt to L78 specs, which means a conservative 375 horsepower is on tap. It's a little flashier than stock, but you'll welcome the added chrome bits when you're showing it off at the cruise night. A big Holley lives under the chrome air cleaner, but otherwise it appears fairly stock in its Chevy Orange paint. Cast iron exhaust manifolds work with a custom X-pipe and Flowmaster mufflers for a spectacular soundtrack. A rugged TH400 3-speed automatic transmission doesn't mind the big block's power and feeds it to a stout 12-bolt full of 4.10 gears, so acceleration is brutal at any speed. The chassis is reinforced by sub-frame connectors that really make a difference in how the car feels from behind the wheel, but otherwise the chassis appears quite stock. Handsome factory SS wheels are a great addition and wear period-correct G70-14 Goodyear Polyglas bias-ply tires.

This Camaro is one of those cars that's even nicer than you think it is. Fast, beautiful, and nicely finished, it's the 1969 Camaro that everyone should aspire to own. Call today!