Choosing to sell a classic car that you have owned for decades will always be a heart-wrenching experience. Being forced to do it due to changing circumstances is far worse. That is the story behind this amazing 1970 Camaro SS/RS. The owner purchased it 47-years-ago, and he has cherished and cared for the vehicle through good times and bad. Advancing age means that the time has come for him to enter a retirement home, and that means that he is being forced to part with a classic that he obviously loves. However, it looks like there are plenty of people who want to give the Camaro a new home because it has already received an incredible 104 bids since it was listed for sale here on eBay. This has pushed the bidding beyond its reserve to $26,500.
There are times when I see a classic car, and I would love nothing more than to sit down and talk with its owner. I’m sure that the owner of this Camaro would be a fascinating individual, and I’d be willing to bet that he has plenty of anecdotes about this car after 47-years of ownership. The SS is finished in the shade called Camaro Gold, and while the paint isn’t perfect, it looks mighty impressive for an original survivor. There are no major flaws or defects in the paint, and the condition of the panels is just as remarkable. It is free from dings and dents, and there is no evidence of any rust problems. The Black vinyl top is beginning to show its age slightly, but I think it could be revived with a high-quality conditioner. The trim and chrome, including the distinctive split front bumper, look to be in excellent order, while the tinted glass appears to be flawless. I admire the owner’s openness with this Camaro. He says that it is not a show car, but it is a neat and tidy daily driver. From what I can see in the photos, he does seem to be selling the vehicle short.
I’m not surprised to lift the hood of this Camaro to discover that it is a numbers-matching classic. The original owner ordered the SS with a 350ci V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The 350 is capable of producing 300hp, which is enough to send the Camaro through the ¼ mile in 14.7 seconds. However, this car isn’t about its performance potential for me. It is about its past. The owner says that it has been meticulously maintained during the 47-years since he bought it. He holds a substantial collection of documentation to support his claims, and the engine bay speaks volumes about the treatment that the Camaro has received. It is essentially spotless, and it seems that looks aren’t deceptive. The owner says that it runs and drives perfectly and that he would have no hesitation in tackling a cross-country journey in the car right now.
If I were going to find a single word to describe the Camaro’s interior, the term “honest” would be high on the list of candidates. It is not perfect, but it is a long way above what you might expect in an original and unmolested survivor with five decades under its belt. The upholstered surfaces look impressive, with no apparent wear or damage. The same is true of the dash and pad, while the carpet and console are excellent. One of the few flaws that I can spot is that the map pocket appears to be missing from the front of the console. This leaves an unfinished look, and it also exposes the wiring for the aftermarket radio/cassette player. I would locate another map pocket, and I would also take the opportunity to tidy that wiring before installing it. Otherwise, this interior would seem to need nothing.
There are so many aspects of our daily lives that we must approach logically, with no room for sentiment or emotions. This 1970 Camaro SS/RS takes that thinking and throws it out the window. It is an amazing original survivor, and the story behind it tugs at the heartstrings. I hope that the person who buys it treats it with the same level of dignity that the current owner has for the past 47-years. It deserves nothing less. I also hope that whoever buys it takes the owner for one last drive in the car so that he has a happy memory when he closes the book on this chapter in his life. He has earned that right, and if I were to buy it, that would be a nice long drive. Would you do the same?
Wow! You would have a hard time ever finding another original ’70 SS/RS that equals this one. I think this one will eclipse the 30K mark before the bidding ends if it even goes that long. I’ll bet the Seller is entertaining offers to end the auction early.
Very nice, well optioned car. The seller has taken great care of it.
There are a lot of 1970 only parts only some if which are shown, I’m sure the seller could provide answers and pictures for serious buyers.
The bidding should have a ways to go, for what it is, it’s still cheap.
Steve R
Nice 1966 hubcaps – where’s the add on a/c ? Nice car and hard to find a nice one.
Beat me to both. :) All this car really needs is a rear spoiler & some rallys.
Noooooo, don’t drill that original deck lid for a rear spoiler!
I believe they were an available option first year, Some of the Camaro books show them with these on. They are very heavy, my 65 Vette had these on it. Steve
My 1971 RS was the same color, War Bonnet Yellow. Maybe in 1970 it was called Camaro Gold.
My 71 RS was the same color and I think it was called Placer Gold in 71 which became Pacer Gold in 72. I sure do miss that car. Never should have gotten rid of it but I did find another unrestored 71 RS with 27k miles but in Red.
My 1971 RS was the same color, War Bonnet Yellow. Maybe in 1970 it was called Camaro Gold.
I would think very few 2nd gen RS SS 350s came with vinyl roof & wheel covers!
Compared to the z28’s 350, can i assume this 350 has lower compression, hydraulic lifters, cast iron intake, quadrajet, cast rods, & less radical cam?
Is that the same A/C compressor that Ford used?
I’m guessing dealer installed air?
I thought that was just a giant smog pump of some sort, maybe a California only type thing, but now I see people speaking of A/C. I see no conventional type of A/C type fittings anywhere, unless I am missing something.
Obviously not a factory air car as there are no dash vents, only the standard floor vent knobs.
Plus, I see nowhere for any aftermarket air to make it into the passenger compartment at all.
My conclusion was that this car has no A/C.
That IS an aftermarket compressor under the hood, but no sign of anything INSIDE. Very strange.
Wow. What a car. I would ONLY add a rear spoiler and some nice wheels. I love the owner for taking care of this car!!
Don’t like vinyl tops on these, needs the lil one piece early spoiler, and definitely a set of Rallys, with that being said, it is original even if a bit ugly, I’d fix the console and leave it alone…
The console likely has the hole up front for an AC outlet. Factory equipped AC Camaros had outlets in the dash pad directly above the console, while most aftermarket AC’s had outlets that hung below the dash. In second generation F-body’s that would be where the “damage” is on this console. There are no visible outlets for the AC anywhere, it makes sense that’s where they were located.
Steve R
So nice to see a Camaro without the obligatory rear spoiler. Awesome car!
It would look awesome with Cragars. I recently sold this one.
A very nice original car in and out, obviously the long-time owner took excellent care of it for nearly five decades. Adam’s comment about wanting to talk to the seller and hear his stories is something I can relate to. I’ve purchased two cars from near 90 year-old owners and their stories over decades of ownership are a real treat to hear. I just purchased a ’97 Z28 Camaro convertible with 47,000 original miles from the original 80 year-old owner. This guy used to race motorcycles back in the late 50s and restored a ’53 Ford pickup that is a beauty. I talked with him for over an hour and he had some great stories to tell; he really had an interesting life filled with some pretty amazing experiences. If you ever acquire a car from an old guy, make sure you sit down and talk to him about his adventures, you’ll likely hear some tall tales and great stories.
Nice and the only year 2nd gen camaro with a 12 bolt axle.
I know someone who owns a ’72, looks just like this one. He has owned it for 48 years and I never see a time when he would sell it.
Looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. GM approached him at a car show and asked him if he would allow them to show it as part of their travelling Heritage Shoe. He turned them down.
I would love to own this car. I had a 1970 new. Base model. No A/C. The console area below my am radio was just empty space. You could use it to store small items. Or you could install your 8 track tape player there which I did. Sure hope the next owner treats this sweetheart with equal love as the current owner.
Out of the constant overpriced junk that’s seen on this page finally a decent car that deserves the money it’s bringing I hope for the buyer that when he takes possession he takes or even lets the seller have one last ride in her and definitely gets the stories that this car can tell
Isn’t that the under-dash portion of the dealer (or aftermarket) AC laying in the trunk ??
Good eye. I didn’t look at the ebay listing where ALL the pix are.
Ah, could be indeed Jeff.
A/C mystery (mostly) solved.
Cool Camaro. (No pun intended)
Nice car, real honest car, the story kills me, cause I’m facing 60, and my 16 yr old son, really loves my E43 Mercedes, but really has no use for my 73 Grand Prix, which is a 455 SJ loaded Black w white 1/2 top and interior, when I think of having to sell it, or him or my wife selling it, I get very upset, try not to think about it
No indication anywhere that this is an rs/ss car.
All the badges say ss. 1st gen had rs/ss badges and the z28s in both gens had the “rally sport”script on the fenders and the z28 emblem in the grill.
My 1970 and 1/2 was just a rally sport.
Which sparks a recollection that there is no 1970 cars but only 70 and a half cars, sure splitting hairs but.
Regarding the rs ss i suppose a true Camaro phile can clear up the rs ss badging query.
Some of the mods have me curious of the car and its origin story.
C’mon Adam. You are usually so good at giving us the vehicle’s location. What happened?
Item location:
Lynnwood, Washington