The passing of Dale Earnhardt in February 2001 left a void in NASCAR that will likely never be filled. Those of us who were privileged enough to see him in action will never forget his uncompromising approach to racing, earning him the title of “The Intimidator.” This 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS Intimidator is genuinely special as a 1-of-1 classic. It is the only example produced during that model year and was specially commissioned for his daughter, Kelley King Earnhardt. It comes with the relevant documentation confirming its authenticity and is listed here on eBay in Marietta, Georgia. Ten bids have left the price below the reserve at $25,000, although there is a BIN option of $79,999 that might prove tempting to those who long to own a slice of the Earnhardt legacy.

Dale Earnhardt was more than a tough and wily racer because he was an astute businessman. He always dreamed of utilizing his Chevrolet dealership to sell Limited Edition models, and the Camaro SS Intimidator was one of those vehicles. Chevrolet shipped eighty-three examples of the 2001 Camaro SS to GMMG, where Earnhardt’s $12,000 upgrade package was installed. Cars were then shipped to his dealership for sale to lucky buyers with the cash in their pockets. An additional car found its way to GMMG in 2002 as a special order for Earnhardt’s daughter, Kelley. This is that car, and as the only one produced in 2002, it is a genuine 1-of-1 classic. This is verified by the original Title, while the console lid has been signed by Kelley. This Onyx Black example presents beautifully, which is unsurprising since it is a garage-kept classic with only 6,700 miles on the clock. It is seemingly flawless, and it retains the distinctive Earnhardt features like the Satin Black taillight panel, special badging, and the 17″ American Racing alloy wheels with “Magnetallic Grey” spokes.

The 2002 Camaro SS offered excellent performance, but the Intimidator lifts that to a higher level. GMMG breathed on its 5.7-liter V8 so that it delivered 381hp. Those ponies find their way to a Torsen limited-slip rear end via a six-speed manual transmission. The brakes were significantly upgraded during the conversion, as were the suspension and exhaust. There have never been any official performance figures posted for the Intimidator, but the mechanical specifications suggest that a 13-second ¼-mile ET is a realistic expectation. However, whether anyone would subject this rare classic to the stresses involved in producing that time is debatable. The seller indicates that not only is this Camaro numbers-matching but the only non-original components are the oil and battery. If ever a car deserved the “time capsule” title, this is it.

Dale Earnhardt’s vision for the Intimidator was to create a total package, and the interior didn’t escape his attention. Buyers received air conditioning, power operation for the windows, locks, mirrors, and driver’s seat, cruise control, a special short-throw shifter for the six-speed, and a premium stereo system. Leather trim was also standard and is in as-new condition in this car. There is no wear, the carpet is spotless, and the plastic is perfect. Twenty-three years have passed since Kelley Earnhardt took delivery of this classic, but it could still rightly take its place on a showroom floor.

The accident that took the life of Dale Earnhardt during the 2001 Daytona 500 was unspectacular compared to some that he had previously walked away from. However, it represented a perfect storm, and few of us will forget that moment when NASCAR President Mike Helton stood on the stage in the Media Center to announce that “we’ve lost Dale Earnhardt.” The public outpouring of grief was enormous, and the overwhelming demand for the Camaro SS Intimidator in the following days demonstrated how deeply he would be missed. The company only produced eighty-three of these classics for public sale, but this, the eighty-fourth, is a genuine 1-of-1 vehicle. Does that justify the seller’s BIN figure? Only time will tell.