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Humpty Dumpty: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396

When this Chevy Camaro was built in 1969, the “pony car” was in its third year of production and solidly in second place behind the Ford Mustang in sales. This example may have been fairly rare as it is both an RS and an SS with a 396 cubic inch V8 and painted Hugger Orange. The car left the road in 1978 and was mostly disassembled after that. What’s left will need a lot of work and we don’t know if it’s complete, though the engine is MIA. Located on a flatbed in Carlisle, Iowa, this interesting project is available here on eBay where the winning bidder will have to go higher than $7,100 to break the reserve.

The first-generation Camaro got a restyle in 1969 making it the better-looking of the three years (IMO). It would also be the best sales year thanks to a 15-month production run as the all-new 1970s were delayed in getting ready. While more than 243,000 Camaros were assembled in ’69, just 14,000 came with one of four 396 V8s available that year. When you add in the 4-speed manual, the X22 SS 396 trim, the Rally Sport option, and the Hugger Orange paint, perhaps only a few hundred like the seller’s car were built. That may not be the reason to have saved the car all these years but is likely why you’d want to put this Humpty Dumpty back together again.

It’s been 45 years since this Camaro was last on the street. Perhaps the engine gave out and was pulled and then disappeared. And after sitting for many years, maybe the owner decided to do a complete restoration and started pulling the car apart. We don’t know and that’s all speculation, but it might explain why it’s in the state you see now. Its 4-speed is still present as is the 12-bolt rear end and power front disc brakes.

This Camaro came with a deluxe interior which was removed in the late 1970s and looks good, from what we can tell. The machine has rust in the “usual places” such as the floors, trunk, quarter panels, and the list goes on. The only indication that this was an RS car is that the seller tells us it has the correct headlight vacuum pods and covers. Assuming most of the car is still there in one shape or form, is this a project that you’d want to undertake?

Comments

  1. Oldschool muscle

    Just a carcass!!!! Off to the crusher !!! Put it to rest.

    Like 13
  2. Ralph

    Ha, ha, no.

    Like 6
  3. Bick Banter

    $7,969.69. Looks like the moneybag bidders are after it.

    Like 5
  4. Chevylubber

    Seriously doubt the reserve will be cracked.

    Like 0
  5. Bill Schopf

    Was it in a fire? I could use the rearend out of it for my ’69 Nova if it is going to the junkyard.

    Like 3
  6. Shawn P

    It’s not. 396 RS or SS. The seller can not verify any numbers nor accurately guess from what’s left of this completely stripped PARTS CAR. It’s maybe worth $1.5k for this rusty husk…if that. Anything more is insulting to car enthusiasts.

    Like 7
    • James Dean Moore

      Total junk

      Like 4
      • Al camino

        What the hell is the 69 cents for?

        Like 1
    • Bret Speaks

      It’s a 396 car. You can tell by where the heater core comes out of the firewall.

      Like 1
  7. mike

    How much for just the trailer??

    Like 13
    • DayDreamBeliever DayDreamBeliever

      That is a nice all aluminum (except axles, hitch, hardware) trailer.
      I am not a fan of the vertical rail edges along the sides of the deck, prefer a square profile. But these tow so very well.
      I had to laugh at all the rust residue which has fallen off the car and shows up on the deck behind the rear…

      Like 1
  8. Marques Dean

    Chances are the tires and wheels are worth more than the actual remnants of the car itself!

    Like 3
  9. Shuttle Guy Shuttle Guy Member

    That’s just sad!

    Like 4
  10. Hans L

    Desirable color, options, 396 – either a 325 or 350 HP rating due the return fuel line. Most of the parts are there. While rusty, it appears restorable. Will cost some, but a pretty highly sought after Camaro.

    I see a lot of naysayers posting. I say it’s worth restoring.

    Like 12
  11. peter

    THIS IS SO OBVIOUS,
    IT’S embarrassing
    This is the sale of VIN and a title; and the right to build a replica.
    for $13,500 you can buy a brand new, recently manufactured body

    https://dynacornclassicbodies.com/1967-chevrolet-camaro-coupe/
    AND
    you would be lucky to return this mess into a car for $13,500
    BUT
    you would then have a reconstructed SS 396

    Have fun,
    just realize what is for sale

    Like 0
  12. John vititoe

    Who in their right mind would spend even 3000.00 on a pile of crap. I wish they would give me some of that money if they just feel like throwing it away.

    i wish they would give me some money

    Like 1
  13. Bryan D McDonald

    Worth restoring for sure but only if you can get it at the right price, and that price is apparently quite a ways from their reserve price. As it stands now I think the sellers are just fishing. The rust on the firewall by the body tag tells a story , and it’s a sad, sad story.

    Like 4
  14. Not Again

    Same band of naysayers, who sing the same old song, and probably have not purchased a muscle car in 20 or 30 years! This is a RARE car, hec what is left in the market place is all RARE because very few exist that have not been picked up and restored! I have been restoring every panel on these cars and all parts are readily available! All you naysayers do is try to impact the final bidding price on these rare cars! If you were the owner selling this RARE car you would want the respect of allowing the market to determine the final value, not your uneducated comments. If you have nothing positive to say, say nothing at all! Take care

    Like 12
    • Keith

      Unfortunately RARE is not used RARELY enough. You refer to this car as if it is a Duesenberg!

      Like 2
  15. Carl Bacon

    A couple years ago not so much, but now that they are allowing restamped engines, this will be a numbers matching car for 6 digits, in no time. Just sayin. My favorite color and engine but I’m partial to the ’70.

    Like 5
  16. Timothy Vose

    I get it. Someone raced for their engine someone had their doors blown off. End of story.

    Like 2
  17. George Mattar

    Only worth what someone is willing to pay. I am more a 70 Z/28 guy with RS bumpers.

    Like 1
  18. 1st Gear

    Seller had been paying attention to the Barrett Jackson & Mecom proud on TV way too much.

    Like 2
  19. Not Again

    Seller has been paying attention to the market! MOST SMART EDUCATED individuals who participate within any viable market regardless of buying or selling, would do the very same SMART INTELLIGENCE homework! Same old naysayers, please look and have the data for this market, before continuing with baseless negative commentary! Take care.

    Like 6
  20. ACZ

    Where’s the car?

    Like 2
  21. RMac

    The transmission, rear end, front discs, wheels, hideaway headlights and interior are worth the asking price as separate parts so the total plus the body is well worth the asking and it it is verified as an rd/ss 396 4 speed hugger orange it is definitely worth restoring negative poster have not tried to buy rare parts for cars lately

    Like 3
  22. Malcolm Greer

    An almost 10 year old car back then was considered worthless. They were plentiful, and we had no foresight. A Camaro or Mustang, or Mopar sitting in a friend’s back yard was more of an eyesore than anything else. I bought a 271 horse 289 with transmission out of a parked ’66 GT in 1972 for $100 plus the price of a portable engine hoist from the rental shop. Put it in my ’68 Torino and had fun till I wrecked it a year later.

    Like 3
  23. Jeff

    That car isn’t worth a penny over a 1,000.00 from what is there new engine new front clip new door’s new rear quarter’s floors and trunk and trunk lid all the glass all the internal parts of door’s and dash rear windows new wiring harness new brakes brake lines gas lines gas tank steering column and steering wheel and engine who knows what shape the transmission and rear end are in plus sending it out for a strip and dip and don’t forget all the work that goes into all that and all that money and then the body work and paint good luck.

    Like 0
  24. RMac

    Jeff
    While may not be worth the cost restoring have you priced a Muncie 4 speed, linkage, 12 bolt posi rear, disc brake setup, or the front clip with hideaway headlights???
    Definitely worth the sum of parts

    Like 2
  25. Not Again

    Jeff, once again a clueless post regarding the value of the car or the parts still available with this RARE car! Please validate your comment with actual data from this market …you know you cannot.. So please stop posting worthless comments which are non factional and in the end will only hurt the market value of the sale! Take care.

    Like 1
  26. Virgil Durst Member

    You need to be ashamed of yourselves trying to sell this Rusted, Large piece of metal.

    Like 0
  27. RMac

    Virgil
    Why be ashamed lots of valuable parts if you don’t like the price just move on no need to castigate people for selling something if nobody wants it the seller will have to lower the price
    That is capitalism

    Like 2
    • Virgil Durst Member

      Whatever turns you on R Mac! Virgil

      Like 1
  28. 69Camaro

    For all you whom posted negative-ish comments, about this car not being worth the reserve price, or prices even lower, such as $1000!
    You obviously have not tried to purchase a 1969 Camaro since Covid hit, which caused inflation and everything else to go waaaay up!
    This highly sought after ‘1 year model’ 1969 BBC RS-SS Camaro ‘Rust bucket’
    sold for $16,100 !! And you can take that to the bank!

    Like 0

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