Tell Momma she’s gotta hide the bank book and the credit cards: The condition of this car will positively blow your mind and you may uncontrollably have the urge to BUY IT. When so many people moved west to Arizona for the dry air and mild winters because it was conducive to allergies or asthma (especially an allergy to cold white stuff that falls from the sky), they probably didn’t think twice about how their car would stop aging. Witness: this 52-year-old Olympic Gold with Black Stripes and Black interior Camaro RS Z/28 positively defies Father Time’s partnership with the Grim Reaper. Find this showroom-stock Camaro in Lake Havasu, Arizona and here on eBay. The current bid level is $45K–there’s no reserve or BIN price–so she’s a-gonna sell.
This picture tells us a lot about the 1969 Camaro and this car in particular. In 1969, Chevrolet made some style changes to the Camaro, making the tops of the wheel wells flatter and adding shadow lines coming off of each wheel well. The three fake vents in front of the rear wheels were new, as were the taillights and the “V”-shaped black RS grill with two headlight doors in the color of the body. If the picture were just a bit sharper, you could see “Z/28” at the very front, “rally sport” between the front wheel and the door, and up there on the hood in the black stripe and the side of the scoop are the numbers “302”. The Z/28 engine option was a bit of a hot rod engine in the Camaro–it featured solid lifters, an 800-cfm Holley 4v carburetor that put out 290 hp (at 5,800 rpm). Chevy made 243,085 Camaros in 1969 but only 20,302 were Z/28 models. In the top photo, did you happen to notice the license plate: “302 DZ”?
It was so easy to miss the impact of just a few words in Seller’s terse posting: “Numbers matching, tilt wheel, fresh trade-in.” Kind of guessed the numbers matching part, tilt wheel (yawn), but “fresh trade-in?” One can only hope that this car wasn’t traded for a soccer-Mom mini-van or a four-cylinder scooty-type mini-SUV. Trade-in? Could be they wanted to make some space in the garage and this was the logical choice being so old and all.
Now just add this to the mix (hopefully, but unconfirmed, whether there is an M21 or M-22 Rock Crusher down there) and ask yourself the question again about the trade-in thing. Was Grampy getting too advanced in years to row through the gears? The description is scant enough so that it is a “You-Pick-‘Em” bet whether this is original like a really pampered 102,545 miles or this car has been completely gone through by some guys who used to work at the Norwood, OH plant where she was born in the first week of January 1969. Then, look at this:
Never mind–I didn’t see the massive dirt build-up around the differential cover bolts the first time through, sorry. Probably isn’t as brand-new looking as I originally thought. For real?
And the Turbo Fire sticker is showing signs of age and fatigue, too. Hopefully, these photos convince you better than our feeble words can describe that it may well be worth your while to make a quick dash over to the eBay posting if what you’re looking for is a pristine RS Z/28 302 car not trading quite yet at the top dollar. Oh, one last shot. . .”
. . .yeah, it’s the Owner’s Manual. It’s in perfect condition. Probably taken out of the plastic bag for the very first time just to make this photograph. Oh, dear!–there’s dust on the back of the glove box door! In reality, it’s so doggone flawless I’m waiting for the “April Fool!” comments down below even if it is still January. K, you got me.
Beautiful car and a solid investment if everything matches up in person. Can’t see how you could go wrong on this one. You could spend more for a restored one but it’s only original one time.
I’m suspicious. It has aftermarket AC with a factory AC dash. Z’s weren’t available with AC because they had too high of a redline. This isn’t as original as claimed.
The A/C was probably a dealer installed option. (being an AZ. car, that would be my guess) Back then dealers did a huge business doing A/C installs, many folks would think they could deal with no A/C. But the AZ. climate would change a lot of minds quickly.
A beautiful car! Very good to see this one here, rather than a rusted out, Swiss cheesed, parts missing wreck where the owner is asking 30K, or 40K for the buy it now option. There are still some realistic folks left, that gives me hope.
I’d be a little leery of the “original Arizona” claim. The car was built in Norwood Ohio, most cars shipped to the west coast were built in Van Nuys. I’d want to go over any documentation the dealer has and make sure all of the casting dates and stampings which show engine codes and VIN’s are legit.
Steve R
As a retired car salesman I have to agree … back in the 70s-80s many cars and trucks came without AC, especially imports … I made quite a few extra bucks on aftermarket AC, especially on Toyotas …
Having grown up in Yuma Arizona and working outside and at the Port of Entry at Calexico,Ca., I can faithfully swear that if you did,nt have a good auto AC unit you were nuts. It never cooled much at night either.
yes–the 118 degree days make a believer of you quick. I thought the 107 we see in texas was hot….
up to 49 large. Better looker over good, BTW the seller is a dealer, FWIW. Know what you are buying, presents nicely in the pics. Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
It’s nice and all but ’69 Camaros and Chevelle’s, there’s just so many! When I see one on these sites, it’s like hearing “Don’t Fear the Reaper” on the radio. You go like, “oh, again??”
You’re right about that, only thing is, so many 69 camaros are pretending to be what this one is; the legendary 1969 Camaro Z-28 with the original DZ 302.
There is a difference in pretending and being real.
I don’t think Z28s got a rear sway bar until the 2nd gen 1970 model, yet this one has one. And I noticed the A/C dash vents as well. It’s a very nice car, but a prospective buyer may want to investigate this car more based on the claims in the ad.
Aftermarket bar? Looks pretty shiny, and outer attachment at the wheel looks funky.
It is an aftermarket rear bar, that’s been a popular addition to Camaro’s since at least the early-1980’s.
Steve R
The early Camaros suffered from wheel hop, you could be pointed north, dump the clutch, and be facing east by the time the tires got grip. Ask me how I know.
First-Gen GM F-bodies did not receive factory installed rear sway bars. They were offered starting with the 2nd Gen cars.
My 69 Z had a sway bar from the factory, but no A/C or power steering. I thought it was part of the handling package.
The 69’s had a sway bar but they didn’t dip below the pumpkin like this one does. It ran across the housing so u had to use a wrench to get the bolts on a couple of the 12 bolts. A standard socket wouldn’t fit
sorry guys my age is catching up to me, i confused the Z/28 rear sway bar with the one on aa S-10 pickup truck I used to own
The AC vent in the middle of the dashboard appears to have been installed by Mr. Bentwrench.
Beautiful Camaro, regardless.
While you are obviously smitten (I don’t blame you at all), outstanding job on the write-up Mike Tarutis. Quite the enjoyable read.
Wow. I’m smitten too. The black ’67 RS/SS 396 (Better Off Dead) car is my favorite but this 302 is a close second
Thanks for the kind words, JCA.
BTW, how much does an aftermarket sway bar affect the value of a car like this?
I am easily smitten by a car that for all intents and purposes looks like new but still is 52.
Wish I could say I am aging as well as this machine!
Still want to know what it was traded for, don’t you?
$49,100.00 and still three days left. It’s gonna go large.
Surprised it not advertised locally. This is a classic car town.
Think the 69 was the best looking Camaro. That one bringing me back to a nicer time. At one point my family was tri-69 Camaro. My Father had the exact same color combo in the stock version. One brother has a blue with black vinyl top SS, another Brother had the brilliant yellow RS with the hideaway headlights. I had a bike ..
WOW, beautiful car, color, and options! Whatever it sells for determines it’s current value on the market. Although the seller makes no claim to originality, it’s worth noting that the right door pictured has been re-skinned at some point. Those lumps seen on the door hemming seam are spot welds. Not unusual on for a 52 year old car to have had a bump or two, and the repair looks to be well done, however, they didn’t come that way from GM. Perhaps an up close in-person inspection would be in order prior to any “all the money” offers.
Thanks for the comment, Comet, nice explanation.
Was at $50,100 last look just now.
I’m a Corvette guy and I think the ’69 Camaro was the best year. Great looking lines, great engine choices, option choices the list goes on. This car is super clean, numbers matching, and you couldn’t build one this nice for $75K. I wouldn’t care that it has dealer installed A/C, I would enjoy it!
Just sayin…..
I like it but, having restored a 1969 Z/28 I can tell you the A/C not correct, the exhaust system is not correct because they came with the transverse muffler. I’m being picky but I’m really suspect of the dash the exhaust is no big deal but I would check and see the x code mine is an x11 base z/28 with the D80 code for spoilers front and back /// anyway if it’s a true Z/28 it’s nice
Z/28 codes were X33 and X77. X11 means non 396, non Z/28, includes SS350.
You are correct! X33 and X77 were the only two X-codes for a Z!! And only on Norwood cars. The LA cars have no Z/28 identifiers!!🇨🇦
Had two friends that I worked with that bought identical Cortez Silver 69 Camaros with the DZ 302 option. They both came with Spring Loaded Hurst 4 speeds. Can’t tell whether Hurst is stamped into the shifter handle on this one or not.
Urine…cough…’scuse me…Olympic Gold. SMH.
Wel, this ones a few months too late. Would have had to toss my hat for this. A buddy had the twin, sort of, to this back in the 70’s / 80’s. Same colors, no vynil top, I think, but his had a 454 w/ 3-2s. It was a Z-28 and one of my favorite cars of all time.
My oldest brother bought a 69 Camaro SS in 69, 396 dark green. It had the vents in the dash but had astro-ventilation, just a way to route the vent to cool you better during those 100+ mph bursts of speed. He was a deputy sheriff. That’s when I absolutely fell in live with the 69 Camaros. Oddly, I’ve never had 1. 67, 68 and newer but no 69.
Are sure about the engine. A 454 with 3×2 was never an option. The only engine in the 69 Z was a 302. It could have a 2 4 barrel carb setup but they were rare. Mostly a dealer or owner install. I’m pretty sure the 454 engine wasn’t made till 1970.
Lynn, an engine configuration like the one Greg describes may have been possible as an aftermarket setup in the 70’s and 80’s as he suggests. I don’t know what the length of the engine bay was on those model years. But you are correct about the 69 model year.
You couldn’t even put a 454 into a 69 Camaro without changing out the distributor to the smaller circumference digital type distributor. It just wouldn’t fit. Had a friend try it and I told him it wouldn’t fit and the only way he could get that 454 into the 69 Camaro he was rebuilding was to change out the distributor to one like I described above. Even then he had to tap out the cove for the distributor in the firewall slightly with a body hammer to get it to fit.
Didnt say the 454 was factory, it was installed in the late 70s. The car still had its 302 tags, which we all felt was quite funny, advertising a 302 and running a 454.
You could indeed fit a 454 in a 69 Camaro, after all it is the same external dimensions as the 396. The standard points type distributor obviously fits, and a HEI will fit, but it is close to the firewall. Tight, but it fits.
This car is very questionable and also vary strange . Yes , it’s true on 1967-1969 Camaro Z/28’s you could not order A/C with the 302 . It’s a solid lifter motor not a hydraulic so you could not run A/C without other complicated issues. It looks like someone tried to set it up in the interior and it doesn’t look correct under the hood (hard to see ) . Never seen a real numbers matching Z/28 with A/C because they don’t exist. Only some type of tribute car to look like a real Z/28. Must see the cowl tag to verify the Z/28 . Looks like this is a pass the buck type of deal . I would be checking the motor numbers real close the heads , something doesn’t match up somewhere . Before I would spend 45k or more I’d have all the 1969 Z/28 casting numbers and other info in hand or hire Jerry MacNeish to verify the car from Maryland -Camaro-HI-performance, money well spent to get correct answer if you don’t know yourself .
Interesting car but not what I would call “very original” n addition to items pointed out, the Hurst shifter is also not the original design it is a flat stick, as opposed to the correct round style.
Thanks, John for noticing that. Good catch on the shifter rod shape.
We have some really sharp readers!
As to James’ comments directly above–the VIN number is in the eBay posting but did not see any other numbers or the stampings to verify anything for sure.
My dad had this car in yellow with black stripes and dual four barrel option
Nicely done, Mike! Welcome to Barn Finds. Look forward to more.
RS option would be a X33. I think X77 was a stripped done model. Norwood car very early production could have not denoted X33/X77 on cowl tag. Need picture of cowl tag and vin number
Z28’s didn’t get A/C till 1973.The Z28 in the 60s had solid lifters and AC was not compatible to run on that motor.Or so I hear
One of the reasons was the 302 with the solid lifter cam would allow a high rpm and that would throw the a/c compressor belt. Lots of early Z s didn’t have power steering for the same reason. The alternator had a deep grove pulley too. Also the guys didn’t buy them for street cruzin and any extras took power from the engine.
Lots of details not correct with this car … no clock in dash, yet has “gauges”, so this car never had a tachometer when it left the GM assembly line
Lots of other niggling stuff too
No pics clear enough to determine deep groove pulleys or not, although it DOES have 4 leaf rear springs
Need to do an in person inspection otherwise consider it a “tribute” car
RS and Z28 badges? Didn’t know they came that way.
they did
however, the “rally sport” emblems on the side of the fenders appear to be a tad lower than the should be
This is an original car, not a concours restoration, so bolt on mods are to be expected. Even though I have never owed this car and actually it’s older than me, I could see why someone might change the shifter from round to flat. Look how high the shift console comes up around the shifter and its also bound with metal. I could see how if things get loose and in motion that you may have a problem hitting a gear. A flat stick might help. That’s purely a guess but may explain a shifter change. I also noticed headers, bolt on? The rear sway bar looks like another bolt on. And possibly the clock might be a stand alone option as a la carte ordering was the norm at that time. Maybe it didn’t come with the RS package? The tag checks out and seems legit otherwise from the pics.
JCA wrote: “And possibly the clock might be a stand alone option as a la carte ordering was the norm at that time. Maybe it didn’t come with the RS package?”
the RS package was only an EXTERIOR trim package. Had NOTHING to do with anything on the interior.
The clock was indeed an option, BUT in order to get the console gauges you got the clock in the middle of the dash. That location is where they put the gas gauge IF you only ordered the tachometer WITHOUT the console and gauges.
NO WAY to get a tach dash WITHOUT a clock or gas gauge in that center section.
This car was NOT born with a tach, it was added later, and the console gauges as well … it is possible that this car didn’t have a console when it was born as well … as I stated earlier, there are LOTS of little niggling details that aren’t “right” about this car that I can tell from the limited photos …
FYI: I’ve owned over 75 1969 Camaro’s of all types since the very early 70’s … I know these cars inside and out
Shifter swaps were very common back then, did quite a few myself. Some folks upgraded by replacing the OEM shifter rods under the car to real Hurst items. OEM’s used their own design to reduce vibrations and noise. Many of the shifters supplied by Hurst also did not include the stop bolts, that reduced strain on the gearbox by limiting the actual rod travel. I upgraded numerous shifters by adding the stop bolts to the shifter bodies. I recently swapped out the factory 4 speed shifter on my 65 GTO, the shifter was almost vertical. I installed a new Hurst Competition Plus with a custom bent stick to clear the factory console. Oddly enough the shifter fits all 64-67 GMA-body cars with or without a console EXCEPT for the GTO with a console, go figure. I bought an additional stick, I believe it was actually for a 69 Camaro, and bent it at the bottom to clear my factory console. The car is much easier to drive with the stick in easy reach for all 4 gears. A nice appearing Camaro, just noticed the speed-warning speedometer also!
I had a 1969 Z-28 when my senior year in high school and didn’t know what I really had. I ran the crap out of it as did the guy who had it before me. The guy who talked about wheel hop was absolutely correct, if you revved her up and popped the clutch she was all over the place.
I thought the same about the big block fitting in the car. Factory 396. COPO 427.