Update 9/28/20 – We don’t know what this one sold for or if it even did when we featured it back in July, but it has resurfaced here on eBay with a $30k asking price!
From 7/15/20 – At one time the world seemed awash in 1969 Chevrolet Camaros, actually, it seems as if it still is. And they turn up everywhere and in every form. And here’s just an example that is located in San Francisco, California. There’s really nothing said about it other than it will be sold via auction with an $8,000 opening bid. Worth a closer look? Sure, it’s available and the sparse details are here on craigslist. Thanks to Pat L. for this tip!
As stated, there’s nothing to go on regarding the specifics of this car other than trying to glean a good picture from the off-kilter images. Here’s what we know, this is a basic “2437” V8 equipped sports coupe. It appears to be currently parked in a loft, for how long is anyone’s guess. The odometer is showing a reading of 2,200 so that’s probably 102K miles. It is finished in “Fathom Green” and what can be seen under all of the dust looks decent but this is a car that needs an in-person inspection, and that can be arranged per the listing. Both driver-side corners are dented so it looks like a little parking-by-feel has occurred. It is not possible to get a better look at the body, so no word on other dents, rot, crash damage, wheel treatment, etc. though this image does reveal a trim ring – it may be a clue to the wheel style in use.
The interior reveals little too, other than it is trimmed in white vinyl, a smart look with the Fathom Green exterior, and it appears to be in nice shape. The seat upholstery is not torn or split and it hasn’t yellowed either. There is a center console in place so we can determine that this is an automatic transmission-equipped car. The back seat shows as being little used and the passenger side door card seems fine as well. One of the radio knobs is visible and it looks like an original Delco radio. Of note is the still present owner’s manual perched on the passenger seat.
Under the hood is a 210 gross HP, 327 CI V8 engine. This is notable as it was the standard Camaro V8 engine for only part of the ’69 model year. Depending on which research source you use, you will find different dates reporting when Chevrolet switched from this 327 to the 307 CI engine as the standard V8. The Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) filing for the Camaro shows a 2/14/1969 revision date in which the 307 motor is referenced for the first time so that’s probably the best estimate of when the swap occurred. More importantly, how’s it run? Odds are, it probably doesn’t, but it may not take a lot of effort to return this Camaro to full operational status. Based on the interior image of the console, the automatic transmission appears to be a Powerglide, two-speed automatic unit. Unfortunately, there is no A/C.
OK, so what to do? This California black plate Camaro, from what can be seen, appears to be very original and very plain, the way the majority of the 243K manufactured that year turned out. It would seem a shame to try to turn this example into anything other than what it is – though I might want to get the ramming-speed dents repaired. Yes, ’69 Camaros are everywhere but they don’t turn up like this too often, don’t you think?
(IMO) Not enough information/pictures provided on this car. Difficult for anyone not local to inspect; personally I think there are too many unknowns w/ this one.
GLWTA!!
I took a look at the car. Original owner car. She was the hostess at Trader Vics restaurant in the city for a lifetime. Daily driver. One repaint from what I had seen. 30K? I guess you can ask for anything you want?
I’m sure someone here can answer this question for me.
I always thought the 283 and 327 were great engines, why did Chevy replace the 327 with the pitiful performance 307?
The 307 was not a bad motor, and can hardly be accused of having pitiful performance. It wasn’t supposed to be a high performance engine, it’s purpose was to be the base Chevrolet V8 engine and provide decent performance and fuel economy in a variety of different models, which it did very well.
There were a few reasons the 307 replaced the 283. Cars were getting heavier, and Chevy needed a larger base V8 to power them. Also, emission equipment was beginning to show up, requiring larger engines to offset the power lost due to A.I.R. pumps, etc. And it was about marketing, Ford was replacing the 289 with the 302, so Chevrolet needed a bigger base V8 too. In 68 the 283 was replaced by a 2 bbl 327 as the base V8, but it never really made a good, economical, base V8 engine.
Was not the 307 also cheaper to build – cast rods vs forged in the 327, etc.? & lower compression – lower insurance rates?
Also, i bet there were some test mule ’67 1st gen camaros with 283s. & what if one was saved?!
The 307 was a long stroke engine,designed for emissions like the 350. 283 and 327 are “:short stroke” ANy cqan be eqasily modified.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t a 307 a 283 with a 327 crank? Just as a 302 is a 327 with a 283 crank.
I really like the simplicity and honesty of this car. What we can see of it anyway.
No key not a problem but what is not stated is whether a title exists?
Not to bad looking on top side? It will make a nice local a good car as when minimalist list you cut out the non locals sadly…
If there is a non-op that would be stated on some form of DMV paperwork. Cars with a non-op don’t get dropped from the system, a friend recently purchased a 56 Ford F100 that had been sitting on the sellers patio since 1981. He brought the paperwork to the DMV, paid the sales tax and title transfer, which was a little over $100 and was sent a new title in his name. If the owner hadn’t filed for a non-op he would have had to bring it to the CHP for VIN verification and paid many hundreds of dollars to get it in his name.
Look at picture #14, it looks like a lot of bondo, if so, I’d pass.
Steve R
No ac is a plus to me.
Air conditioning is not needed in San Francisco. The average high in July is 67 degrees, August is 68, September is 71 and October is 70.
Steve R
What about June?
Funny thing about San Francisco weather. You may not need AC for more than a handful of days. But if you drive 30 minutes north, south or east, the temperature can be as much as 40 degrees hotter than in the city itself. Such are the Bay Area’s microclimates. Without AC, this car will be a hard sell—even to locals living outside San Francisco’s 49 square miles.
For the right price. I would do the body work. Love that green with white interior. Redo the suspension . Drop a 383 stroker with nice worked 350 trans and top it off with 3:73 gears. Of course headers nice exhaust system. M&T mags like back in the day with redline tires. Never like the gold ones. Aftermarket AC and enjoy it..🐻
that sounds like something i would do ngl
The Craigslist ad is under review.
In 2 years it’ll be a numbers-match Z/28 with full documents at BJ for $75K.
in those 2 yrs this car will have the 4 wheel disc brake option and the cowl induction hood with the 2X4 intake and carb setup and the rare chambered pipe exhaust along with the M-22 trans, but the real deal maker will be the traction compound option
And it will have have properly aged paperwork to match!
Ad under review? I am not sure what that means. Scam?
I live in Phoenix not San Francisco!
PG transmission?
I was not aware that the pictured console shifter was delivered on any other than the TH350 or the TH400 transmissions.
Regarding the listing, the CL ad was “Flagged for removal”
The age-old way of preventing others from seeing the ad, when someone has already gotten the information and can contact the seller. OR, it was indeed a scam, and someone who knew it did the flagging…..
The horseshoe shifter was the only automatic FLOOR shifter used in ’68-72 camaros, regardless of trans. I seen a ’68 RALLY SPORT camaro with that floor shifter, & it had a powerglide & a SIX under the hood!
Could also get a ’69 RS with a 6 like that, but i never seen one – with manual or auto.
Rare is not valuable in the above cases with grandmas motor. lol
We know it has had at least one repaint – Chevrolet did not offer that green in 1969. We also know that the silver painted front grill that came on the car has been replaced by a black one which has had the grill surround painted the same color as the body. Could it be that the front end has already been replaced once before? Inspect carefully. Its otherwise a pretty nice looking car.
My roommate has a 69 in that exact same color….and that was in 1974.
I don’t know where John is getting his info, but Fathom green (#57) was certainly a 1969 Camaro color. Just look it up!
The first picture looks to me like the car could have been white! Not the dent but in the front where the seem is by the Carmaro emblem and fender!! The second picture if you zoom in you can see it’s an automatic shifter! Could be a nice car if someone would roll it out into the San Francisco sun and take a GOOD picture!!!
The promotional model available for the 1969 Camaro convertible was Fathom Green. The hardtop was Hugger Orange.
I know it was mentioned before, but I always thought the 307 replaced the 283, not the 327. The 350 replaced the 327, across the board in ’69, I’m thinking of all Chevys not just the Camaro. Nice green one here, one that escaped us kids later on.
Yes, the 307 replaced the 283, about the same time Ford replaced the 289 with the 302, midyear 1968.
Not very familiar with GM data plate code but paint code 65 seems to decode as Olympic Gold?
No a/c kills the deal for me plus the Buy-It Now price is a little rich.
Way too much money for a plain jane sport coupe.
These cars are really a dime a dozen. The outrageous price indicates a few gold bars hidden in the trunk.
Sounds like the saler is looking for someone who does,nt know anything about cars and has more money then he knows what to do with. Too many questions and no good picture for anyone to see and make a real good offer. Plus the hidden title . A person wouldn,t know how much tax to pay . I,ll pass and find something that is a turn key. Drive it and work on it as I go.
Maybe my thinking is wrong but I thought the 327 over time replaced the 283 and then the 350 replaced the 327? As far as that anemic 307 I have no clue where that fits?
Johnny is right on the money, good analysis.
I have to admit, some sellers really make me laugh
30 K really ? looking for a fool
I had a 69 Z-28 in Fathom Green with white hood/trunk stripes (and no trunk spoiler, so the stripes ran the full length of the trunk). It also had a (black vinyl roof) and the D96 stripe option (pinstripe starts at front of each fender/wheel openingand runs to the rear.)
http://www.camaros.org/exterior.shtml
It was a sharp car and ‘different’ than most.
307
My first 69 had a 307 and it could be and was pumped up to scorch tires. That being said, a major limitation was the stock heads. They had relatively small valves, so there was only so much fuel and air that one could ram into the cylinders. As a stupid 18 year old shifting the TH 350 at 7800 RPSm and up to 8,200 as you can imagine it did not take long to trash the motor. Ahhh Youth!
Now that is is 50 year later I again have a 69 Camaro, its a beutifully resored as new Indy Pacecar big block 4 speed. Although it is much faster than my High School 69, I baby it 99% of the time. COme on you can’t tell me that even the most conservative of you would not be tempted to go sideways in the first three gears with tires screaming and smoke clouds billowing? Well I feel 18 all over again when I do it. Lets face it the cars were muscle cars and were built to do it. It is fun!
My older brother came home from Vietnam and got a brand new 69 Camaro with a 350 and a 4 speed tranny. I always thought that the 350 replaced the 327. But I also know that the 327 was still available for a while in 69. So go figure.