For some classics, their beauty is more than skin deep. Such is the case with this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Convertible. It presents superbly following a recent refurbishment in its original Special Order color, but its mechanical specifications are the star of the show. It needs nothing, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Driven By Faith Restorations for referring this gem to us. The seller has listed the Camaro here on eBay in Spring, Texas. Bidding sits below the reserve at $46,766 with time remaining for interested parties to stake their claim.
The First Generation Camaro hit showroom floors for the 1967 model year, remaining on sale until being replaced at the end of 1969. Sales grew steadily during this period, with 243,085 buyers handing over the cash for one in 1969. This Convertible is a final year RS/SS, one of the most desirable variants money could buy. It presents superbly following a frame-off restoration in a Special Order shade of Carolina Blue in 2023. Finding anything to fault is seemingly impossible. The paint shines beautifully, the panels are laser-straight, and the White stripes are crisp. The contrasting Black soft-top shows no evidence of issues, while the underside shots confirm that this Convertible is rust-free. The original hidden headlamp mechanisms have been updated with new electrical components to improve reliability. The glass is clear, the trim is excellent, and the steelies with their dog dish hubcaps add the right amount of attitude.
I have lost count of how many project candidates we have seen over the years at Barn Finds where our readers suggest performing an LS transplant. That isn’t a consideration with this Camaro, because it has already been done. The 6.2-liter LS3 produced 430hp and 424 ft/lbs of torque out of the box, with those figures marginally better than buyers received from the range-topping 427ci big-block in 1969. The seller teamed the LS3 with a five-speed Tremec transmission and a 12-bolt 3.73 Posi rear end to create a potent beast. I see no reason why it couldn’t produce a mid-13-second ¼-mile ET, although a lower figure is certainly possible. The seller didn’t simply bolt in the new components and hope for the best, because the car also features a Holley Terminator X LS engine management system, a 92mm FiTech throttle body, Holden headers, a heavy-duty aluminum radiator, and quick-ratio steering. There is no information supplied regarding how the car runs or drives, but I see nothing suggesting the news would be anything but positive.
This Camaro’s primary focus might be on outright performance, but the interior isn’t lacking creature comforts and sensible upgrades. The new owner receives Vintage air conditioning, a tilt wheel, a retro-style stereo, and Dakota digital gauges. The Black leather trim is as impressive as you might rightly expect from a car that was recently refurbished. There is no wear or physical damage, and the woodgrain offers a classy touch. As with every other aspect of this classic, this interior needs nothing.
Some classics possess the “wow” factor, which is undoubtedly true with this 1969 Camaro RS/SS Convertible. Its Special Order paint shade will attract attention, but the potent mechanical setup should offer phenomenal performance and easy operation. Placing a value on this Camaro is virtually impossible because modified cars write their own rules. Considering all you know, what would you be prepared to pay for this potent SS?
100%?
No.
100% a KITA?
OH yeah.
Worth more than $50,000?
That depends on who wants it bad enough to pay it.
However, It might be worth paying it the first time somebody said “Oh that’s SUCH a pretty color” and sniggers..until you light ‘em up thru the 1st 3 gears and disappear as you hit 4th then 5th.
Powder Blues Band 🎸🎵
100k at the big auctions
Alcohol may not even be necessary
Definitely 6 figures, the dealer doesn’t list a price on their website, only stating the need to inquire directly. Nice car that was well planned and executed, it will be expensive, with good reason.
This is the third time the dealer has listed it on eBay, the prior high bids were in the low-$60k range neither meet reserve.
Steve R
This is a REALLY nice car! I have never seen that color before, but I think It’s kind of cool. Absolutely the only thing that I would change is to put 8″ rallies on it.
That stupid blue on this makes it look so cheap and so do the wheels! Every car painted this color looks cheap! How to down grade your car paint it this color!
Oh sheeit, Al spoke dudes, make sure to get on changing that exterior color and wheel choice STAT…
Couldn’t disagree more.
Love the wheels and color.
In the day poverty caps were only tolerable until your Torq Thrusts or Keystones came in. Not a good look then and not a good look now.
If the car originally came Carolina Blue, then there is about a 90% chance it was sold new at Alamance Motors in Burlington, NC.
They had a customer in 1965 (if I recall correctly) who wanted that color on an Impala, but did not want to pay the special paint charge. So the dealer ordered enough of them (I think it was 5) to get it on a fleet order without a special paint up-charge. They all sold quickly and were popular around town, and more and more people kept coming in and ordering them. Then people started coming from miles away to order one.
So Alamance Motors kept ordering them (all Chevy models, not just Impalas) all the way up until at least 1974.
They are quite a hit when one shows up at a local show in NC. I have seen Impalas and Chevelles of every year from 65 to 74, and Camaros from every year from 67 to 72. The trim tags all have either
OO or – – on them for the color code.
It’s a great color especially in NC, one thing is for sure, it beats, hands down, all of the various shades of grey that are so prevalent today.
Steve R
Jeff, that’s about the coolest thing I’ve heard today!
Thanks for sharing it.
Neat story thanks. Really cool color
Had a 70 impala this color. Paid 50 bucks aahh it was ugly
I love it, but the dog dishes and steelies would have to go. Looked cheap then, still cheap now.
Nice car. Get those exhaust leaks fixed.
It’s basically a restomod at this point with the LS transplant, the special order paint is a huge deal. But, the LS transplant kills this car because it would be fantastic with the original drivetrain. Excellent work though in the “restoration” of the car
I agree, but I can see what they where going for. With any car that is unique, or a rare color/option, I would always go for originality. I can see the appeal tho for something like my 1981 Camaro, it has a 305 engine, and is slow as all get out. But if this had a 427 like the author suggests, then I agree that it was a mistake to put in the LS.
Looks like a nice car but that “special order paint” isn’t doing it any favors. Color choice is always difficult, sometimes it comes out great and sometimes not so much.
Should have had either a “WHITE” convertible top to match the stripes or a black stripe package to match the current top.
Some black hockey stripes would make this car pop. Wish it had houndstooth & magnum SS wheels.
A waste of a good car. Should have a big block, not an LS.
Should have SS emblems all around. This car was built from catalogs. Nothing wrong with that but calling it an SS is probably pushing it a little.
To each his own. Please tell me where the gas gauge is? LOL. With a Tach and no gauges on the console, it should be between the tach and speedometer, OOPS
I don’t believe that the author was suggesting that this particular car came with a 427,. only that it could be special ordered with one. The one thing that would have made this little sweetheart even cooler would have been a factory 396/375.
IMHO $85K plus the fee would be a steal! See y’all in Scottsdale!
That battery looks out of place under this hood.
A childhood friends mother had a 1969 Buick Riveria this color with a white top and interior. I had an 81 Mercedes-Benz 380SL this color. The jury is still out.
Light blue is a woman’s color,they had this color on fire birds back in 77,78 I drove a lot back then, everyone I seen had a woman driving!
The color reminds me of what blue pepto bismol would look like.