If you’re the type of enthusiast who doesn’t mind modified classics and craves something with a mountain of power and torque, this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS could be right up your street. It presents extremely well, and the upgraded big-block under the hood will give it performance to match its looks. However, the seller’s decision to list this classic with No Reserve could make it irresistible. It also means that it is days away from almost certainly finding a new home. The seller has listed the SS here on eBay in Piedmont, South Carolina. Healthy bidding has pushed the price to $20,300 with plenty of time for interest parties to get their financial ducks in a row before making a play for this Camaro.
The 1969 model year marked the end of the line for the First Generation Camaro. If nothing else, its respectable figures during its three years on sale cemented the badge in the company’s model range. It had proved a worthy foe for the all-conquering Ford Mustang, lifting the game with a range of potent variants that forced the opposition’s hand. Our feature car presents well, but it is worth noting that it is far from being an unmolested survivor. The Black paint coating its arrow-straight panels isn’t original, because the Cowl Tag lists the factory shade as Cortez Silver. It is unclear when the change occurred, but I suspect that someone attacked this car as a total package that included a cosmetic refresh, an interior retrim, and significant mechanical upgrades. The general condition of the vehicle is consistent with what many would consider a high-end driver. It isn’t a trailer queen, but there are no significant imperfections and no evidence of rust. The Silver stripes add a welcome contrast, as do the spotless trim and glass. The wider Rally wheels provide a subtle hint that there might be more to this classic than meets the eye.
The most potent engine offered to 1969 Camaro buyers via normal channels was the 396ci V8 developing 375hp and 415 ft/lbs of torque. Alternatively, utilizing COPO 9561 could secure an L72 version of the 427ci, which lifted those figures to 425hp and 460 ft/lbs. When teamed with a four-speed transmission, the result was a brutal beast that could turn the ¼-mile journey into a memory in 13.8 seconds. However, that may still be small fry when we examine the big-block under the hood of this SS. The paint isn’t the only change, with this car now home to a 454ci powerplant. It has received a 0.060″ bore, with external upgrades including Hooker headers, an Edelbrock Dual Plane intake, and a Holley 750 carburetor. The seller doesn’t indicate what goodies are hidden inside, but it is fair to expect that the performance of this motor should at least match the L72. The seller selected the M20 version of the four-speed, teamed with a 3.42 rear end that should provide the car with long legs for open-road touring. They include a link to this YouTube video in their listing, it is short and sweet but confirms that the big-block sounds awesome and that the Camaro takes off like greased lightning when poked with a sharp stick.
The positive presentation continues inside this Camaro, with the spotless Black vinyl and immaculate carpet suggesting that a retrim was probably part of the build. The aftermarket tachometer and stereo are the only visible additions, while the console features the sports gauge cluster. The dash and pad are immaculate, and this interior can hold its head high because it appears to need nothing.
Seventeen, sixty-nine, and 697. Those figures represent the bid, Watch List, and listing view totals for this 1969 Camaro SS at the time of writing. If they prove nothing else, they demonstrate that plenty of people like what they see with this modified classic. It might potentially garner more attention if it was an unmolested vehicle, but it will hit a sweet spot with those who prize performance over almost anything. How high will the price go? How long is a piece of string? It is impossible to make a definitive call in cases like this, but there is plenty of time for the action to intensify. Do you know something? I believe that it almost certainly will.
Great looking car,but why does it seem that everybody
goes crazy for the high-horsepower versions?It seems to
me that flooring it,& doing burnouts over & over would get
old fast.All I can think of is that you’re flushing $$$ out the
tailpipes.
To me,these same people are the ones that got the
original Cars& Coffee cancelled,after doing burnouts when
leaving there.And we all know just how that impressed everyone!
Are you sure you’re not confusing cars like this with late model used, zero down payment Chargers, Challengers, and Mustangs? I only ask because I don’t know anyone with a vintage premium build that constantly hammers on it, but I see a lot of younger guys with late model stuff that do.
It never gets old.
Exactly. If that gets old then it’s time to exit the hobby and put yourself out to pasture.
“nothing like pushing it”. Okay it’s a quote from Tom Cruise but it rings true. Muscle cars are a great cardio workout!
So right angliagt, our local cars n coffee now has cops at the entrance and exit. That’s fine with me, but I think it’s too bad the local police have to do it. Kudus to them for keeping it open that way. They’re great guys and like the cars. They alternate watching and always walk and check out the iron.
Gets as old as the oldest thing known to man. You only slow down when life physically dictates such. Or you break a gear.
I hear you Pnuts. Or when you drop the driveshaft. A big oops. Then it’s like driving in neutral.
Burnouts NEVER get old!!! I’m 57, have a 85 IROC, and every time I hammer it down, I have a smile from ear to ear. And can’t WAIT for the next one
Unless it has an Aussie rear differential or a good aftmkt one , i would not do that too often.
Which is why i wish this was an RS with a 6 cyl – the rarest ’69 built! – i never even seen one.
Hey angliagt, you got a rare thumbs up from me. Since this car will certainly attract more viewers than say, a Hudson Commander, I just want to say, I’m watching the latest edition of Mecum TV auctions, this time from poverty stricken Florida. Granted, it’s not Kansas City, and the caliber of cars coming through pretty much dictated that. Many vintage race cars, or exotics, the likes the Heartland will never see, but it was the prices of cars like this, that really caught my attention. A GTO Judge ragtop, $480K? Novas, Chevelles, all 454, 4 speeds, allegedly selling for record 6 figure amounts. Why is that? I looked up several videos on the subject, one bloke, a British fellow named “Jack”, spelled it out perfectly. He pretty much resonated what I’ve said all along. The buyers of these cars, for the most part, are older folks that come heck or high water, have the funds for that dream car they’ve always wanted. And he admits, that’s okay for them, but as an investment, the fizz will end with that person Younger generations have already displayed, they just won’t have the interest or the money. It’s an illness, of sorts, denial really, and the big argument is, it’s their money, and that’s true. It is, however, a remarkably greedy and selfish way of looking at things, and in 20 years, this car will have an inch of dust on it, being featured on some website as a “forgotten classic”. Let’s watch as it unfolds,,,
You are a wise statesman Howard. Wise indeed. Same problem with all sorts of things. Rich Boomers go crazy jacking up prices and all the other generations are left out of the game. Looking at the game from outside and not being allowed in to play gets old fast. Longing turns to resentment, then to anger, finally to indifference. The imbalance of money in our world has distorted the natural flow of so many things and ruined much.
I’d like to know who these rich boomers are. I don’t know any, including myself.
ACZ, they are a convenient boogie man that exists in his mind and only come out to complete a narrative.
Steve R
You seem to be pretty conflicted, or a best contradictory. Your comment that “it’s their money” is exactly right, your comment that it is “remarkably greedy and selfish” makes absolutely no sense. How I chose to spend my own money on things that affect only me is not greedy or selfish, it is my money. I worked for it, no one was “left behind” or “overlooked” during that process. I cared for my family and loved ones, I put 4 children through college, my wife will be well cared for in the event that I go before her, whatever I was able to save or budget, I did at no one else’s expense, it is MY MONEY.
Just to even the playing field put me on the list of folks who would build a car like this…. and have. Beautiful car. I like it.
Howard. I agree with everything you said. It becomes very clear that the younger set will not have interest in these big block American iron if you check Mecums auction results and see what the Hondas and Acuras are selling for. This is a nice car though.
What a beast…to say the least. A ton of horsepower and enormous pavement grinding torque. Is it what anybody needs? Nah! But if a fella has enough ‘want’ to make a dramatic exit from the scene when behind the wheel, and he has the coin to buy it, maintain it, and insure it…just to have it (mostly) sit idle on display in that too-clean massive garage adjacent to his McMansion…so be it! Wealth certainly has it’s privileges and I hold no grudge with that. However, it do sometimes put some hurt on we who hold this motoring hobby dear, but occupy a more pedestrian location in the lottery of life.
But fear not, we can still find solace in pursuing our piston-popping-gear-grinding passions! Seek not the trailer queen trophies, the country club coupes, or the beach house droptops. Go forth and rescue a sensible barn find gem, or a flathead prairie schooner, or maybe a slightly rusty ol’ pick-em-up with (yeah) a straight six and a granny gear. Maybe get one or two of each!
I’m just saying, there’s a lot of fun affordable stuff out there that you can hop in and go to the hardware store or coffee shop, cause a lot of smiles on your face and those around you, without leaving burnouts at the light or jealous glances on the mugs of teenagers. And you don’t have to worry so much about parking lot dings.
( in lieu of thumbs up) Bingo!
Spearfish, that is a whole lot of car lovin’ truth. If I was in church right now I would have to say “can I get an Amen” You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy a nice car.
Nice car, well though out and executed.
Potential sellers could learn a few things by studying this ad. Take a lot of detailed pictures focusing on areas prone to rust, show the undercarriage and interior. Then write a ad light n fluff, covering aspects of the car potentials buyers will be interested.
This car should garner significant interest, hopefully he gets a price he’ll be happy with.
Steve R
Well Howard just made me realize I’ve already witnessed my future. Twenty years from now when the price comes down where I can afford this. I will be too old to drive it. So, as I did for my father with his blown Bonneville SSEI. Someone would need to drive me to church in it on Sundays.
This is first time I have thought about how my father must have felt and it breaks my heart.
That Bonneville sat covered in the parking garage of the assisted living community where he lived. Every Sunday morning I would go get the car out drive him to church and back. I would then wash it, park it back in the garage under cover to wait for next Sunday. One Sunday I was late. We didn’t know it but, he had a spare key. Sometimes he went down to sit in the car and listen to the radio. Anyway, when I got there he and the car were gone.
I called my brother to come take me to the church so I could drive him back. When we got to the church my father didn’t park in the handicap spot. He parked on the sidewalk at the top of the ramp. {He had Handicap plates because he was legally blind}. After church he came out to find me bent over leaning against the building gasping for air as if I had just run a marathon.
Wheezing, I said. “DIDN’T YOU SEE ME? I caught you at the four way stop. I slapped the trunk as you were taking off!” He sat leaning against the passenger door staring at me with this puzzled look on his face all the way back to the home. It was a six mile drive. Keeping a straight face was the hardest thing I ever did. Tears were running down my cheeks I was laughing so hard on the inside. He must have thought I was whimpering.
He died not long after just shy of his 90th. Mother followed him the morning of his funeral. I never told him the truth about that day.
Good Gosh, can we all just lighten up a bit?
It’s a car! My Pop was born in ’23. I was born in ’61. He told me about the Model T that he “trucked out” on the dirt farm in Saskatchewan as a youngster during the depression. Did it mean the world to him back then? Yes. Did he want me to bronze it and mount it on the barn roof as a memorial to a fractional moment of his full and accomplished life? No. He did not indulge in such folly.
This guy mounted the coil where the MSD box is supposed to go.
You are right, he ruined the car. The sentence should be 20 lashes and six months of driving a mid-70’s Pinto, Vega or Dodge Aspen.
Steve R
Steve R: Just about the only comment I’ve seen today that makes any sense! Bravo! In my opinion this is one of the coolest cars I have seen on BF for a while. I could care less what the “investment potential” may be, someone that would own and drive this car does so because it is everything a hot rod should be; loud, fast, pretty, and well built. I don’t really care if the future is electric cars that all look like ticky tacky little boxes all in a row. Some of the comments indicate that there is a huge misconception about folks that would own and drive this car. Just because it has enough power to change the rotation of the Earth does not mean that is what it will be used for. For the most part the owner/driver of a car like this does so because they appreciate a fine work of art. My Corvette could probably smoke the tires for two blocks, but just about the only time it sees anything past about 1/2 throttle is on freeway on ramps. High performance does not immediately turn someone into a fool.
Or something equally fantastic. How about a Chevette ? That would be on par with the Vega , Pinto and Aspen.
I rather take a firebird… was never a camaro person.
plus im more of a B Body …
Nice car though….
I bought a 80 camaro that my brother in law built for drag racing and did a nice job with the body for what he has in the engine. I pulled the powerglide and dropped a 4l80 manual valve body in then dropped the compression so I can run pump gas. It’s no trailer queen which makes it a ton of fun to drive with that 468 big block. I saved and invested my money my entire life and I don’t have kids so I figured at 68 I will buy something fun and drive it and after I die I probably won’t care what happens to it and the wife can sell it or?
Good for you! You are a man whom I share a same attitude with.
Tim Taylor approved
A little off topic.. I’ve had an oldie for about 15 years. It runs great, no issues, looks good at 15 feet, but only about an hour at a time is all I want to drive it. It’s noisy on the highway, not fun idling in traffic, sometimes attracting unwanted attention from a fool who wants to race, etc. I like looking at it in the driveway best, around the golden hour… sitting on my porch with a beer. I guess I’m getting too old.
PL I think they call that growing old gracefully. Enjoy every moment.
Sometimes I have to like what I see. This Camaro is just beautiful. The quality of the build is top notch. Although I’m a diehard Pontiac fan, which is usually my first go to when buying a car. My only wish on this car would be black/white houndstooth fabric on the seats. For me,icing on the cake.
nice looking black paint. crappy looking engine bay. seller should have spent some time on addressing the issues
What issues? Are we looking at the same car? Even though the owner mentions car shows, I really don’t see this as a “show car”. What I see is a VERY nice street sweeper that is driven, (although probably sparingly) I think the engine compartment looks as I would expect a streetcar of this caliber to look, clean and tidy. I absolutely would not change a thing about this car. This thing is one of the best-looking street cars that I have seen in a very long time. It reminds me a lot of a black ’69 Baldwin/ Motion Performance Phase 3 that a friend of mine had. If I didn’t already have my “forever” car I would make an offer on this thing in a New York minute.
Nice car! You can’t go wrong with a big engine, and a stick shift. I’m surprised it has a 10 bolt rear.
When it comes to enjoying the power of American muscle, if you have to ask, you’re probably unable to understand the answer !
Wonder what the final number will be to take new ownership of that black beauty.
Classic big block muscle car were built to be driven hard and fast. If this is not your thing then I there’s enough SUV’s, Pickup trucks and used station wagons to go around.
I don’t know how rare this Camaro is but I have a friend that had a 69 Camaro with a 327 and 3 speed on the floor of course. The car was stock as I remember. I remember it being pretty quick and could be tached out pretty high in first and second gear . So it went quick at first but lost it in the top end vs big blocks . It was a very nice car. Fun to drive
Sold on 1/27/2025 with a high bid of $48,700 with 80 bids amongst 15 separate bidders.
Steve R
Whole lotta money but from what I saw, worth it.