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Olympic Gold: 1969 Camaro LM1

We’ve all heard of the SS, Z/28, Zl1 and the RS, but the LM1 is a far less known option for the Camaro. If you want a 350 V8 powered Camaro with a 12 bolt rear end, but don’t care about the flash of the SS, this was the car to get! It isn’t the highest performance Camaro around, but it has some serious sleeper potential! This one is an original car, but isn’t running and needs work. You can find it here on eBay in Medford, New Jersey with an opening bid of $15k.

When the seller found this pony, it was in fairly rough shape. They straightened out the dents and had the car repainted in it’s original Olympic gold color. They got most of it put back together, but there is still a sizable list of things that need to be finished.

The original 350 is here and accounted for. It is going to need the new included wiring harness installed. This small block was rated at 255 horsepower from the factory, but while you are in there a new cam, intake and carb would bring power number up considerable and make this one quick horse!

I won’t go over the whole list of things that need to be done, the seller did a good job of that in their ad, but I will say that this looks like a fairly simple project to take on. There’s no better way to celebrate the Camaro’s fiftieth anniversary than by buying and finishing a Camaro!

Comments

  1. Avatar Jeff K.

    So I take back what I was going to say about the amount of mud hidden under the paint. Check out the photos on the website of the guy that did the paint/body/metal work. It was quite extensive and looks like he did a helluva job and very impressive!! My ’69 will probably need a roof replacement as well because of the dreaded vinyl top. This color is rarely seen and re-applied. So kudos to them for sticking with the original color too!! 2 thumbs up for the dog dish hubcaps!!

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  2. Avatar Mike

    I like plain Jane cars like this

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  3. Avatar Barzini

    I give the seller credit for including pictures of the car as he found it and then at different points as work was being done on it. I also like the detailed description though felt bad after reading the reason for the sale.

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  4. Avatar Ck

    It sure looks like this was done the rite way.Doesn’t seem like it would be a big deal to button this car up and get her back on the road. I love this color gold on the 1st gen camaros,and I love the steel wheels with the doggy dishes. Also the way she sits makes it look downrite mean.Its also supposed to have a vinyl top ,it looks good with out it but I think I’d put it back on.

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  5. Avatar gbvette62

    Neat car! LM1’s are strange birds, from what I know. They were sort of like a pour man’s or sleeper SS350.

    The LM1 was a 350 with a Q-Jet rated at 255 hp, instead of 300 hp like the L-48 350 in the SS. The main difference between the LM1 and L-48 was 9.0:1 CR heads on LM1’s, and 10.25:1 heads on SS 350’s. LM1’s came with the same HD parts as the SS350, including multi leaf rear springs, a 12 bolt rear, and an aluminum case Muncie when a 4 speed was ordered (in place of the cast iron case Saginaw installed in lesser Camaros). Unlike the SS350, the LM1 did not come with dual exhaust or front disc brakes, but they were optional.

    LM1’s were only sold till the end of Dec. 68, when the 4 bbl LM1 was replaced by a 2 bbl 350. Because of this, there were only about 10,000 built. The 2 bbl 350 was only 5 hp less than the LM1’s 255, but lacked the LM1’s HD parts, like the 12 bolt rear.

    LM1’s are considered pretty collectible, by people who are familiar with what they are. A friend of mine who collects Camaros has a white LM1, but it’s pretty rough.

    This car is in the next town over from me. I’m not in the market for a Camaro, or anything else right now, but still……

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    • Avatar Mike_B_SVT

      “Only about 10,000 built.”

      That is not really a small number.

      Of course the unanswerable follow up question is: “How many of those are left?”

      At typical muscle car attrition rates, we could estimate about 25-35% are left, with about 10-15% being in “driver” condition or better.

      So that gives us about 3000 LM1’s left in any condition, and call it 1250 that could still be utilized as a car.

      Just my own guestimates, of course.

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      • Avatar Chris

        Yes sounds like a good guesstimate…but how is there almost 100k 69 Z/28’s around!

        Like 1
    • Avatar Rocco

      Great info! I try to learn something new every day. This is that day.

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Tom Member

    I’m a little confused. is the only photo of the engine and compartment before the resto or after? Drive train is out, can’t imagine you would not take the time to finish the engine bay to some decent level and detail the motor as well…maybe I missed something but if they dropped that in there like that and that is what the under-hood looks like NOW….I would not trust the rest of the work done. How about an interior shot…maybe I missed that too. its been a long day.

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  7. Avatar JW

    It would make for a real nice sleeper car. Gold is not one of my favorite colors but I would leave it for the fact of the sleeper look. Nice Find !!!

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  8. Avatar Alan (Michigan)

    Someone snap this up!

    The body restoration looks to be first rate:
    http://www.gallorestorations.com/projects/69_camaro_metal2/69_camaro_metal2.html

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  9. Avatar Bob S

    Great project car. Nice ad write up. Here’s to a health improvement for the guy that has taken it this far!! Interested to see where this goes.

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  10. Avatar Chris

    Hey folks-
    Thanks for the nice comments…it is my car, CURRENTLY. The engine is in the car, did not refinish the engine bay to keep the original patina…ps more photos going up today!
    Chris

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  11. Avatar DRV

    I see the dealer installed cabling to hold the motor in place for the ’69 recall.
    I would keep that for a correct restoration.
    This is a perfect stripper package. The 350 in this trim is strong and lasts long. It would be the one I ordered in ’69.

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  12. Avatar Dale Leier

    What’s that little yellow number I see parked just to the left?

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  13. Avatar stillrunners

    started scarfing up those factory cable and attachments to the exhaust manifolds back in the day….it was rare to see them even in the wrecking yards 30 yrs ago…

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  14. Avatar GRAY WOLF

    That cable motor mount was a campaign issued by Chev. When the mount breaks, the engine torque would lift the engine causing the throttle to hang up! Not exciting if it happens suddenly!

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    • Avatar David Montanbeau

      I had the safety cable unit on my 1965 Impala SS with the super rare 409-400-4 speed in 68 when I owned this car.

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      • Avatar Steven Brown

        1964 was the last year for the 409. 409 400 hp 1964

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  15. Avatar Tim W

    You know how you always hear you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a ’69 Camaro at the drags or at a car show? I say, ” Keep ’em coming”. Great car. First time I ever heard of the LM1

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  16. Avatar Alan (Michigan)

    Chris,
    The listing was pulled prior to the end of the auction, so….
    I hope you got a good price for the car if you sold it locally, or to someone who would really take over and finish it right.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Chris

    yes sold last night, new owner is very excited, and is not changing anything, just finishing what I started…looks like it is going to the right home.
    Thanks for all the kind words.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar davey johnson

    I had a ’69 SS back in 1983 same color. Had it painted the original olympic gold with black Z28style stripes and new black vinyl top. Steel cowl induction hood. Front and rear spoilers and cragar SS’s on all fours. Looked like the Z28 that I had at the same time. Garnet red with black stripes and white interior. Photo is not of actual car but great representative.

    Like 0

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