Most first-generation Camaro enthusiasts gravitate to SS or RS models where muscle or style is the name of the game. But this restored example from 1969 is a departure from both and – given its assortment of options – might very well be one-of-a-kind or at least close to it. It has a mild, stock 307 cubic inch V8 yet it comes with a 4-speed. The Camaro has 4-wheel disc brakes that were only available as a special option. A small fortune was invested in bringing the car back from the dead to where it now lives in Dandridge, Tennessee. Check it out here on eBay where the bidding has towered to $45,300 without setting off the reserve, and the Buy It Now price is $79,500.
The seller found this car languishing in a backyard in California in 2005. Time and Mother Nature had been unkind, and the car had rusted from the top down due to an aging vinyl roof covering. It was so bad that even the floorboards and trunk pads were corroded. And the sheet metal had been modified to accept fiberglass flares. But once the current owner reviewed the VIN and cowl tag and did some further homework, he realized this was a rare car that was worth saving. And that’s just what he did. A photo of how he found the car is included.
In 2007, a certification report prepared by noted authority Jerry MacNeish verified the Chevy was the only known example to be factory-ordered with JL8 disc brakes and a 2-barrel V8 engine. Besides fixing the many ills with the body, the seller had to source a period-correct motor and transmission as the originals were long gone. He was able to find and rebuild both that are as close to the day of production as possible.
The car originally wore Frost Green paint, a black vinyl top, and a dark green interior. It wears all that once again along with factory air conditioning, a “Blue light” stereo radio, Z21 style trim group, Z23 special interior group, and power steering. The car is almost perfect now, but a little “fine-tuning” is needed, according to the seller. For example, the windshield wipers don’t work. The A/C needs recharging. And the seller has not reapplied all the paint daubs and various stickers and labels you usually find on frame-off restored cars.
New tires can be seen on all four corners, which are mounted on powder-coated YH Rally wheels that were needed with disc brakes. Inside the trunk, there is an extra wheel for the spare, but no tire. The seller is uncertain of the value of a near one-off like this car, so he’s set his financial requirements in between what a nice restored standard Camaro would fetch vs. a Z28 with the JL8 brakes. No more than 200 Camaros are said to have been ordered that way, mainly for Trans Am purposes. If you’re looking for a rarity, this car should certainly be one.
Nice car, but who woulda thunk that a tiny underwhelming non-numbers matching v8 (mom’s 68 Imp had one) and disc brake option would qualify for super-rare. Guess it’s a Camaro thing.
There are many 4 door qualifying super-rare cars out there, the bids are there because some have money to burn. The middle-income Camaro guys I know would not be impressed with a green 307 car, rear discs or no. Impressed with good bodywork & paint, yes!
Beautiful Camaro, but to me saying 307 two barrel motor with power robbing AC and then add JL8 disc brakes into the mix seems like a contradiction of terms.
Put on a 4 barrel and turn the AC off when you want the power. Nice car.
Ambitious BIN price. Can’t blame somebody for trying to re-capture all of the money spent.
Certified 1 of 1, come on at Barret Jackson this would bring $150,000.00 most likely. It’s a museum car for sure, I just don’t see many people buying this to drive on the streets.
God Bless America
It’s unique that’s for sure.
Late 1968 my future BIL won a similar car during the Sunoco sunny dollars game. In fact his was same colors and auto instead of 4 speed.
I remember the dealership asking him if he wanted to add anything else. Could’ve had a Z-28!
Thank God someone kept the 307 small block V8 in it even if it didn’t come out of the factory with this exact engine. There needs to be more cars like this, 327 350 god-awful LS engines are more boring than watching paint dry. This is the kind of car that attracts people. And I would rather have the kind of car that everyone had back in the day, high performance doesn’t do it for me anymore.
yes, there’s nothing more exciting than a base 307 V8.
I agree with K. We need to preserve more regular cars so future generations see the whole story.
I was looking to replace my 67 Malibu (283 – 4 sp ) in the early 70’s and the local used car lot had a 69 Camaro with a 307 4sp. As my Chevelle was a bit of an oddball, I thought that it was a similar package. I took it for a test drive but it felt completely worn out so I passed. I still remember the car welland hadn’t seen another one since.
Gord: probably had a worn out cam, back in the day I saw & heard of several 307’s with that condition.
He says the car was restored using as many NOS parts as he could find. That is good to hear because a lot of restoration parts are made in China, Taiwan, or Mexico. I would want to know what is NOS and what isn’t. Seems like an awful lot of money to me for what’s basically a standard 307 Camaro with one rare option, but these ’69s are now worth a lot.
Toss out everything in your house and garage made in China, Taiwan, or Mexico. You will amazed at how much space you gain.
The depth of that fact belies the stupidity of the west. Painfully close to politics, Ike…you go ahead and fit your next nut and bolt resto with substandard parts from who-cares-where, the source for car parts has nothing to do with your consumables.
I’d have to toss out my wife. It would definitely create more space but wouldn’t go over too well.
This car has one of the most interesting stories I’ve heard. It’s a great looking machine that I would love to drive on the weekends just as it is.
Anybody know how many ’69 s i x cylinder camaros came with the 4 wheel discs. That was possible!
Odd that Chevy kept records of what & how many engines came with 4 wheel discs, but not the breakdown of engines regarding the Rally Sport option!! – especially how many 6’s came as an RS. It’s possible they built more ’69 camaros with 4 wheel disc brakes than they build 6 cyls with RS equipment, since i have never seen the latter in the flesh – tho there was one at Carlisle recently.
I wonder what brake parts are unobtainium, if any, for the REAR discs & if the mast cyl & proportioning valve are uinique.
I also wonder now how many ’69 Camaros came with the liquid tire chain option.
As for myself I appreciate anyone who’s willing to make the investment to restore any vehicle. Let’s stop the criticism and applaud anyone who wants to preserve any vintage vehicle for us to enjoy.
There is a four wheel disc, crossram Z28 in my town. Guy has thirty cars in various states of disrepair and won’t sell anything. He’s eighty so it won’t be long before his widow gives everything away. I hope I am there when she does.
For the stupid money they want for this, finish it. make the AC work, make the wipers work, finish the details. Damn.
Very cool car( even has factory AC!) but that’s Z28 money for 307 car……..
I’m on the fence about the engine choice. The 307 is original c.i. to this car but it’s not #’s matching. Why not go with a 302 and Muncie (instead of Saginaw) transmission since it has all the other goodies like posi and 4-wheel discs? I appreciate the owner’s passion to keep it factory specs but with such a thorough and expensive resto, and not #’s matching, zesting it up would help the desirability IMO. Beautiful Camaro and resto! No-sale at $48,100.
Well, when I bought my 69 it had a 307 which smoked really badly. I thought about rebuilding that motor but it was much cheaper to buy a used 350 and rebuild it than doing the 307, plus I just couldn’t get excited about a 307