Purchasing an unfinished project can be fraught with danger, and many enthusiasts will attest to this. Fresh paint will sometimes hide horror stories of Stephen King proportions, souring what should be pure enjoyment. However, this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro would seem an exception, because not only is it rust-free, but the seller has installed any replacement steel to perfectly replicate the factory specifications. The list of new parts is extensive, but it remains a blank canvas for the winning bidder. The seller has listed the Camaro here on eBay in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Bidding sits below the reserve at $10,000, although it is worth noting that this project has garnered plenty of interest.
Let’s start with the obvious because examining the seller’s photos reveals no evidence of this Camaro’s original Fathom Green paint. I view that as one of the nicest of the eighteen shades offered by Chevrolet in 1969, but I must also admit that having owned a few Green cars myself, I do have a weakness for the color. The vehicle wears a coat of Gray epoxy primer, following a comprehensive list of rust repairs that have returned this classic to a structurally sound state. The list of new steel includes the rear quarter panels, inner and outer rear wheel wells, rear tail panel, door skins, front fenders, and the front upper and lower valances. The work was performed to a high standard with the seller recreating the factory’s correct pinched and welded seams where appropriate. The original floors were rock-solid and needed nothing. The windshield is gone, but the remaining glass and regulators are present, as are some of the secondhand trim pieces. These will require careful inspection because a perfectionist might choose to replace any items that don’t meet their standard for a high-end build.
Okay, this is where this Camaro becomes really interesting. It is a roller that features a 10-bolt Posi rear end and a front end fitted with new ball joints, control arm bushes, and new inner and outer tie rod ends. Otherwise, there are no mechanical components. Sourcing an appropriate small-block for a faithful build would be the easiest and most affordable option. However, the sky could be the limit for those wishing to push the envelope. Restomods are quite common, and like the faithful path, the components required are easily found. However, the seller raises the possibility of creating a Yenko tribute, which might be irresistible to those preferring brute power. There are no right or wrong answers because the buyer won’t be molesting a rare numbers-matching classic during their build. This is their chance to let their imagination run riot to create something genuinely unique.
One aspect of this Camaro that will probably consume a few dollars is its interior. The seller has a pair of front seats, an okay secondhand console, and a floor shifter, but no rear seat. The status of the dash hardware is unclear, although the seller candidly admits that what this car needs is a complete trim kit. Of course, that is appropriate for a build faithful to factory Chevrolet specifications, but the new owner may have other ideas if a restomod or custom path is planned. A faithful approach should add around $2,500 to the project costs, but all bets are off if the buyer pursues a custom or bespoke trim combination. That will be a case of the retrim costing what someone is willing to pay.
The sales results in 1969 justified Chevrolet’s faith in its First Generation pony car. The company found homes for 243,085 cars, and although that figure falls short of Ford’s Mustang tally, the gap between the pair had closed substantially in a mere three years. This Camaro is a blank canvas, but potential buyers can be fairly sure that they can commence their leg of the build with a car that has had its rust issues addressed to a high standard. The most pressing question they will face is where to go from there. Creating an SS or Z28 tribute would be straightforward, with many “off the shelf” components making that a relatively painless process. Others might opt for a restomod approach, and I am sure that a few readers would find the concept of a Yenko tribute almost irresistible. I don’t know which path I would choose, but it will be fascinating to see how the majority votes via this article’s feedback. So, it’s over to you for your input.
4×4 guys aren’t too fond of the 10 bolt.
Should one suspect it isn’t suitable for a hi-po Camaro either ?
I had a 1969 Rally Z28 back in the day. This car while has a decent body will still hit near high dollar proportions of a car base Camaro sold and together in build pricing.
I would if building go with the digital dash, LS motor tweaked to 450+ ponies, 12 bolt under the rear, 3” exhaust with electric exhaust cutouts to race. I would consider rallies with the replacement flat caps on this car (matching the rims to the car paint).
These new electric 12-volt AC units would go under the dash to hide…. No need for a stereo but put blue tooth and speakers concealed for me. I would probably put another late Chevy non radio plate over the holes with the Chevrolet Logo like I did for my 1954 3100 truck with its blue tooth hidden.
Green is a nice color and would flip a coin between black and green. This would run a hockey stick down the sides for the logo and base Camaro emblems (no fake SS or Z28 emblems).
Nice modern high back seats would go in the car from Summit parts mag…. The back seat would likely be a custom build for me allowing a cool leather console to the back tied to the 6-speed manual transmission….
But alas everyone has their ideas on a clean slate like this…. Good luck with the sale.
A nice restomod would be OK I guess, but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE no more Yenko tributes!!! In my opinion there doesn’t need to be any more Yenko tributes, General Lee tributes, or Eleanor tributes!!!! Take a nice car and make a nice car out of it, instead of making a tacky, cornball tribute. I think guys do it for bragging rights more than anything else. But perhaps I’m in the minority on this one.
Todd, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with you. I don’t understand why people do that. I have a friend in my car club who has a “Yenko” Nova and a “Nickey” Camaro, both 1969. I shake my head every time someone at a car show asks him if they are the real deal and he always has to say “no”. I am embarrassed FOR him when that happens. I just don’t understand why someone would do that to themselves. SMH
Every “tribute” seems to be saying “I wish I was..”
Oddly, i have never seen an Eleanor tribute to the ’71-’73? stang used in the 1974 Gin60sec movie. Would be ez to create & would love2c1.
2 were seen in the movie.
69 Camaro had scallops in front of the rear wheels on the quarter panels. This appears to be a 68.
It’s a 69, the 67-68’s have a completely different profile due to the changes in the front fenders, grill, rear quarters and taillight panel.
Steve R
I am duly impressed with the description of the work already performed by the current owner. Definitely not the product of a backyard shade tree mechanic. My two cents on where this might go: a clone 396/375 4 speed or a Z-28. Both are just about the coolest cars on the planet, and this looks like a great starting point (minus the 10 bolt) Best of luck to both the seller and the buyer.
Re the interior : “A faithful approach should add around $2,500 to the project costs..”
Adam, where on earth do you get you estimates? Tijuana? You’re going to flesh out that interior for $2,500?
another camaro bucket. boy they keep on coming. looks like the owner gave up. imagine that
Yenco ha ha ha 10 bolt rear is the give away. NOT Learn your chevys before you post that
Post what? The only mention I saw about a 10 bolt was that it had to go if someone wants to build a tribute.
Let’s call a tribute what it actually is, a CLONE. We no longer call them ”clones” because that is an embarrassing moniker. Tribute sounds so much classier?!?! Really? Like the one commenter said, why spend the rest of your life saying : no it isn’t real? Even a plain jane car, if done nicely looks better than a clone. Fix it original looking, with maybe a fast engine and some aftermarket wheels.
A clone or a tribute, whatever you want to call them, is really just a modified version of any car, ie: a hot rod. A ’57 Chevrolet with a 427 is really no different than a ’69 Camaro with a 427.