When it was introduced, the Chevrolet Camaro would quickly become the second-best-selling contender in the “pony car” class. The market leader, of course, was the Ford Mustang, which held on to the top spot into the 1970s. The seller has a gorgeous 1969 Camaro RS (aka Rally Sport) that has had a color change to the vinyl roof and interior. If that doesn’t concern you, the rest of the vehicle looks flawless. Located in Lumberton, North Carolina, this Chevy is being offered by a dealer here on eBay. The current bid is $29,100 (no looming reserve).
After a successful launch in 1967, the Camaro got a styling refresh in 1969. And that would make it the best looking of the first-generation of the Camaros (IMO). Production numbers in ’69 would also be the highest, but the build run was 15 months long as the company was readying the second-generation to hit the assembly lines. For a brief time in early 1970, the ’69 and all-new ’70 Camaro were sold side-by-side.
Out of 243,000 Camaros built in 1969, more than 37,700 came with the Rally Sport option, which brought hideaway headlights to the mix for a mere $131 extra. To get the RS package, you checked the Z22 option on the order form. The seller’s beauty has a 350 cubic inch V8 (2-barrel) and a TH-350 automatic transmission, along with goodies like factory air conditioning, which blows cold. The car wears Burnished Brown paint, which almost looks black (it’s been redone).
The car’s dark brown vinyl roof has been dyed black or replaced with one in that color. The sharp interior has also been swapped from Black Custom to Black Houndstooth. We don’t know how recently these changes were made. We’re told that rust has never plagued this Chevy, and the sheet metal is all original. The Camaro looks especially nice due to its 8” Rally wheels and BF Goodrich donuts.
This is a really nice, clean car, that I would have no issue owning. The seller took a big chance with a “no reserve” auction, but I’m sure there are safety precautions in place.
With that said, there is no mention as to the originality of the engine and trans, nor any mention of any documentation. Not that this is a huge deal, as the motor is a low performance L65 350 2bbl and the trans is a turbo 350, but things like that, can and will, effect the price. Documentation is always an asset and it helps to know the lineage of the car.
It’s a shame this car popped up on the radar, at a time when my storage capabilities are limited. While the RS option was a visual option and not a performance upgrade, it has added tremendous value to the 1st gen Camaro line.
Upon further investigation, it seems the seller has the car listed on ebay for $70k!!!!! That’s SS big block, or Z/28 money.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/267541833781
Well, on the bright side, at least they didn’t slap Year One sourced SS badges and hockey stripes on it, which seems to be the common practice among restorers today.
Very likely, it was either a 307 or a 250 horse L65 350. It also might have had the 225 horse LM1 350 but not likely , because they only made just over 10k of those. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I think an RS could also have the L22 straight 6, but you only would see those in the cheapest cars, so that is also extremely unlikely
The L48 300 horse 350 was standard on the SS and was not commonly ordered outside of that package. I owned a 1969 SS 350 way back in the day before they got valuable, so I know enough about these cars to be dangerous, and I don’t think i’ve ever seen a non-SS with an L48. So if this car had it, they would be touting that because it would be very rare and much more desirable as you point out.
I don’t know if they’re going to get near 70k in this climate right now. Maybe right after the Pandemic that would have been possible, but I think as nice as this is, 70 grand is too much of a stretch. You can get a very nice GTO of the same year for considerably cheaper than that, for example.
⁸Maybe 2 GTOs drivers anyway 70k yeah I doubt it. At least spend a couple hundred and get the ac working!I had a ’69 rs 350 4spd wth 3.42 10 bolt posi . Very fun. It went to Alabama. In 2001 for 8500 before Barret Jackson blew up everything.:)
This car has the LM1 350/255hp 4bbl engine. The L48 was exclusive to the SS and had 63cc heads, compared to the 76cc chambers on the LM1 & L65. The LM1 was offered only in the early builds, up till Jan 1969. The L65 took over after that. The L65, had a 2bbl carb and was rated at 250hp, 5 less than the LM1. Scratching my head on that one.
The Rally Sport option was available with any engine or model, including the 6cyl, as it was only an appearance option, not a performance option.
Thanks KHayes! Good stuff. My source had the wrong HP for the LM1 at 210 but it was 255, which makes a lot more sense. So in short, a non-SS 1969 Camaro, including an RS, could have an L26 230 I-6 (17,588 units), L22 250 I-6 (18,660), L14 307 V-8 (68,487), L30 327 V-8 (44,746), or an LM1 or L65 350 V-8 (59,643). Data courtesy of camaros.org.
So actually, the 307 was the most popular 1969 Camaro engine, though you sure wouldn’t guess that today! Most of them have long since been converted to 350s or big blocks. But if you remember these in their previous life as ordinary new and used cars, this would not surprise you.
To correct myself, there was also the 210 horse L14 327 offered for a very limited time in MY 1969. So it could even be that. 1969 was a bit of a confusing model year because it even carried over into 1970.
Unfortunately, you will never know unless you have paperwork from new, because GM wouldn’t put the engine code in the VIN for another few years – 1972 I think?
My first car, which I promptly totaled 4 mos after I got my drivers license had the 210hp 327 with a powerglide… I actually thought it was fast…lol. This ones bid up to 48k+ now…
Beautiful car here, but with it now being a barn burner SS, Z28, or resto mod, I don’t expect it will get into the $70k range the seller is looking for, but there is plenty of time left in the auction. I expect this will hit the mid $50k range and deserves every dollar of it. I will be watching this one.
I’m sooo conflicted on cars like this…very, VERY nice to look at, and probably comfy going down the road. It’ll also probably hold its value as well if maintained.
Problem is, it’s just not going to offer much of a driving experience for the money. Considering the cost of such a high level of restoration, the builder could have added, at marginal additional cost, mechanical upgrades that would have hit you right in the thrill center of the brain every time you turned the key, without spoiling the beautiful work done on the rest of the car.
Pretty sure Mustang ‘held the top spot’ a later than the 70’s. It’s still there…
Good looking color on this 69 Camaro!!
nice to see a Camaro that’s not red. this color looks good especially with the houndstooth interior. personally, i would swap out the center caps for the correct 1s and put a rosewood steering wheel in.
After further investigation, I don’t feel this is a LM1 car. The LM1 came with a 12 bolt, multi leaf rear, this car has neither. The rear and springs could have been replaced at some point, but there is no confirmation of that. Without the engine ID stamp on the block, it is hard to determine what engine is in this car. Based on the build date 12A (Dec 12 1969) & the 10 bolt and mono leaf springs, the engine that came in this car would be LF7 327/210HP.
Respectfully my money would be on the 307 as it was the most numerous. But as I said above, no way to know unless there’s a build sheet.
The 307 came after the build date of this car and the 307 replaced the 327 as the standard V8.
Thank you. So that high number of 307s is even more impressive! The bulk of the people who bought these just did so for their appearance and to have a practical car, often for the wife.
If you cannot recall the 1970s or 1980s, you would likely think every ’69 Camaro had a cammed up 350 SBC or a Rat motor. I wouldn’t blame you but that just isn’t how it was though.
What are your opinions on the strategy of the seller having this car listed in two separate listings with them ending 49 minutes apart?
Perhaps the seller isn’t knowledgeable enough to have a BIN (Buy it now) option in the ad?
Either way, the seller has been completely absent from the auction and has not answered any of my questions. I live 1.5 hrs away and have sent numerous requests to come and see this car, to no avail.
What about the GTO, Buick Grand National, and other cars in the background pictures. This Camaro is clean but it is a 2barrel version engine.