Running Project: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

The first-generation Chevy Camaro (1967-69) proved to be a worthy adversary to the early Ford Mustangs. 850,000 copies in the first three years, included an extended 1969 run while the second-gen cars were delayed in getting into production. This ’69 Camaro is your entry-level pony car carrying RPO code X44 (basic coupe). It had just one owner for decades and needs a rigorous cosmetic restoration, though it performs reasonably well. Located in Olympia, Washington, this Chevy is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $17,103 but you can pass-go with the Buy It Now button at $23,500.

This is one of the better-described cars that you’ll find for sale online, unlike the two-sentence posts that are all too common. It’s a numbers-matching Camaro that the seller bought from a local collector to restore. He’s since run across a convertible to rebuild instead that is of greater interest, so the Camaro is ready for someone else to take the lead on. For 46 of its 52 years, the Chevy had the same owner who kept it in a dry part of the Pacific Northwest.

The car left the factory painted Dover White with a dark blue vinyl top and matching interior. Somewhere down the line, the vinyl was ditched, and the white paint replaced with blue using an Earl Scheib-caliber paint job, according to the seller. The respray has long since given up the ghost and there is rust in quite a few places and is documented with several pic collages (none of it appears to be deal-breakers). The oddest place may be rust in the upper dashboard metal at the base where it meets the bottom of the windshield.

Interior-wise, the car is a mixed bag. The seat covers look almost brand new and the headliner is good, yet the carpeting is worn out, the door panels are worn, and the dash pad is warped. The stock steering wheel has been replaced with something aftermarket and that likely needs to go. Most of the electric doodads work as they should other than the horn and dome light. This is a factory A/C car but since the belt is missing, that hasn’t likely worked in a while.

If you were hoping to find a big block under the hood, you’ll be disappointed. The Chevy’s original 307 cubic inch V8 is there along with a Powerglide 2-speed automatic. It runs okay and the seller has taken it on a couple of short rides, one of them documented with a brief video. The Camaro would have had a single muffler when new and that has been replaced with dual exhaust which will need some attention, as well. The car’s brakes are good, especially when you consider these are Plain Jane drum brakes all the way around. This could be the kind of car you could drive while you’re fixing it up or you could treat it to a full restoration. There are no extra parts to go win the car except for a plastic bin with a few random odds and ends.