Choosing to part with a prized classic car can be a tough call, especially if the vehicle in question has been a long-term part of your life. This 1969 Camaro is a perfect example because it has belonged to the same family since 1971. All good things must come to an end, so the owner has decided to part with this recently restored classic. It is located in Topeka, Kansas, and is listed for sale here on eBay. While the bidding has reached $40,600, the reserve hasn’t been met.

Once we get it out into the light of day, the Cortez Silver Camaro presents rather well. The owner claims that the car has only accrued around 3,000 miles since he treated it to a rebuild, and its overall condition would seem to support that claim. The paint is shiny and consistent, with no signs of apparent chips, marks, or other damage. The panels appear to be as straight as you might expect in the circumstances. There are no dings, dents, or signs of rust. The owner supplies photos of the Camaro’s underside, and it is spotlessly clean and completely rust-free. The trim and chrome are as immaculate as the rest of the exterior, as is the glass. The supplied photos show the Camaro wearing two different types of wheels, so I’m unsure which of these will be included in the sale.

When you look at the Camaro’s drivetrain specifications, she seems like a bit of an animal. The engine is the L78 version of the 396ci V8. This big-block should be pumping out 375hp, which finds its way to the 12-bolt rear end via a 3-speed Hydramatic transmission. The original owner also chose to equip the SS with power steering and power brakes, which should take the physical effort out of the driving experience. Point this classic at the ¼ mile, and the journey will be over in 14.5 seconds. You would barely have time to draw breath before the Camaro wound its way to a top speed of 144mph. The news here is mixed because the SS isn’t numbers-matching. The owner holds the documentation that verifies that the engine is a “CE” unit that was replaced under warranty back in this classic’s early days. There have also been a few aftermarket additions like headers and an updated distributor, but finding date-correct original parts to return everything to a factory-fresh state should not be a significant problem. The engine presents perfectly, and it doesn’t flatter to deceive. The owner says that the Camaro runs and drives perfectly, and with only 3,000 miles on the clock since the restoration was completed, I find the claim easy to believe.

The best word that I can think of to describe the Camaro’s interior is “spotless.” It seems that the owner gave it a refresh when he restored the rest of the vehicle, and it presents superbly. I can’t find anything to fault here, because every aspect of the interior is in as-new condition. I’d be willing to bet that there are a fair number of new parts in there because even components like the console show no signs of the sorts of slight marks and scratches that can accumulate over the years. Overall, it looks like the buyer won’t need to spend a cent inside the Camaro.

I feel for the owner of this 1969 Camaro SS 396 because parting with a car that has been a member of your family for five decades is never going to be an easy choice. This decision must have been doubly difficult when you consider that he has just completed a restoration of this classic. I hope that the buyer is a person who appreciates what they will be getting and will be willing to treat the vehicle with care and respect. I also hope that it becomes a member of a family who will be prepared to retain it for another 50-years. Wouldn’t that be quite a story for someone to write when this SS clocks up a century?