While some classics barely generate a ripple when they hit the market, others garner significant interest seemingly effortlessly. This 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Rally Sport falls easily into the second category, and it only takes a brief look at the seller’s photos to understand why. Its presentation is first-rate, and the small-block hiding under the hood promises excellent performance. It is the type of vehicle that would suit enthusiasts wanting nothing more than to slide behind the wheel and drive off into the sunset. The seller has listed the RS here on eBay in Lumberton, North Carolina. Bidding has raced beyond the reserve to $35,000, meaning that this Camaro is only days away from finding a new home.
The Camaro had firmly established itself in the pony car market by the time First Generation production ended in 1969. Buyers liked what they saw, and “The General” had produced a worthy competitor to the seemingly all-conquering Mustang. Our feature Camaro is a final-year RS that presents well following a recent restoration. The car retains all of its original steel, having never been the subject of accident or rust repairs. With the panels massaged to a laser-straight state, the restorer refinished the exterior in the original shade of Burnished Brown Metallic. They elected to add a Black vinyl top, rather than the original Dark Brown. I don’t mind the change, although some purists may not agree. Finding anything to fault is a difficult task, with the paint appearing virtually perfect, and the vinyl in as-new condition. The grille features fully functioning hidden headlamps, and the remaining trim and glass show no evidence of problems. The 8″ Rally wheels and rear spoiler hint that this Camaro is more than a pretty face.
The only thing that frustrates me about the seller’s listing is that they don’t confirm that this Camaro is numbers-matching. The seller supplies a Block Casting Number that is consistent with the engine bay housing a 350ci 4-Bolt V8 of 1969-vintage producing 300hp, but whether it is original to this car is unclear. The remaining mechanical components include a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission and power assistance for the steering and front disc brakes. The engine bay presents as spotlessly as the rest of the vehicle, and it doesn’t flatter to deceive. Potential buyers who wish to indulge in immediate classic motoring gratification will welcome the news that this Camaro runs and drives as it should. With fine weather on our doorstep, flying in and building a relationship with this RS as you drive it home is a viable option.
There can sometimes be a fine line between determining what constitutes a restoration, and what is a refurbishment. This Camaro raises that question when we focus on the interior. The Cowl Tag confirms that the first owner ordered it trimmed in Code 712 Deluxe Black vinyl. However, the recent TLC included a change to Black Houndstooth cloth and the addition of what appears to be an aftermarket stereo. The modifications are reversible if someone craves authenticity, but I raise the question of whether the cost is justified at this time. As with every other aspect of the vehicle, there is nothing inside this classic demanding attention. It is unclear when the work occurred, but the lack of wear suggests that this RS hadn’t seen much action since to tools were placed back in the cupboard. It isn’t loaded with factory options, although the bucket seats, console, and ice-cold air conditioning should provide a comfortable motoring experience.
It sometimes feels tedious quoting auction statistics, but doing so with this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS demonstrates how much interest it has generated. The listing has topped 760 views in the past day, and 79 people have added this classic to their Watch List. The bidding tally is equally impressive, with 36 submitted at the time of writing. This action has pushed the Camaro beyond the reserve, meaning that a new owner is set to drive off into the sunset behind the wheel of this absolute gem. Are you tempted to join the bidding war so that you have a chance to experience that pleasure? I won’t blame you if you do.
Everytime i see a ’69 RS, i hope to see a 2 instead of a 3 on the front edge of each fender – because i never ever have seen 1 – in the flesh. & i bet you haven’t either – unless u were at Carlisle a few yrs back.
Not sure why 1 would order vinyl roof, delux interior, rear spoiler, pedal dressup, rally wheels, wheelwell moldings, stainless window moldings & console – but no aux gages – tho oddly you couldn’t get the latter if the 3 on the front edge of each fender was instead a 2.
Several of those items you list were added over time. Reproduction gauges have been available for decades and are a common addition, but I think they go against the “cruiser” vibe this car gives off.
This is a pretty car, it’s not surprising that interest from potential buyers has been strong.
Steve R
Steve R: I completely agree with you. While this particular car wouldn’t be for me, (mostly because of the Turbo Hydro) this is a stunning car (and the 8″ Rallys were an excellent choice.)
What the heck to you mean about a 1, 2 or 3 on the front fender????
“2” means with the I6 (surprisingly peppy little engine, we had one) the fenders would say “250” instead of the V8’s 302, 307, 327, 350, or 396
He’s using 1 instead of spelling it out as one. As far as the 2 or 3 on the fender, he’s referring to 2 in 250 which was the displacement of the inline six cylinder which was available as opposed to the 3 in 350 which this car has.
There is a cool 67 Camaro RS convertible on BAT right now with the 250 six and four speed and it’s also a color combo I’ve never seen before. Fortunately it was restored stock and not ruined with a crate motor and 18 inch wheels.
Oddly, i have seen a handful of ’67 & ’68 RS’s with the 250 six. 1 could also get an RS with the 230, but there would be no 230 emblems on the fenders. I believe with RS, u got a standard 3:08 rear – with either 6 cyl – which is ideal for the latter.
There was one listed on here a fewcweeks back with a 6 cyl and a “250” on the front fenders….
I coulda bought a 1969 6 cyl Camaro of the original owner back in the 90’s. Had a story. They didn’t drive it much and was garage kept. Mailman hit them in the 1/4 panel and it never got fixed. didn’t affect driving but looked like a lot of work back then. I told them to let me know what the highest offer was and I would beat it, but they never got back to me. Car and house sold. Don’t know how much the car went for. Maybe $2000. Shoulda bought it but was also garage space challenged, ironically just like I am today. Firm believer that your collection grows into your storage capacity if not exceeds, regardless of shop size.
Not a fan of the color but love everything else about it. Could live with it. IMO these are hard to find in original or mostly original/factory condition despite many being made by Chevy. This makes me think current owners are keeping them and not selling them. I have no interest in a highly modified or resto-mod that is selling for six figures.
I didn’t think you could get the 350-300hp in a non SS but I’m not a Camaro expert. I like this car a lot.
Curvette, you are correct. The 350/300 was only available in the SS model.
That is not correct. According to Camaro option lists, the L-48 engine could also be ordered in an RS.
L-48 could be had in RS when combined with SS. Otherwise it would be LM-1, which was 255 hp.
The seller also has a duplicate listing for the same car but with a buy it now for $74,995 so we know how much the asking price is. Too steep for me.
Yep, was going to say the same and question why he would list it with a low reserve… seems a bit misleading. If it doesn’t come close to that $75k on the “auction” I foresee it being “no longer available” before it ends.
Bought mine for $2500, sold it for $5000, too rich for me these days .
I quit reading at turbo hydrostatic. I once debated an old hot rod builder I worked with about automatics vs standard transmissions and he said with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, I can get parts for a turbo 350 at Walmart and I said I rest my case. I’ve never had my 4 speed out of the car to see if Walmart had parts. The (granny tranny) assures that you will end up removing it on occasion to fix something. Any component that needs its own cooling system cannot be efficient or totally reliable. It’s a friction box. Of course the resale value at least among boomer crowd is so much higher for a 4 speed car. Speaking of boomers, me being one of them, I totally sympathize with the knee issues where an automatic allows us to stay relevant in the car rallies and shows but I’m not there yet.
My friend’s ’68 nova with original very high mileage 250 straight 6 & powerglide have never been rebuilt & he does not baby the glide.
I promised myself I’d never buy another vinyl top. Unless it has a Z-16 Chevelle under it. I’m sticking to the pledge.
While a 427 may be best, this was the all around best engine for this car, though wouldn’t we all want a four speed? Oh yes, and that rag on the roof has got to go. What were people thinking? I have never owned a vinyl roof,
and I have owned many a car. A boy has to have his standards.
My best friend in high school bought a 1969 Rally Sport. This would have been about 1973. Oh how I loved that car! It was Hugger Orange with an orange and black houndstooth cloth custom interior. Sharp is not a strong enough adjective to describe it.