Modified classic cars always divide opinions. Some enthusiasts will applaud the owner’s vision, while others will decry the molestation of a potentially valuable vehicle. This 1969 Camaro walks a fine line between the two camps. It wears a host of upgrades that improve performance and help it stand out in a crowd. However, it retains enough of its DNA to ensure that returning it to its original specifications would be viable. Those decisions remain in the future, as the owner has listed the Camaro for sale here on eBay. It is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the bidding has surged past the reserve to sit at $20,100.
This Camaro is one of those cars where it becomes difficult to know where to start. It isn’t clear whether its Hugger Orange paint is original, but the exterior features plenty of touches that the good people at Chevrolet didn’t design. These include the front spoiler, fender flares, and some of the graphics. The additions will divide opinions, and whether they stay or go will depend on the buyer’s vision and taste. The same is true of the Ansen alloy wheels. They are a typical addition from the 1970s, and their tired and stained appearance may motivate the buyer to ditch them for something else. The paint is tired, with the seller admitting it needs a refresh. One issue the buyer won’t face is rust. The exterior looks clean, while the floors wear a consistent coat of the same shade of orange that graces the panels. The seller states that the Black vinyl top is original, and it remains in excellent condition.
The Camaro’s interior continues the custom touches, and two of them are pretty fascinating. Someone has installed a Knight Kit tachometer and fuel economy gauge from Radio Shack. You don’t see these every day, and they would have cost a staggering $21.95 each when they were new. They won’t appeal to some enthusiasts, but they are sure to find interested bidders on eBay if the buyer removes them. An aftermarket radio occupies the spot reserved for the factory unit, but there appear to be no other modifications. The original owner ordered the Camaro upholstered in Custom Black vinyl and Houndstooth cloth, which remains in excellent condition. The carpet continues that theme, as do the console and dash. There are also enough optional extras to satisfy many enthusiasts. These include air conditioning, the desirable “Vigilite” light monitoring system, factory rear speakers for the radio, and the console-mounted sports gauge cluster.
The custom upgrades continue when we open the Camaro’s hood, but these have all been applied to the numbers-matching 327ci V8. Originally pumping out 210hp, the addition of Trick Flow aluminum heads, a more aggressive camshaft, a compression ratio increase to 10:1, a new crank, new rods, and a Corvette intake and Rochester carburetor will have increased the power figure significantly. The owner retains the original 2-barrel intake and carburetor to include in the deal, but it isn’t clear whether they hold the cylinder heads or other components. If they do, returning the motor to its original specification would be possible. The power needs to get to the road somehow, and it does so via a three-speed Hydra-Matic transmission. The original owner ordered the Camaro with power steering and power front disc brakes, ensuring the car steers and stops as effectively as it goes. The seller doesn’t specifically state how well the Camaro runs or drives, but the impression they provide seems positive.
A tidy 1969 Camaro will usually stand out in a crowd, but the modifications to this car guarantee that. For potential buyers, the most significant decision will be whether to tackle a cosmetic refresh or to return it to the form its creators intended. It seems that there are enough original components to make that path possible, but the process will take time and effort. I usually look at classics like this and can accurately predict how opinions will fall. However, this Camaro leaves me struggling. Would you refresh or restore? It will be interesting to read the comments on this one.
A great looking car turned ugly.
Looks like a 1969 not 1967
Absolutely a 1969. Which was up until now, the best looking Camaro of all-time. What a shame.
Your right definitely has all the body panels of a ’69. My family had an ’69 RS/Z28 growing up.
Needs a brody knob.
I had some pants like that with big flares in the early 70’s too!
I’ve never seen a power vinyl top before but that’s definitely a power top switch on the dash.
That is the rear window defogger switch …
If these are genuine day 2 modifications , I’d leave it . Well , maybe not the stripes . They look to Cudaish . Leave that for Mopars .
Those “spats” look like they belong behind a wagon wheel, nice original color combo though.
Just needs more stripes..
Not more stripes. Needs more cowbell. Movie reference for those that don’t know.
Wow trashed a good car with cookie cutter ideas.
Looks like it has AC too. Must have been a real nice carwhen new. I didn’t really see the rear flares u til the last photo. Awful and why? They need to go.
IMO, a vinyl roof AND racing stripes on any car is not a good combination.
1 or the other is fine(excluding vinyl roof on 2nd gen f-body).
I wonder if any ’69 RS’s came with std tailites by mistake AND the backup lites under the bumper.
Is the factory tach broken or inaccurate here? Not sure what the other gage is on top of the dash.
Whoever did those flares was on something. Hideous! square at the bottom, not even done tastefully. Get the torches out! What a detraction from an otherwise respectable car.
Looks rust free. The ugly can be removed, this one is certainly worth saving.
I’d return those fenders to stock, remove the side stripes ( keep the rally stripes ) , and add the cowl induction hood that was used that year.
Love the yellow gas tank….must be a custom touch. I see lots of overspray, so I’d say it’s definitely been repainted. The whole car is a sad mess.
I wonder how many rattle cans he used on the underside? The problem is he didn’t make it look better, but worse. I guess you could say it matches the topside…
It’s a 69 ,solid car but the flares suck
Wow! I would like to see this one after the next owner gets through with it.
Feeding all of that newly added HP into a rear axle with mono leaf rear springs. They came close to winding those springs up with 210 hp. Too much money spent on cosmetics by someone with little practical knowledge. I really wonder what is under the orange paint. Are the flares covering what used to be rusted panels? Still, for someone who DOES have some practical knowledge, this has great potential (with a tip o’the hat to Charlie Brown).
Monoleaf springs were on the 1967 model not the 1969.
John, the 68-69 base V8’s (and 6 cylinders) all came with the mono leaf rear suspension
I stand corrected , never owned the six cylinder version ,I currently own an all original 396/325 h p 1967 Camaro and it came with a mono leaf but it is a 1967,it does have the radius bar
💯% cobbled up 1969 Camaro. Rear tail lights, rear quarters , front end, windows, all 1969 . All 67s had vent windows. I have a original 1969 RS / SS . I know the car very well