Same Owner 50 Years: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS
In 1969, every major Chevrolet series (except for Corvair and Corvette) had a Super Sport offering: Nova, Camaro, Chevelle, and Impala. That should include the seller’s Camaro which appears to be a real-deal SS 350. It may be unusual in that it has a 3-manual transmission when the 4-speed or automatic may have been more commonly ordered. This non-running project will need a lot of work, but we’re told it’s numbers-matching. Located in Durham, North Carolina, this Camaro is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $17,700 without the reserve kicking in.
Of the first-generation Camaro “pony cars”, the 1969 model accounted for the highest production. But that’s because the model year was extended by 15 months as the all-new models for 1970 were delayed in getting to the assembly line. Of the 243,000 ponies Chevy built in 1969, more than 22,000 were Super Sports with the base 350 cubic inch V8 that produced 300 horses via a 4-barrel carburetor. What’s not known is how many of those had the basic 3-speed shifter. If the number ordered was relatively small, this might (repeat might) be a rare car today.
From the seller’s description, we think his/her father was the second owner of this car and had it for more than 50 years. Untouched, it lived in a garage up until a half-dozen years ago when it moved outside with a cover over the car (which might have helped breed rust in a humid Carolinas climate). Since the seller isn’t likely going to restore it, the car is for sale before it deteriorates further. We’re told the last time the Chevy ran was 1989 and the seller doesn’t know what his/her father may have done to the auto in the extended interim.
Corrosion may not be a huge issue, but it’s present, especially when it comes to surface rust. There are a couple of decently-sized dents here and there. The interior is passable except for the carpeting, which has started to turn to dust as it’s peeled back in search of rust. The car comes with a spare set of SS-branded wheel covers, but these didn’t come with the ’69 Camaro (a ’65 Impala SS may be more accurate). At just 59,000 miles, this could be a good restoration project. But they always take more time and money than you expect.
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Comments
Hmmm… I’m not too sure the low miles helps a lot when just about everything needs attention.
Came here to say this.
Its a turd
Good flip sell at almost 20k for this and the BIN is 31k?…uhhhh no. Cool car with the 3 speed manual but worth the $ , not imo in this condition.glwts.
Had a 68 Camaro SS with that hood. Nice blue color, built 350 4 speed Muncie. Factory rear spoiler as well.
A 69 SS with a 3 speed standard transmission and no rear spoiler sounds strange to me, not claiming expert status tho.
Owned a ’69 SS350. Bought it for $1,800 in the late 1980s. Garnet red with black vinyl roof she was. Nicer than this one but still kind of a roach. Mine had an aftermarket “cowl induction style” that were common at the time. Came up on me at over 90 MPH and shattered the windshield and dented the roof. Sold it to a buddy a few years later who painted it maroon and then trashed it. Back then, muscle car values were rising but the small block cars lagged way behind. So these were not much more special than your standard Camaro in terms of value.
The rear spoiler wasn’t standard. The SS package came with the special hood we see here (with 28 hood springs versus 26 as the hood was heavier), 12-bolt rear end, and front disc brakes that’ll have a special proportioning valve.
It came standard with the 300 horse 350 4-bbl. The three 396s were optional. So equipped, the back panel would be painted black. It was left body color on a 350. The car could be equipped with both RS and SS packages (hidden headlights). I’m pretty sure all the Camaro transmissions were available on it, including the Powerglide. Mine was an original 3-speed or 4-speed car. I wasn’t sure which as someone converted it to a THM-350 along the way.
As I recall, there is no way to tell for sure if it’s an SS350 from the data plate. Someone correct me if I’m wrong on anything. It’s been a few years!
Thanks for the reply. Mine did indeed have the 12 bolt posi and front disc brakes. Hurst Super Shifter 3 reverse lockout, McCloud/Hays heavy duty clutch systems lol. Edelbrock torquer high rise, Holley 650 4bbl vacuum secondaries. Cragar SS mags, Dunlop GT Qualifier white letters tires. $1600 in 1980. Like an idiot kid, managed to jump a freaking raised crosswalk. Come down 4 ruined rims and tires, broken a arm passenger front, same side multiple leaf spring rear. Oh, Gabriel Hijacker air shocks.
Buyer waiting for me to show up next day. Sold $100 more than paid. Outran police a couple times until caught.
Thanks for the info B.B.
You’ve got most everything correct B.B. A couple comments….not all SS models had a 12 bolt rear. Some came with a 10 bolt at the beginning of the model year. And yes, you’re right, you cannot confirm if an SS is real unless you have the window sticker or build sheet.
Thanks Steve. I always thought all SS’s had 12 bolts (mine did, with 3.31 non-posi). But I’ve no reason to disbelieve you.
What you said was false. You can infact determine if a car is a real ss without the window sticker. I recommend you do more research.
And I also said the build sheet. Additionally, the Protecto-Plate can also tell you if it’s real. I have a 69SS and I’ve researched it to death. I’d like to know what you think you know.
The 1969 Camaro production run was extended “to” 15 months not “by” 15 months. Some readers may think that it had a 27 month production run, due to that typo.
Restorers are really banking on this bubble to last forever. Maybe they are right, maybe the days of non-running, needs a lot of work cars being bought for under $5K are gone. Even for a professional restorer, this one looks like quite a gamble at $20K starting price. Not running, surface corrosion everywhere, INCLUDING INSIDE THE CARB (note the oil fill cap is missing on the valve cover as well – probably rusty inside there, too), dents, less popular color (inside & out). Sure its an SS, presumably numbers matching, maybe “rare” with the 3 speed and other options, but its not a Yenko or a DZ302 Z28. Even restored to pristine with numbers verified, etc., can you ever get your money back ? But, I also own a car that I spent more than anyone will likely ever pay me for it. If this is your dream car, just like the one you had in high school, or wanted back then, its your money.
I don’t want to see another recession, but I think eventually we’ll go through another in the next few years. It’s just part of the typical economic cycles. Prices reach a high point, then due to some change in the economic climate (political, energy, inflation, housing, banking/interest rates, etc.) those prices are no longer sustainable.
Obviously we aren’t there as the economy keeps bumping along. Hopefully we will ease into a decline in inflation, a continued strong jobs market and not have a full blown recession. But if we do, a lot of these $20-30K “rebuildable core” cars will be for sale at a less expensive price.
Not only recession, but the natural aging of these cars’ primary market will play a role too. Baby Boomers were always able to keep these cars priced high enough to be (largely) out of reach of buyers from younger generations. That started around 1985 or so, and really has gone on unabated for the last nearly 40 years. They were always one or two steps ahead in terms of money, on the whole.
The net effect of this is that younger generations do not have nearly as large of an attachment to these vehicles as the Baby Boomers do. My flame suit is on, because I’m sure someone will say how wrong I am because their 17 year old just loves the family ’69 GTO heirloom and even drove it to prom. That may be true, but collector car values are a numbers game. There will be fewer numbers demanding them in 10 years. I virtually guarantee that.
Basic economic principles say that when there’s lower demand, prices come down. That’s why I’d avoid spending the 70k or whatever this will take to buy and get right!
It just amazes me how someone can let a car sit for 50 years in a barn… or outside covered up supposedly…which is worse…and then…expect a ridiculous amount of money for it…in junk condition…its simply amazing..especially for a car that wasnt a mere 4 grand when it was brand new….yet now they want over 30 grand for this piece of junk..
Wow! same color green 69SS that I had years ago in great shape and was happy to sell it for $4500. SMH. Times have changed for the worst.
Hint to seller: Next time you are taking pictures, take 5 big steps back before clicking the shutter button.
I don’t know why I click on cars like this. Same old story. Ran when parked 30 years ago, sat neglected, stored outside, it all adds up to a real disaster and money pit to restore, but the seller thinks it’s worth gold. Whatever.
Exactly! And give us a front interior shot while you’re at it.
Not a Chevy guy, however I do like the Camaro. It’s an SS model (maybe) so that’s a plus. But it has sat 30 years, a good chunk of that outside. It has rust everywhere?
No, I don’t think it’s a vehicle to have, not at that price. Good luck to you.
I don’t know about the three speed being rare or not, but I have a friend that has a 69 SS 396 Camaro that he inherited from his Uncle who bought it new. It came with the three speed, he drove it like that for years before he swapped in a four speed Muncie. My friend added power steering after he got it using factory parts. Maybe the three speed was standard unless you checked the box for the four speed or automatic, I don’t know.
Yeah Bama the 4 speed, and the th350 were optional but this car may have come with a 4 speed but someone blew it up and just stuck a 3 speed in it just to get it back on the road . I had to do that with a 63 Impala once
Quite a few of these cars were not ordered or delivered with the 4 speed due to the increase of insurance premiums with the 4 speed. Most of the 3 speed cars ended up as 4 speeds though in short order. Wheel and tire thefts from new car dealers were prevalent back then, 4 speed transmissions were also easy pickings.
Real value is around 22k
I’ve had 3 Pace Cars and 1 Z28. Of course I should have kept the Z. But, this SS being offered bears the beauty of simplicity. Gotta like this example from the era.
from Camaros.org: For 1967-68 SS models, the heavy-duty 3-speed manual transmission, made by Borg-Warner, was available as RPO M13 . For SS350 models, M13 was optional (but was required if you wanted a floor shift). For SS396 models, M13 was a required option if another transmission was not ordered.
In 1969, the heavy-duty 3-speed was supplied by Muncie and changed to RPO MC1. It was only available as a floor shift and was available on LM1 and SS models. For the LM1, it was a required option if another transmission was not ordered. For 69 SS models, the HD 3-speed trans was included in the SS package. Interesting. :-) Terry J
Need more pics. Car is a disaster. Over priced at 17,700. If you had one or always wanted one, ok. Otherwise turn and run