454/4-Speed: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS
If you had the knowledge and cash in 1967, you could order a new Camaro with a fire-breathing 427ci V8 under the hood. For mere mortals, the limit was a 396, but that still provided plenty of ponies under the right foot. This 1969 Camro SS takes the concept a step further, with its engine bay housing a 454. It is a tidy and solid classic requiring little to lift its presentation to a higher level. It has generated plenty of interest since the seller listed it here on eBay in Asheville, North Carolina. Bidding has raced to $48,100 but remains short of the reserve.
The world waited with bated breath for the release of the Camaro because it offered Chevrolet’s answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. Although its sales figures failed to match the Blue-Oval opposition, the fact that 220,906 buyers slapped down the cash for the Bow-Tie alternative demonstrates people liked what they saw. Of those, 34,411 found the SS version impossible to resist. This is one of those cars, and the presentation looks impressive in the photos. However, the seller’s candid approach proves why I strongly recommend an in-person inspection before any classic purchase. They freely admit that while the Tuxedo Black paint looks okay, they suggest it would benefit from a repaint. I give the seller ten out of ten for honesty on that front. The panels are straight, and there’s no mention or evidence of rust. The spoiler and wide Rally wheels add a sense of purpose, while the trim and glass present well for a survivor.
The theme of tidy presentation continues inside this Camaro, with no evidence of damaged trim or upholstery. The Black vinyl is slightly stretched on the driver’s seat, which is unsurprising and acceptable in a vehicle of this type. The dash and pad look good, as does the carpet. The console houses the factory sports gauge cluster, but the dash features an aftermarket tach. If I bought this classic, I would invest $300 in a reproduction factory tachometer to provide a more “complete” appearance. The factory radio is gone, but considering the modifications performed elsewhere, a retro-style modern stereo might offer a practical solution to fill the vacant space.
Okay, it’s time to draw a deep breath and bask in the magnificent lump of iron hiding under this Camaro’s hood. I’m unsure what originally called the space home, but it is long gone. Instead, we find a 454ci V8 which has been bored 0.060″ over. It is unclear what further internal upgrades are included, but I can spot an alloy Edelbrock dual-plane intake, a Holley 750cfm carburetor, Hooker headers, and a sticker suggesting it might feature a more aggressive camshaft. We can speculate about the potential power output, but I expect it to be north of 400hp. The remaining mechanical components include a four-speed M20 manual transmission, a new 3.42 rear end, and power assistance for the steering and front disc brakes. The seller says the SS runs and drives well, making it a turnkey classic for the winning bidder. They say the big-block produces plenty of power, a claim I find very believable.
It can sometimes be difficult to gauge the desirability of a classic car, but this 1969 Camaro SS leaves little room for doubt. It has attracted twenty-six bids from eight people keen to park it in their garage. Determining the potential value of an unmolested vehicle is relatively straightforward, but it becomes more challenging if it includes significant modifications. That is the case with this SS, meaning it becomes an educated guess. The auction is on the downhill stretch, but there is scope for the price to climb past $60,000. Do you agree, or do you have another figure in mind?
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Comments
Sorry, Adam; you’re off by two years. This is a 1969 Camaro! :-)
And the best looking Camaro of all time! Save your time, breath and electons BF’ers You know I am right.
“Electrons” Maybe not a good speller but I know a GOAT design when I see one!
The taillights are 1969, this should have an aluminum 302 if it is a true 69. Wonder if suspension was pumped up for this 454. A 350 is strong enough for this and probably move it down the road.
It’s a ’69, but an X55 which means SS350 (iron block and heads) without style trim group. No Z/28’s came with an aluminum block. Only the ’69 ZL1 came with an aluminum block. Uber rare – only ’69 built.
Hi Midway, Only the Z-28 came with the 302DZ option. SS came in multiple configurations, 396 was a big block option other than the ZL-1in 69.
I always had a soft spot for X55 cars. Often light on options and weight, a 4 speed, 4.11 gear X55 was a force to reckon with.
Yep agreed
1967 no Front side fender park lights
1968 fat front fender wide side fender park light
1969 thinner side front fender park lights
’67 only year with vent windows also. It’s a big distinction between the 67’s and 68’s.
Vent window issue is correct…I bought a 67 as soon as ZI returned home from my first Viet Nam tour
Granada gold…..$3,700 off the showroom floor
302 was only available in the Z28.
Imagine if the factory ran out of ’67 doors & the last ’67(s) was(were) fitted with a ’67 AND a ’68 door! Doubt that happened tho.
Or with ’67 and ’68 fenders. Or quarter panels.
Wow very nice hot rod.. 69:is best looking Camaro made to me . Love the lines on the body. And the a** kicking big block with that 750 Holley I would say 500+ HP. Tires in the rear would not last with me behind the wheel!! 😂 I think the reserve will come off at $50,000! And the bids will go wild. Beautiful ride and the stance just the way the car looks. Good luck to the next owner have fun!! 🇺🇸🐻
Dash looks from a 1969 as well with the square speedometer.
Under the hood definitely needs some detailing,especially that stupid blue gotta go
Nice Ford blue under hood
Dare I bring up a 1971 Corvette LS5 454 Original motor, header side pipes, original close ratio 4 speed with A/C for 26,000 dollars!
The Rat that got away! Whenever I see a rat I think of a that bargain that got away!
Originally a ‘69 Cortez Silver SS350 without style trim group with front/rear spoilers with black standard interior.
Decent original set-up but obviously modified heavily to its current condition.
Camaros are nice but id take a poncho any day over it. I had a 69 firebird with a 400 in it back in the day. loved that car
Well, he painted the engine blue so that’s a start. ( I know it’s not Pontiac blue)
What year 454?? If it’s out of a 90s truck, would need a lot of work to get it to early 70s shape.
Nice car. Aftermarket tach probably came with the expanded power and rpm of the modified engine.
10 bolt differential and I wonder what happened to the heater core?
blasphemy to paint a Chevrolet engine blue.
This car is a mutt. No first gen. SS ever came with a 10 bolt. No heater core to prove it was a big block car and the brake booster is wrong. The car looks clean but the price they want is in the stratosphere. Sad thing is, some schmuck will buy it.
Are you trying to say that all 1st Gen Camaros had a 12 bolt?
Uh, no.
Also the shift handle, boot and knob are wrong, and the console gauges are Nova, not Camaro…and EVERYONE knows that the MSD box is supposed to go where that yeller coil is.
Most Camaros go through the ‘mutt’ stage before someone does a proper resto, or they get crashed and parted out.
To Midway, the only first gen Camaro to have a 302 was the Z-28. This car is worth 1/4 of what they are asking.
This car is a ’69 not a ’67.
Better check your research. Some 69 SS models did in fact have 10 bolt rears. The thing I notice is the front stance. The tires look like they would hit the wheel lip.
I stand corrected, later 69SS low HP SB/BB came with 10 bolts. The front rims look like 15/7 rims, to big.
True. But it appears only SS350’s with powerglide auto trans came with 10 bolt rear axles. Which suggests this particular SS was originally an auto trans car.
Or not an ss
There was no aluminum 302 either!
I ONCE BUILT A 454 69 CAM -A-ROD !
BUT WHEN I WAS DONE THE HEADERS WENT OUT THE FENDER WELLS TO A 3″PIPE. THE 3×2 EDELBROCK & HOLLYS FIT NICELY UNDER THAT VETT AIRTRAP HOOD !! BUT I DONT REMEMBER THE ENGINE BAY HAVING EXTRA ROOM AROUND THAT “RAT”?
It mite have Ben because the Body was an REVELL and the “RAT” was a MONAGRAM yes I believe so. thanks
The writer identifies the car in line 3 as a 69,”This 1969 Camaro SS “
What is the difference between a 10 and 12 bolt rearend, besides the number of bolts. That part I understand! Is this another one of those old-wives tales about performance differences that nobody can prove but everyone had a “buddy/dad/uncle/wife/girlfriend/klingon/dalek” who owned one or the other and had first-hand proof one performed better that the other? Inquiring minds (And mine) want to know! Thanks!
Ike, 12 bolt is stronger. Has larger diameter pinion & ring gear. I think the 10 bolt has two choices. 25 spline & 28 spline. 12 bolt is 30 spline if I remember right.
Ford 9″: 9″ dia ring
GM 12 bolt: 8.875″ dia ring
GM 10 bolt: 8.2″ ring dia
As far as splines on the 10 bolt, there are early 10 bolt (1950s version up thru 1964, IIRC) and later, i can’t answer spline count questions on either one.
I do know i split the posi case bolts on an early 10 bolt running a hot 327 on street tires in a C1 Corvette, in 1979.
I wish people would take a reality check when bidding on restomod cars. Yeah it’s an old car with paint and motor. But these are NOT, I repeat NOT high dollar collector cars. Maybe 20 – 30000 tops. And that’s being over generous
Nice looking Camaro. Not all of them have to be stock. I actually like the day two look. Thank you Adam Clarke, for not making it sound like the Camaro out sold the Mustang.