Vehicle Description
Stuffing a big block into just about anything is guaranteed to make
for an entertaining ride. When it's a 1969 Camaro dressed in
Butternut Yellow paint, countered with black SS stripes and a slick
black interior, then you've really got something special. Built
with an eye toward detail, this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Tribute
gives a nod to one of the most potent muscle cars of all time, and
it does so in a big way.
If you could have a vintage Camaro built any way you wanted, isn't
this pretty much it? The bodywork is in good shape and there's no
mistaking that fantastic '69 Camaro profile, arguable the
best-looking F-body of all time. The slick Butternut Yellow paint
isn't this car's original color (it was code 57 Fathom Green), but
it is a factory-correct shade, and with those painted-on
LeMans-style stripes on the hood and decklid turning the look up to
11, who can argue with the color change? A cowl-induction hood was
added up front and a ducktail spoiler out back to act as sporty
bookends, and the accompanying blacked-out SS grille and SS tail
panel follow the same script. Fog-lights underneath that SS grille
mean this Camaro looks predatory the second you lay eyes on it,
although the black vinyl roof is a nice touch that adds a bit of
grown-up sophistication. Even though Butternut Yellow is certainly
a nice color, we agree that breaking it up with contrasting black
was a bold move that absolutely worked, and even the addition of
those thin 'hockey-stick' style decals at the profiles look cool.
This Camaro is every bit a driver, which is just the way we like
our muscle cars, and even though there are some imperfections, they
are relatively minor and all but disappear when you step a couple
feet back. When you're back there, take in all this Camaro's
greatness, from the raked stance to the shiny brightwork that
includes optional rear quarter 'gills', slick rocker panel trim,
and glistening bumpers. 'SS' badges are in all the right places,
and the '396' badges on the fenders preview the beast living
underneath the cowl hood. It's not a perfect show-car, but rather a
very solid, good-looking driver and when it's hammering down the
road everyone will want to be the guy behind the wheel.
Black vinyl interior always looks elegant and sporty, and the
workmanship is excellent throughout. The seats show only minor wear
(no rips or tear, they're just older and have a few minor comfort
marks) and are comfortable and supportive enough for long hauls,
while the black dash, matching door panels, plush carpet, and
headliner are very solid, again only showing some signs of age, not
abuse. A wood-applique adorned center console features a horseshoe
shifter for the sturdy TH400 3-speed automatic transmission
underneath, along with a set of white-faced auxiliary gauges up
ahead of it that look new. A vintage Bowtie steering wheel falls
easily into the hands of the driver, and just beyond it the stock
gauges in the original dash cluster really grasp the driver's
attention. Options are fairly scarce in this no-frills cabin,
there's no radio in the factory slot and the doors and windows are
manually operated, and although there's no air conditioning either,
by the looks of the stock controls and Astro Ventilation vents,
this was indeed a factory A/C car. That alone makes it more
valuable, and should the next owner want cold air and tunes, the
upgrade would be fairly simple and not require any major surgery.
The back seat barely looks used, and out back the surprisingly
spacious trunk still carries its original blue plaid mat for a very
honest look.
Spectacular is one word for the mammoth World Products Merlin III
big block under the hood. The thing about these WP Merlin blocks is
that without original paperwork (or short of opening the block to
make measurements), it's difficult, if not impossible to correctly
state the engine's correct displacement. These block were
built-to-order and boast the ability to handle up to a reported
2,000 horsepower (although, after driving this one we can safely
report a much lower horsepower rating in the 3-digit range), and
even though the fender badges state '396', we just don't know the
true cubic inch displacement. In all likelihood, it is in fact a
396 V8, but again we're not 100% sure even though we tracked down
the last two registered owners. What we are sure of though is that
it's an absolute burner with plenty of pop up and down the
throttle, a terrific bumpy lope at idle, and a downright erotic
sound further punctuated by the Flowmaster dual exhaust system
below. The powerful motor takes no prisoners and has some
impressive horsepower, thanks to a bunch of go-fast parts carefully
selected by the builders. It's also just docile and easy enough to
manage in real-world traffic thanks to Merlin heads, an aluminum
performance intake, a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, GM-spec
manifolds, an HEI system that lights it all up, and a big radiator
that's assisted by a large electric fan to keep it cool.
Beautifully dressed in polished valve covers and a chrome air
cleaner, it pops out from the black inner fenders, and the Chevy
Orange enamel on the block itself give the engine bay a
period-correct look. Brand new power front disc brakes and a power
steering system are up front to provide a pleasant driving
experience, while the TH350 3-speed automatic transmission was fit
with a TCI pan and spins the capable 10-bolt rear end out back.
American Racing 'Old Style' Torque Thrust wheels provide a
traditional muscle car look that work better than just about any
other shoes, and they come wrapped in 215/65/15 front and 225/70/15
rear radials.
If you're looking for a weaponized Camaro, look no further. Big
horsepower in a slick package, this '69 is a head-turner ready to
tear up some asphalt. Call today!
