Vehicle Description
Stuffing a big block into just about any classic is guaranteed to
make for an entertaining ride. When it's a 1969 Camaro dressed in
Daytona Yellow paint, countered with black Z/28 stripes and a slick
Houndstooth interior, then you've really got something special.
Professionally built with an eye toward detail, this 1969 Chevrolet
Camaro SS 496 tribute gives a nod to one of the most potent muscle
cars of all time, and it does so in a big way. With a built 496 V8,
a quick-shifting 5-speed, and top-end options like 4-wheel disc
brakes, this big-block beauty arrived in our showroom with a chip
on its shoulder - ready to kick butt and take names.
If you could have a vintage Camaro built any way you wanted, isn't
this pretty much it? The bodywork is in great shape and there's no
mistaking that fantastic '69 Camaro profile, arguable the
best-looking F-body of all time. The slick Code 76 Daytona Yellow
paint is indeed this car's original color, and the factory shade
comes complete with Z/28 style stripes and a factory-correct black
vinyl top that turns the look up to '11'. A chin spoiler and cowl
hood look aggressively cool up front, while the ducktail spoiler
out back is the perfect bookend, 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
Daytona Yellow is certainly an awesome color, we agree that
breaking it up with contrasting black was a bold move that
absolutely worked. This Camaro is every bit a high-end 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 '496' badges on the fenders preview the
beast living underneath the cowl hood. It's not a perfect show-car,
but rather an extremely solid, great-looking driver that's hard to
beat, and when it's hammering down the road everyone will want to
be the guy behind the wheel.
Black Houndstooth interiors always look elegant and sporty, and the
workmanship inside this Camaro's cabin is excellent throughout. The
bucket seats show no wear and are comfortable and supportive enough
for long hauls, while the dash, center console, matching door
panels, plush black carpets, and taut headliner all look
practically new. A woodgrain-applique adorned center console
features a chrome Hurst shifter topped with an 8-ball knob that
controls the Tremec 5-speed gearbox below, and it's joined by a set
of white-faced auxiliary gauges up ahead that look practically new.
There's more custom woodgrain on and around the glovebox and dash,
and it does a great job warming things up inside, as does the
woodrimmed Grant steering wheel at the helm of the cockpit. Just
beyond that 3-spoke steering wheel are a set of stock AC gauges in
the original dash cluster that really grasp the driver's attention,
including a factory tachometer that keeps an eye on the revs.
Options are fairly scarce in this no-frills cabin, but you do get a
working heater/defrost unit, seatbelts up front, and an upgraded
Blaupunkt AM/FM/CD in the factory slot that sounds great. And
although there's no air conditioning, by the looks of the stock
controls and Astro Ventilation vents, this was very likely a
factory A/C car. That alone makes it more valuable, and should the
next owner want cold air, 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 carries its original blue
plaid mat for a very honest look.
Spectacular is one word for the mammoth 496 big block Stroker V8
under the hood. It started life as a 454 (and still decodes to
that), but after a $20,000 build cost (over $11k in parts alone)
and a host of upgrades - including a .030 overbore with a bore of
4.310 and stroke of 4.250, Brodix Race Rite aluminum heads, a lopey
cam, a giant 4-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock aluminum intake, and
long-tube headers - it's an incredible runner with huge power and
torque at the ready. 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 Magnaflow X-pipe
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 (just ask us for the
laundry list). It's also just docile and easy enough to manage in
real-world traffic, and a giant Ron Davis aluminum radiator that's
assisted by two big electric fans keeps it cool. Beautifully
dressed in polished valve covers and a stock-style big block air
cleaner complete with custom 496 decals, 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. Power 4-wheel disc brakes and
a responsive power steering system provide a pleasant driving
experience, while the upgraded Tremec 5-speed manual transmission
spins a more-than-capable 12-bolt rear end out back. Factory Rallye
wheels provide a traditional muscle car look that work better than
just about any other pair of shoes, and they come wrapped in
215/65/15 front and 245/60/15 rear BFGoodrich white-letter
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!