1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS/RS 396 �€" Frame-Off Restoration Why This
Car Is Special The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS/RS 396 sits at the top
of the first-generation Camaro hierarchy, and for good reason. The
SS/RS combination package was the most optioned-out configuration a
buyer could check off on the order sheet in 1969, layering the
performance credentials of the Super Sport onto the cosmetic
refinements of the Rally Sport. Chevrolet built the
first-generation Camaro from 1967 through 1969, and the 1969 model
year is widely considered the most desirable of the three. It
received a more aggressive body redesign �€" lower beltline, longer
nose, tighter roofline �€" and production ran longer than planned,
extending into late 1969 to compensate for the delayed launch of
the second-generation car. That extended run has no negative effect
on collectibility. If anything, the 1969 Camaro has only grown in
stature over the decades. The VIN on this car decodes to confirm it
is a 1969 Camaro sport coupe, built at the Norwood, Ohio assembly
plant, with the 396 cubic inch big block engine. The 'L' in the VIN
sequence identifies the Norwood plant, and the engine code confirms
the 375-horsepower Turbo-Jet L78 specification �€" the highest
output version of the 396 offered that year, short of the rare L89
aluminum head option. This is a documented big block car, not a
small block with a big block hood badge swapped in. That matters
when you are buying at this level. What makes this particular 1969
Camaro SS/RS 396 stand out beyond its documented credentials is the
quality of the restoration behind it. This is a complete frame-off
build, which means the body came off the frame, everything was
stripped down, and the car was rebuilt from the ground up. The
results are visible both on top and underneath. The undercarriage
is clean and finished correctly, not just pressure-washed and
photographed. The engine bay is detailed and tight. And the
mechanical upgrades that were made during the restoration were
chosen thoughtfully �€" performance-oriented without being
track-only, and livable in everyday driving conditions. Features -
396 cubic inch Turbo-Jet V8, 375 horsepower �€" L78 big block
specification - SS/RS combination package �€" Super Sport and Rally
Sport options together - Turbo-Hydramatic TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission - GM 12-bolt rear axle with multi-leaf rear suspension
- Aluminum cylinder heads on the big block - Edelbrock intake
manifold with Holley carburetor - Patriot ceramic-coated headers
with 2.5-inch exhaust, crossover pipe, and Flowmaster mufflers -
Detroit Speed electric headlight actuator kit (replaces the
vacuum-operated RS system) - Champion aluminum radiator - Vintage
Air air conditioning system - Power steering - Power front disc
brakes - Steel cowl induction hood - PPG base coat / clear coat
paint in yellow - Black vinyl roof - Rally wheels with Cooper Cobra
Radial G/T tires - RS front end with hidden headlights and RS
steering wheel - Front and rear spoilers - Chrome bumpers with
deluxe bumper guards front and rear - 396 hood badge - Bucket seats
with center console - White vinyl interior - Complete frame-off
restoration - Clean undercarriage Mechanical The heart of this 1969
Camaro SS/RS is the 396 cubic inch Turbo-Jet big block, built to
L78 specifications at 375 horsepower. In factory trim, the L78 was
one of the most aggressive engines Chevrolet offered in the Camaro
�€" it came with solid lifters, a high-rise intake, and an 800 cfm
Holley four-barrel from the factory. This car has been upgraded
during restoration with an Edelbrock intake and a Holley
carburetor, along with aluminum cylinder heads, which improve both
airflow and heat dissipation compared to the original iron units.
The combination makes for an engine that pulls hard across the
entire RPM range and runs cooler doing it. Backing the big block is
a Turbo-Hydramatic TH400 3-speed automatic, one of the most durable
transmissions General Mo
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