Vehicle Description
While everyone is familiar with the 1969 Camaro pace cars, did you
know they also built a coupe version? It wasn't quite a pace car
but it had the look, and this neat 1969 Chevrolet Camaro coupe
nails the look, complete with houndstooth upholstery and a
great-running small block V8, making a car that will generate
conversation everywhere it goes.
This is an X11 car, which doesn't mean much, but you know that no
super-rare car was modified for this application. The real pace car
coupes are Z10s, which makes them easy to spot, but in the flesh,
this car has the right look and the right hardware to make it very
convincing. The Dover White with Hugger Orange stripes paint job is
identical to the pace car, and by adding a cowl induction hood,
ducktail spoiler, and a chin spoiler, it looks aggressive. It's
actually nice to see that code 50 Dover White is this car's
original color, which makes the conversion easy and the workmanship
is quite good throughout. All pace cars and Z10 cars were equipped
with both the RS Rally Sport and SS Super Sport packages, so this
car carries the blacked-out grille, hidden headlights, and separate
back-up lamps out back, as well as a host of Z/28 emblems just to
get folks scratching their heads a little bit. The end result is a
great-looking F-body that combines some of the most dramatic
styling cues of the late 1960s into one package and gets everything
right.
Houndstooth upholstery is a Camaro bright spot and while the pace
cars got orange houndstooth, this car takes a slightly more
conservative route with simple black and white, which was one of
the choices on the Z10 coupes. It's certainly handsome and with
recent seat covers, correct carpets and nice door panels,
everything is in good order and ready to go. Of course, things like
the woodgrained steering wheel, center console, tilt steering
column, and a horseshoe shifter for the 3-speed automatic
transmission make it feel luxurious, and this car is equipped with
options like factory A/C (now with Vintage Air hardware) as well as
the tachometer and auxiliary gauges. An upgraded AM/FM stereo radio
takes the place of the original AM unit and there's a full set of
Camaro-logo floor mats to keep it looking tidy. The trunk is
outfitted with a correct mat that fits well and isn't hiding any
nasty surprises underneath.
The engine is a stout 350 cubic inch V8 with numerous upgrades to
make it both reliable and powerful. Up top, you'll quickly note
that the cowl induction system is operational, there are finned
valve covers like a Z/28, and there's a big 4-barrel carburetor and
aluminum intake underneath. MSD supplied the ignition system and
there's a giant aluminum radiator up front, so this car never gets
fussy in the heat. The aforementioned A/C system uses modern
hardware for reliability and like most small block Chevys, it runs
superbly. The TH350 3-speed automatic shifts crisply and the
10-bolt rear end is bulletproof and full of gears that are a good
compromise between acceleration and comfort. The underside of the
car shows quite well, with clean floors and a fresh Flowmaster
exhaust system, and the stance is perfect for an aggressive-looking
car like this. Correct Rally wheels with Firestone Wide Oval tires
complete the back-to-the-60s look.
Cars like this are a lot of fun, perhaps not quite "clones" but
perhaps more of a "could have been" and that's what makes the hobby
so much fun. It's also a blast to drive. Call today!