1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396

Description

This numbers matching 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS396 is not only gorgeous, but it also packs some serious blasting powder under the hood in the form of a numbers matching, high-performance 396 V8 and a Tremec 5-speed manual gearbox. Thanks to a comprehensive restoration, it's dialed-in inside and out, highly detailed, pedigreed, and outrageously fast. With a slick Hugger Orange finish wrapped around a black bucket-seat interior and choice options like power steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes, it's an awesome vintage Camaro that's ready for the modern road.

The SS package is the arguably most mouth-watering of all the 1st generation Camaro trim levels, and it looks amazing when combined with a high-impact color like Hugger Orange. Furthermore, a blacked-out stripe and grille package is the perfect complement, with those 'hockey-stick' decals at the flanks and front grille and rear tailpanel tying it all together and providing great contrast against the bright orange finish. We should probably note at this point that with a matching-numbers 396 under the hood, this is indeed a real SS, so all those badges tell the real story. All of the proper SS symptoms are there as well, including a front chin spoiler, chrome velocity stack inserts that adorn the SS hood, rear quarter 'gills', and the ducktail spoiler out back – all of which are aggressive and instantly recognizable to anyone with even a passing familiarity with muscle cars. Finish quality is very good and thanks to modern urethane materials, the strong driver-quality paint shines like nothing they had in 1969. The chrome was restored, too, and while there isn't a lot of bright trim on an early Camaro, the stainless pieces all took a trip under the polishing wheel before being reinstalled. And with relatively light use since the restoration, the car just absolutely sparkles.

The black bucket seat interior looks practically new, with the current owner having spent a considerable amount of time and money to get it done right. The front seats feature recent seat covers finished off with Hugger Orange stitching, which are better detailed than most of the reproductions you see out there today, and fresh door panels at the flanks sparkle with correct hardware and bright accent trim. The black carpets, taut headliner, dash pad, and even the rear package tray are all recently installed and look great as well, and even the rear bench seat (which has likely never been used) was finished off beautifully with top-end vinyl and ornate Hugger Orange stitching. Upgraded, white-faced digital/analog gauges were installed inside the factory bezel, including a tachometer, and the restorers totally nailed the center console with those white-faced Rally-pack auxiliary gauges and 8-ball topped chrome shifter. That shifter manages an upgraded Tremec 5-speed underneath, and the console was topped off with matching black vinyl, more of that cool orange stitching, and even a little carbon-fiber trim around the shifter boot. A leather-rimmed Grant steering wheel anchors the cockpit, entertainment is delivered via a retro-style AM/FM/AUX/BT in the factory slot, and while there's no A/C in place at the moment, the Astro Ventilation set-up in the dash hints at factory A/C from its past life, meaning a new unit could easily be added. Out back, the trunk was finished plush carpets and custom panels that match the cabin.

Few engines get Camaro fans more excited than the mighty L35 396, especially when their original to the car, like this one is. Rated at a very stout 350 horsepower from the factory, this snarling big block has plenty of pop up and down the throttle. It's topped with a big 4-barrel carburetor atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake, cranks to life with the help of an MSD ignition and modern alternator, and exhales through a set of long-tube headers that feed into a cackling X-pipe dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers. It snarls and roars like the powerhouse it is, yet is tuned so well that you can drive it in traffic without concern, especially with the help of that giant aluminum radiator and dual electric fans up front. The chrome valve covers and blacked-out Chevrolet air cleaner are great eye candy for the potent big block, and with bright Chevy Orange paint on the block itself it has a very correct look. The swapped-in Tremec 5-speed manual transmission is a wonderful upgrade that really lets the 396 come to life, spinning a 12-bolt rear end that's virtually indestructible, making this one of the nastiest point-and-shoot machines you can own. The suspension's been upgraded with tubular A-arms, upgraded springs and shocks, and a big sway bar up front, while out back there's a set of sporty trailing arms, upgraded shocks, and a big Hotchkis sway bar that all help keep the Camaro planted to the road. Power steering help maneuver this F-body with ease, and power 4-wheel disc brakes with slotted rotors mean it stops on a dime. The chassis is highly detailed as well, with all those upgraded components highlighted by solid and neatly painted floorpans. Black-and-chrome US Mags are the perfect set of shoes for this beauty, wrapped in sticky 245/40/18 front and 275/40/18 rear Toyo performance radials.

If you've been waiting for a big block Camaro that's done right, this is your opportunity to get one of the nicest we've seen in a long time. With an authentic pedigree, and high-dollar restoration, this is one of the better '69 Camaros on the market. Call today!