Tuned '69 Chevy Camaro Has Been With Its Owner for 40 Years, Guy Wouldn't Sell for $71,500

For the 1969 model year, the Camaro was unleashed featuring all-new sheet metal, resulting in a wider and more aggressive stance. GM went on to sell nearly 250,000 units, comprised of base-spec, RS, SS and Z/28 trims. Granted, those numbers fell way short of what Ford managed to accomplish with the first-gen Mustang, but in a vacuum, they’re still impressive, nonetheless.

What we have here is a heavily modified 1969 Camaro Coupe, one that’s been with the same owner for the past 40 years. The car had been up for grabs until yesterday, when bidders failed to meet the reserve at auction. In the end, the current owner decided against selling for $71,500 (the top bid), which may or may not have been the right call.

On the one hand, it’s hard to imagine this car (as is) being worth a great deal more than $70k. On the other hand, a lot of work went into it – as you’re about to find out.

Visually, we’re dealing with a Daytona Yellow exterior (repainted in 1985 after being fitted with a livery for drag racing events), SS and 427 badging, an Endura front bumper, cowl induction hood (with an AutoMeter fuel pressure gauge), front and rear spoilers, T3 headlights, a driver-side mirror, chrome rear bumper, plus a set of 15” Cragar Super Sport wheels with Mickey Thompson S/S tires.

Meanwhile, interior highlights include the black vinyl front bucket seats and rear bench, woodgrain trim for the dashboard, a Lakewood roll bar, B&M shifter, two-spoke steering wheel (with an SS emblem), and a column-mounted custom tachometer and shift light.

This is a special car when it comes to performance. It’s powered by an overbored 427 ci L72 V8 engine, working alongside a Holley carburetor, an Edelbrock “Tarantula” TM2R intake manifold, custom headers, Wiseco forged pistons, forged I-beam connecting rods, COMP Cams roller lifters, custom rockers, and an Erson billet camshaft, among other mods.

We’re not 100% sure how much power is being produced here (it says 425 hp on the engine, but you never know), yet everything gets sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission and a 12-bolt rear end with a 4.88:1 Positraction differential. The vehicle also boasts a 3,800-rpm stall converter and custom finned differential cover.

Now, while we can’t give you a Dyno-proven, exact horsepower number (nor torque, for that matter), the owner of the vehicle did drop a particularly juicy nugget of information in the ad. According to them, this custom Camaro can run a quarter mile in 11.20 seconds at 124 mph, which is quite impressive to say the least.