1969 Chevrolet Camaro
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION
This incredibly charismatic Chevrolet Camaro was built in 1969 at GM’s Norwood factory in Ohio, and over the past 30 years it has enjoyed a long career in historic racing.
After being imported to the UK by Ryland Rogers in North Wales during the early 1990s, it was sold to Hugo Dixon in May 1994 and prepared for motorsport use. It was subsequently raced in the Historic Sports Car Club’s Road Sports series before being sold to Nick Savage in April 2012.
The Camaro’s new owner had it restored and race-prepared by muscle-car specialist Martin Savill of Aldershot, and invoices show that he spent almost £60,000 on it between 2012 and 2019.
Originally imported to the UK in 396ci (6489cc) RS/SS specification, it now features a 350ci (5735cc) engine, as offered for the Camaro in period. The small-block V8 was rebuilt in 2014 and its current spec includes high-performance Dart II cylinder heads, TRW pistons, an Eagle forged-steel crankshaft and Eagle con-rods.
The compression ratio is 9.8:1 and the engine breathes through a Holley 750cfm carburettor. Hedman 1.75in exhaust manifolds have also been fitted.
At the rear is a 12-bolt Chevrolet rear axle that was built and set up by Jeff Hauser, and the engine drives through a Muncie ‘rock crusher’ straight-cut, close-ratio, four-speed gearbox. Global West quick-ratio steering has been installed, along with Corvette JL8-option brakes.
In 2019, the Camaro was fully rewired and its subframe was rebuilt. A strengthened gearbox casing was also fitted. Inside, the car has been stripped for competition use and there are Sparco seats with Willans harnesses, plus a bolt-in roll cage.
Whether it’s once again prepared for competition use or just enjoyed as a thunderous road car, this Chevrolet Camaro is offered for sale as an extremely quick and entertaining example of this ever-popular muscle car.
MODEL HISTORY
The Chevrolet Camaro was GM’s answer to Ford’s hugely successful Mustang, and when it was introduced in late 1966, Chevrolet’s general manager, Pete Estes, referred to it as a ‘four-passenger package of excitement’.
It was based on a brand-new platform and offered as both a coupé and a convertible. Buyers could then choose from an extensive list of engines that ranged from a 230ci (3.8-litre) straight-six to a 427ci (7-litre) V8.
There were also numerous manual and automatic transmissions on offer, plus packages that included the RS (with ‘hidden’ headlamps and other visual changes), the SS (with a choice of large-capacity engines) and the Z28 (built for homologation into Trans-Am racing).
Beneath the skin, the Camaro’s specification included independent front suspension with coil springs, plus a live rear axle with leaf springs and telescopic dampers. Steering was via recirculating ball, with optional power assistance.
When Road & Track magazine road-tested a 1968 Camaro Z28, it recorded a 0-60mph time of 6.8 seconds and said that it ‘offers a lot of performance for the money; how many four-seat cars can you name that will do the quarter-mile in 14.9 seconds, hit 142mph and cost just $4435?’
As was often the case with American manufacturers during that period, Chevrolet updated the Camaro every year, and the 1969 car had a slight facelift with a more pronounced V-shaped grille; there was also the option of disc brakes all round.
In fact, that would be the last of the first-generation models. Chevrolet introduced an all-new Camaro in 1970, and the model lasted all the way up to the end of sixth-generation production in early 2024.