Authentic 1969 Chevy Camaro Z-28

1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 Description

SELLER REMARKS:

Authenticating a muscle car can be a serious problem because of the many clones, tributes, and forgeries in the market. Documentation such as build sheets, trim tags, window stickers are just part of what a purchaser needs to authenticate a muscle car. According to hotrod.com, the best source for Chevrolet vehicles is www.vintagevehicleservices.com, which the magazine states maintains:

Production information, colors, and engine size for cars built in Canada (or the U.S. and sold in Canada) from 1945 to 1963. ’64 cars and newer include transmission and option codes. (Note that there is no such resource of factory records for Chevrolets sold in the U.S. Records are rumored to exist, but they have not been released for distribution.) See: http://www.hotrod.com/articles/authenticating-your-muscle-car/.

While researching this vehicle’s history, I spoke to four previous owners and learned that it was brought down from Canada for sale at a Pennsylvania auction. I contacted General Motors of Canada’s, Vintage Vehicle Services and they researched the Camaro by its vehicle identification number. According to GM of Canada’s letter, this 1969 Camaro was delivered for sale at Chevrolet Motor Sales Co. Ltd. in Montreal, PQ on November 4, 1968, making this vehicle fully documented by General Motors of Canada as a 1969 Camaro Z28 model along with its 20+ option codes. See the GM letter photos for more detail. A GM-documented Camaro Z28 ensures that the value of this car is only going to increase.

DECODING:

1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) 124379N526546.

VIN Decode:

1=Chevrolet

2=Camaro

4=8 Cylinder Engine

37=Coupe

9=1969

N=Norwood, Ohio Assembly Plant

526546=Vehicle Sequential Number

Trim Tag Decoding:

69=1969

12437=Chevy Camaro, 8 Cylinder Coupe

NOR=Norwood, Ohio Assembly Plant

711=Black Standard Interior

69=Cortez Silver

B=Black Vinyl top

10C=Fisher Body 3rd Week October (1968)

Note: This Z28 vehicle was made and delivered for sale in November 1968 before Chevrolet began use of the “X” codes (believed to have been around December 1968).

OVERVIEW:

Who doesn't love basic black? Although it was originally Cortez silver with black stripes and a black vinyl top, during its restoration this car was treated to one of the finest black paint jobs I’ve seen. Offset with bright white Z28 stripes flowing over the cowl induction hood and trunk spoiler, the deep black and bright white paint sharply contrasts the Camaro’s good vs. bad personality. The front chin spoiler and rear trunk spoiler set an aggressive stance with the gray American Racing Torq D mags. Although the car continues to display the 302 badging, the high-revving DZ 302 cubic inch V8 that was factory rated at 290hp has been replaced with one of the best performance modifications -- a freshly built 496 cubic inch big block monster. While the 302 was peppy, this 496 big block Chevy bruises the asphalt with loads of torque, making the driving experience nothing less than thrilling and quickly excuses the minor deception of the 302 badging.

ENGINE:

The Chevrolet division has always represented performance to car enthusiasts. The 1969 Camaro Z28’s V8 performance was with high-revving power and raw attitude. Lift the hood of this sweet, black with white stripes, first generation Camaro and the satin black engine compartment is impressively clean. Adhering to the black color scheme, you will find a freshly built, balanced, gloss black, big block Chevy that’s been overbored .060 inches and stroked with a Scat 4340 Forged Steel Crank and Scat 4340 i-Beam Rods, and topped with SRP 4032 low-expansion, high-silicon aluminum alloy, heat-treated pistons wrapped with Mahle rings, yielding a monstrous 496 cubic inches. At the top of the massive mill, air flows through a cowl induction hood to a new 850 cfm dual-feed, double-pumper 4-barrel carburetor affixed to an aluminum Weiand Dual Plane Stealth intake manifold. The air/fuel mixture makes its way to “enginekits.com” aluminum cylinder heads with 2.25 stainless intake/1.88 stainless exhaust valves, a 119cc chamber and a 320cc runner. Valve springs have been upgraded with Comp Cams springs, Comp Cams 1.72 Magnum steel roller tip rockers, Comp Cams viton valve oil seals, and Dart adjustable pushrod guide plates. On top of the cylinder heads are stamped and chromed Chevrolet valve covers. Bumping the oversize valves is a healthy Comp Cams “Xtreme Energy Retrofit” Hydraulic Roller Tappet cam and lifter kit with advertised 288/294 duration and .521/.540 lift. The spent exhaust gases quickly move through flat black Hooker headers and a 3-inch diameter, stainless steel Pypes “X-pipe” exhaust system. Keeping the 496 lubricated is a Milodon 7-Quart Oil Pan / Pickup / Windage Tray / Pump Shaft kit with a Melling high-volume oil pump. Cooling is provided by a heavy-duty aluminum radiator, which funnels water through reproduction GM hoses and fresh tower clamps.

DRIVETRAIN:

This 1969 Z28 came equipped with a close-ratio, Muncie M21 4-speed, which was designed for the high-revving 302 cubic inch small block on a circle track race setting. To take advantage of the Chevy big block’s torque range, the tough Muncie, wide-ratio M-20 4-speed was rebuilt and mated to this 496 monster. The Muncie M-20 is attached to a GM cast aluminum bellhousing and is spun by an 11" clutch and a 14" flywheel with a 168 toothring gear that is cranked by a high-torque, mini-starter. This 4-speed transmission twists the original 12-bolt, Detroit Gear & Axle rear differential with Eaton Positraction (Code BU); however, the original 3.73 gear ratio has been replaced with a 3.55 ratio set of gears that improve streetability. Energy is transferred to the pavement via gray American Racing Torq Thrust D rims, which spin 215/65/15 front and 235/60/15 rear BF Goodrich Radial T/As. Steering is made easy with the factory fast-ratio power steering, and stopping comes from the Delco Moraine, vacuum-power assisted, Option J52, front disc and rear drum brakes. Added sub-frame connectors tie together the front and rear sub-frames. Additional structural integrity for the 496 cubic inch engine’s torque is accomplished with steel plates welded from the sub-frames and connectors to the body pinch welds. These are undetectable without peering underneath the car and a far better approach than cutting up an original Z28 to add a roll cage.

INTERIOR:

Look inside and you will find a classic standard black interior that’s wrapped in fresh Dyna-mat insulation. Very rare for 1969 Z28 models, this car was originally equipped with Option A31, Window Electric Control. Yes, this Z28 has power windows! A tight headliner, which retains all of its color, centers a chrome-trimmed dome lamp between fade-free shoulder belts. The factory bucket seats with head restraints have the GM safety belts. In front of the driver seat, a traditional dash center clock is mounted between the AC Speedometer and Tachometer. Slip into the driver’s seat and grab the original N34 Option, Wood-Grained Plastic Sport steering wheel and the Hurst Competition Plus with chrome ball. The D55 Option, center console with coolant, fuel, ammeter, and oil pressure gauges make this one of the best looking interiors ever made. Traditional Fisher sill plates and black GM-Licensed Chevrolet Camaro rubber floor mats cover fade-free black carpeting. A remote-controlled, MP3/iPod-compatible retro-looking radio with four speakers rounds out the amenities.

SUMMARY:

If you have been looking for a classic 1969 Z28 that’s a blast to drive and even more fun to show off, your search is over. This Chevy is a high-quality head turner, which brings a smile to the owner every time it is driven. This well-restored Camaro Z28 mixes classic Chevy looks with a ton of power and some of the best performance modifications on the market. Restoring a Camaro Z28 to this level would cost more than my asking price so why waste years of your valuable time and strain your bank account building a ground-up muscle car when you buy this GM-documented classic and drive off in something this awesome? Photos and documentation for the car are available to the new owner. Call soon because it won’t last.