This has become one of my favorite CCs in town, and every couple of years feel the need to report on its continued well-being, despite being a daily driver and living on the street.
Update: I just got an email from the owner with info on her Camaro:
I’ve been hoping to meet the owner, as she promised me more details of her ownership the one very brief encounter I had with her. But although I’ve seen her driving it in traffic once or twice, no such luck so far. So we’ll have to keep speculating about how long she’s had it. My guess is quite some time. Maybe her dad bought it for her as a graduation present?
It’s the only ’69 Camaro that I’ve encountered in traffic that didn’t have the rumble or roar of a hot Chevy V8.
Here’s the info from the owner:
Hi Paul.
https://www.guyswithrides.com/2020/08/24/new-award-18-1972-chevrolet-camaro/
Guys With Rides first featured this 1972 three-on-the-tree six-cylinder Camaro in 2018. It had about 40,000 miles and the seller wanted $23,500 for it. There were so many perspective buyers that they swapped in a 350 and a TH400 and are still trying to sell it for $23,500 two years later.
I had a ‘68 with the smallest engine, the 230 ci hooked up to the 2 speed power glide. It was very bare bones, No power steering and all drum brakes for example. The previous owner found and installed a Holley carb and wider SS wheels with 70 series front and 60 series back tires that made it a fun commuter car. These stripped down pony cars are derided as ‘secretary specials’ but it got decent gas mileage, was reliable and repairs were cheap and readily available. It was also easy on the eyes. Until…
I bent the Subframe by hitting a telephone pole after losing traction driving downhill on a snowy day. As I lost traction, time slowed down as I did a 360 and saw the pole in my peripheral vision, getting closer and closer. Ever the optimist, I had time to think, ‘I’m going to miss it’. Nope. Crash and shudder.
However, it was still drivable and I drove it around the car-unfriendly streets of Boston as the ultimate beater. In its battle-scarred phase I had no trouble getting ‘right of way’ from other Boston drivers, who are renowned for their competitive and surly nature.
Thank you for the update. There is a Camaro or two like this in the Portland area, but quite hard to find more than once.
It’s a six but then it has the wide white letter Cooper Cobras on it, an odd dichotomy! Great to see it still roaming around town, one day surely you’ll get the full backstory, until then it’ll just pop up now and again…
It can be hard to find tires in that wheel size, likely 14 inch. There’s not many options and the Coopers are cheaper than the Radial T/As.
The “hip” college girl across the street had a white ’67 Camaro, six cylinder, Powerglide, power steering, no A/C (In New Orleans??). Her first car. I helped her wax it sometimes while we chatted up each other.
Occasionally she would give me a ride to high school.
The thrill of being seen with this attractive gal was blunted by the auditory overload of her Camaro. It sounded EXACTLY like my Grandfather’s 1952 Chevy fastback.
Love these old six-cylinder ponycars, especially when they’re daily-driven survivors like this one.
With that said, what’s the cost factor in repairing a seriously broken six-cylinder versus replacing it was a small-block V8 in one of these old, sixties’ ponycars?
While throwing away a six that has nothing wrong with it is abhorrent, it’s not quite as easy a question when the original engine has suffered major damage (particularly if the damage is unrepairable, like a rod through the block) and can be more cheaply replaced with a V8.
Agree, especially if it’s a small block. Probably need to upgrade brakes to discs regardless. Plus parts availability favor the SBC vs. inline 6. GM stopped making the inline 6 long before ceasing production of the small block. But if I had a strong running 230 or 250 I’d try to keep it because I like to celebrate contrarian-ism.
The irony is the rarity of those old six-cylinder engines actually makes cars that have them more interesting at car shows. Shiny, optioned-up, small-block V8 ponycars are a dime-a-dozen, but a patina survivor with a six-cylinder (especially a 3-speed strippo) is worth stopping and taking a look at.
Amen, brother. This is the only ’69 Camaro I’d consider cool. Poverty spec and original paint/patina.
The fat white-letter tires, black wheels and poverty caps would be a welcome sight on many an old V8 Chevy, and this car wears them well. Although I don’t think the white paint does this one any favors, I would never, ever change it because once you change one thing there is only one endpoint – the one we see at every single cruise-in and cars & coffee ever held.
My mother drove a 69 camaro 230 3speed stick. It was optionless except for maybe power drum brakes. Michelin x to replace the uniroyal biasplys improved the handling a lot according to my dad. It was more reliable than the other family vehicles so it was used on almost every family trip. my sister and I were very familiar with the back seats which roomy enough for preteens Not long before I could start driving the camaro was replaced with a new chevelle. The chevelle had a 350 but lacked all the coolness of that yellow camaro.
I love this car. Why? my brother had one circa ’74-75 ish, but his had the L78 375hp 396 with a THM400 trans. This Camaro reminds me of my ’70 and “71 Mavericks.. Both poverty level rigs, both six bangers (the ’70 had a 170, the ’71 200) both with C4 trans.
Well of course I love this one. Honest, unpretentious, and still a runner. Is this the Energizer Bunny of Camaros?
Maybe its just me, but I love those dogdishs a lot more than the generocragars all these seem to have. Great looking car even in base trim.
Me too. I also like that the wheels themselves are just plain utilitarian black rather than body color most restorations with dog dishes opt for. I think color’s technically the factory correct way but I like this look a lot better
Yeah it is really good as-is.
Sorta CC-related. 25 years ago there was a “used hubcap store” here in the neighborhood. Back then, there was nothing else, so why not? But as of last year, the upscale restaurant folded, and then covid. Now we have an empty building and no hubcaps:)
Anyway, awesome if someone just bought the dishes dirt cheap rather than ‘factory correct’.
Google seo posting for “San Francisco Divisadero hubcap store” because the results are bad.
Best picture I could find is a pdf “Hubcaps for sale on Divisadero (1991)”:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5811570bb8a79b740e2ff464/t/589a73e51e5b6c546fd14f2b/1486517226664/2016_2_MarchApril-v3-web.pdf
Robert Durden Color Slide Collection at the San Francisco History Room at the San Francisco Public Library