1969 Camaro project car hunt leads to barn find First-Gen in New York. Gary K., of Long Island, New York, followed up on a tip about a '69 Camaro parked beside a vacant house in an upscale suburban neighborhood. Gary took a short drive and found this black X-44 1969 Camaro equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission, white bucket seats, 307-V8 and 2-barrel carburetor. Surprisingly, the car sits 20 feet from the road in a makeshift garage that has no door or roof. The house, adjacent to the Camaro's framed fortress, appears to have been abandoned in the middle of a renovation.
"The neighbors say the owner stops by sporadically to check his mail," said Gary. "They have no idea who he is and only know the guy by his first name."
This project 1969 Camaro looks out of place in this meticulous, suburban Long Island, New York neighborhood. |
Gary battled bees, bugs and poison ivy to get a closer look at the Camaro. "I was already being eaten alive by the killer mosquitos when I ventured into thick brush to get a better look at the car," said Gary. "I noticed the door handles and rear spoiler were missing. Also the rear window was shattered, which is not a good thing since the garage does not have a roof. The decaying interior was white with bucket seats and a console." Gary thinks the car is restorable, despite rust and body damage. "The header panel is bent and the bottom of the fenders and quarter panels have some rot."
1969 Camaro with a 307ci V8 and a 4-speed. |
Camaro X44 code, no COPO
Unwilling, rusty hood hinges hampered Gary's efforts to look at the trim tag on the firewall. "I was able to lift the already popped hood, which was almost seized shut," said Gary. He spotted the X44 code on the cowl tag, denoting it a base model Camaro. X44 cars could be ordered with 230ci/130HP or 250ci/155HP in-line six cylinders engines or 327ci/210HP, 307ci/200HP, 350ci/250HP or 350ci/255HP V8 engines.
A pair of 307 cubic inch badges on the fenders squash any dream that this could be an X44 COPO, (Central Office Production Order), Camaro with a 427ci big block engine. Pennsylvania's famed Yenko Chevrolet ordered 201 COPO Camaros for 1969. Those were equipped with an iron block 427-cubic inch L-72 engine and a 4.10 Positraction rear end. Documented Yenko COPO Camaros currently fetch $250,000 USD or more at classic car auctions.
Factory 1969 Camaro tuxedo black paint is giving way to a not-so-fresh coating of rust. |
"Barrett-Jackson-itis"
A note was left for the owner to call if he was interested in selling the '69 Camaro. Gary has realistic expectations. "Most of the cars I find are 'gonna be restored one day,' as the owners often say," said Gary. "The very few that are for sale are over-priced. Most of the people don't understand the costs associated with restoring a car properly, sometimes upwards of $40,000. They watch Barrett-Jackson and assume every plain Jane, rust bucket, commands 100-point, restored, rare model prices. I call this Barrett-Jackson-itis."
Astronomical first generation Camaro prices inevitably trickle down to some body's grandma's clapped out, Frost Green six banger. Sure it's still a 1969 Camaro but shelling out ten grand before you turn a wrench or pick up a parts catalog is too painful for most.
Beater 1969 Chevy Camaro projects command high prices. |
Searching
I feel your pain Gary. Keep leaving your phone number and have fun searching, there's always another classic car to discover.
– Jody Potter, junkyardlife
ALSO: If you have a 1969 Camaro you would like to donate to junkyardlife send me an email. I will be happy to pick it up. ;)
Email junkyardbull@gmail.com