WATCH: Hugger Orange Camaro facts: 1969 thru 1999, to a Pull-A-Part junkyard

We’ve been drinking the Hugger Orange paint theory for this video! Join us at the junkyard and a walk down Hugger Orange history, from 1969 to 1999.

Chevy revived Hugger Orange Paint for the 1999 model Camaro. 30 years had passed since the name and hue was first used on the 1969 Camaro. Maybe the paint reboot was due to the drop in sales after the model was redesigned for 1998?

• 1997: 60,202
• 1998: 54,026
• 1999: 42,098

We’ve made an unexpected discovery. How many hugger orange 1969 Camaros were built? Chevrolet built and sold 243,085 Camaros of 1969 design. Of those, a little over 20,000 of Chevy’s 1969 Chevy Camaros were sold new with Hugger Orange Paint. According to a memo from GM, that’s around 8.5% that were Hugger Orange. 

But! Chevy did not have a monopoly on orange paint at GM. Pontiac used the name Carousel Red on their orange Firebirds and GTOs in 1969. Corvettes of that same year and hue were Monaco Orange on their build sheet.

Add this to your buried in numbers that may be true data: Less than 1% of 1969 Camaros were painted black from the factory. That’s less than 1,500. Now get this–only 4.5% of 1969 Camaros were equipped with the ZL2 option code Cowl Hood. Two rare things that are commonly seen on 1969 Camaros at the local cruise night.

Most of the feared and revered 1969 Camaros that I’ve encountered are black and wear a cowl hood. People like what they like.

Flashback
There is no doubt in my mind, that in 20 or 30 years the last owner of this hugger orange Camaro will be wishing they could get this car back, bolt on a SS hood and drop in a LS1 engine. Life’s funny like that. You don’t know what you got until it’s gone.

Jody Potter — Junkyard Life: The Story Beneath the Rust Watch more Junkyard Life on YouTube If you got time, we need your help hiring a cheap camera holder and dog food. Your views, and likes help us. Thanks! Need a Junkyard Life TSHIRT!

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