“A word or two to the competition,” a magazine ad said regarding the 1969 Camaro. “You lose.”
Some 55 years later, muscle cars of the late 1960s are still stealing hearts, breaking necks, and burning rubber. They have timeless appeal. So, when I saw this clean Z/28 pop up for sale, I knew I’d have to battle it out with our muscle car guru Diego Rosenberg about who would get to write about it. I beat him to the punch – but just barely.
Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. The car is being sold by a private seller in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, with the auction ending on Tuesday.
The first-gen Camaro went on sale in the fall of 1966 and forever changed the automotive landscape. Finally, Ford’s popular pony car had met its match – and the rivalry has continued for decades. One particularly strong fighter from Chevrolet’s side was the Camaro Z/28, a car that came with engine, transmission, suspension, braking, and wheel upgrades that worked together to make it more capable both on the street and on the track.
Green means go, and go this Z/28 does. General Motors of Canada has confirmed the car’s authenticity, and a document dated March 1, 2001 outlines the critical details: The Rallye Green car was assembled in Norwood, Ohio and shipped out on April 7, 1969 to Chatham Motors, Ltd., in Chatham, Ontario. The options list shows 16 features including power brakes (discs up front), an AM push-button radio, full instrumentation, upgraded antifreeze, and – perhaps most importantly – the Z/28 “Special Performance Package.”
The car carries ownership provenance, too. The Seagram family (of the Seagram Company Limited) reportedly owned this car. Seagram’s Distillery was publicly incorporated in 1928 in Montreal and became known in its early years for the legal export of spirits to the United States during Prohibition. The New Vehicle Warranty booklet that accompanies the car corroborates the story: The handwritten name attributed to the Owner Protection Plan is that of Dr. C. Geoffrey Seagram of Toronto, Ontario. The Protect-O-Plate is stamped with the same data and the in-service date is noted as May 29, 1969.
Power comes from a 302ci Turbo-Fire small-block V8 that was rated at 290 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque. Production data shows that there were only 2,117 Camaros built with the close-ratio M22 four-speed manual transmission. A Hurst shifter performs joystick duties and a Positraction rear differential delivers the power to the pavement.
It’s worth sharing a few tips on importation, since the car may be of interest to U.S. buyers who are unfamiliar with the requirements for bringing a vehicle stateside. A few key documents to assemble are a bill of sale, the Canadian registration, and the shipper’s bill of lading. In addition, two declaration forms, Form HS-7 (for Federal Motor Vehicle Safety) and Form 3520-1 (for the Environmental Protection Agency), are good places to start. While we cannot offer professional consultation or advice on the importation process, there are brokers who do exactly this sort of thing, so check into it if you’re curious.
I know I’d love to make room for this mean machine in my own garage, so I’ll be green with envy of whoever places the winning bid. Finally, sorry Diego! I drove away with this listing and left you in my dust. The next muscle car is all yours.
The auction for this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 will end Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery