The ’69 Camaro and the VW Westfalia; were there two more different cars at the time? And they’ve both become among the most collectible cars of the time too, although the T2 bus lags the T1 bus in that regard. And strictly speaking, this looks like it may be a 1970 bus. Or? A closer look:
The Camaro is sporting a rather unique “grille”. Will it be saved/turned into another Z/28 clone?
“Will it be saved/turned into another Z/28 clone?”
Man, I hope not!
I go to too many car shows that are littered with “Tribute” SS, Z, and COPO cars already.
I kinda like that beat up look, it has a “Deathproof” vibe to it. I’d probably build an unusual powerplant (like a supercharged Vortec 4200?) for it and leave the body as-is.
I’m thinking supercharged 3800 turned north-south. That would be sweet!
Among the cars available in the US in ’69, I’d say the Subaru 360 was more opposite to the Camaro than any VW. By ’69 VW was starting to focus on performance and speed, though it wasn’t really getting there yet.
Oh boy, that touches on a sore point with me! As a kid, I loved all things Chevy but it seems every one you see now is an SS this or a COPO that or whatever. Some car shows nowadays almost need a special section for cars that aren’t Red or Black Chevy Malibus, Impala SS or Camaros. Whatever happened to Chevrolet as the working man’s car? Biscayne, Biscayne, Biscayne!
Agreed. Another thing I have noticed is the need of so many to completely redesign the instrument panel with custom gauges. In most cases, it completely destroys the character of the car. It is not as though 1950s-60s dashes were dull and ugly to start with. And if you need more instruments, just go Mopar. 🙂
X2 on that one. I’m none too fond of whiteface overlays in the stock instruments either.
Back in Biscayne days if you talked up Yenko like they do now people would have told their kids to stay away from you.
When was the last time you saw a 250ci six powered Camaro at a show. I can answer that for you… never. And that’s sad. I for one would love to see a fully restored (or better yet, a well preserved original) six cylinder Camaro.
Here’s one featured at CC: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/car-show-classic/car-show-classic-1970-chevrolet-camaro-with-turbo-thrift-six-cylinder-power/
I’m guessing there’s others too; sixes are being appreciated more and more, if a bit late.
J. Metzinger,
I think the phenomenon you are talking about has 2 causes: 1.) folks restoring a car think that a red or black car is so HOT looking and besides it may make it easier to sell when they get tired of it, and 2.) most folks have very little imagination.
I’m not as big a Chevy guy as I am a Ford fan, but one 60s Chevy color I really like (admittedly never seen on a Camaro), is that Iris/light purple color seen on Impalas. And instead of red, how about maroon, folks? Instead of black, a dark green or blue?
Looking at that Camaros front fender, I’m trying to tell if it had a “displacement badge” or if it was a 6 cylinder. Blowing up the picture I see no holes for a badge next to the side marker light.
That Iris color you speak of is Evening Orchid, a 1965-only color. I quite like it myself.
IINM, that VW bus is a 1971 model. The difference between that and the 1970 version is very subtle: The rear wheel well became more flared and less “creased.”
That’s right, Andrew. Along with the wheel arch being more flared to accommodate wider wheels, they also added the flatter wheel covers. So, I too say 1971.
71 was 1st year for all those round holes in the wheels for brake cooling , and the last for the crescent moon engine cooling vents.
The Bus appears to be a ’71. Square side lamps were used after ’69 and the flat hubcaps are on disc brake models which started in ’71.
’71 = first year for discs, last year for the ‘upright’ engine.
My nominations:
Citroen 2CV
Mercedes-Benz 600
I like 69 Camaros, as my brother had one in the mid-70s, L-78 396, when they were just another used (and hammered on) car. My guess is a new car buyer in 1969 didn’t step up to a premium engine just to run to the store for another 6 pack. But I get tired of seeing them at car shows myself. As for “tribute” cars, probably more Z-28s now than was ever made. One of my favorite details was the AC logo on the tach and speedo..
Think I would prefer the van to the camaro and what Ed said is the icing on the cake.
I always wonder if the average musclecar price will drop once the boomers age out of the car hobby..the actual documented cars will remain well but will supply and demand do a number on the tribute cars? there are so many out there….
Probably not. The market for good pony- and muscle cars (especially the ones from the “Golden Age”, the late sixties) is much bigger than North America alone. Typically these are bought by the somewhat younger-than-boomers.
It’s all about the overall quality / condition of the car. Matching numbers, original engine etc. really aren’t that important. Right now they sell well in countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Germany, Switzerland and in Scandinavia.
I concur. There are Europeans born in the 70s and later (like me 🙂 who are very interested in 60s (+early 70s) American muscle/pony cars.
And yes, we do not care one bit if the car is “matching numbers”, 100% original etc. Who cares, as long as the car is mechanically in good shape and conveys the general feel of the era. If the original engine has been swapped for something more powerful, all the better! Or if the replacement engine is more reliable or you can get spare parts more easily/cheaply, also a bonus.
Right on. Like this rebuilt 440 (plus TF 727) that replaced the original 318 in a 1970 Dodge Challenger. The quality of the job and the passion are there, no (potential) buyer will ever say: “OMG, what have you guys done ?? Now it’s not original anymore !!”
On the contrary.
Johannes is right – they are worth good money out here in NZ and in Australia too, and always will be. One of these in reasonable condition with no rust is automatically worth $15-20K, regardless of matching numbers or originality. A “tribute” car that has been done even passably well will get considerably more. The cheapest pre 70 Camaro that I can see for sale locally is $43K
Better to turn that Camaro into a MadMax style Interceptor…
Or put an electrical drivetrain and go troll your local dragstrip.
Eh, I’d paint the Camaro black, throw on white Z/28 stripes and swap in a LS6(painted orange)/T56 setup. Hate away 😀
The popularity of both kind of baffles me to be honest, the 69 was never my favorite of the first gen Camaros, I felt the 67-68s in RS form were the best of the first gen and the early second gens blew them all away. Of all the 1969 muscle car era cars those Camaros just never did it for me compared to the other great cars that year, especially among Ponycars. The VW I just find ugly. I like the original design but this was one of those midcycle facelifts that ruined the original.
I’m with you on the first generation Camaros. I don’t dislike the ’69s, but I like the ’67-’68 styling better. Some call the ’67-’68 styling “plain”; I’d call it “clean”. The ’69s by comparison seem exaggerated, almost cartoonish.
Buy the Camaro then sell it to someone who will not ruin it.
Good luck finding someone that won’t…
Even if that Camaro is turned into a “tribute” car that is a better outcome than having it just rot away to nothing in somebody’s back yard. One of these Camaros would have been rescued and restored years ago here, they have always been valuable.
Great find! In ’69 these were both middle class vehicles, but they couldn’t be further apart in terms of the demographics they appealed to a few years later. If this picture were taken in the early 70’s I’d have been stunned to find them both in the same driveway.
I remember my first ‘ Bay Window ‘ (not split windshield) VW Typ II ~ the ball joints and real independent rear suspension completely changed how they drove .
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Adding the twin intake port engine in 1971 was nice too .
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-Nate