The first-generation Chevrolet Camaro was a bit of a late entrant to the pony car market, arriving in dealerships nearly three years after the Ford Mustang and Plymouth Barracuda. It was first introduced for the 1967 model year. However, that didn’t stop lovers of performance cars from choosing it.
The Camaro was an immediate smash, selling nearly 221,000 units in its first year of availability because to its attractive appearance and strong V8 engines. In 1968, sales rose to almost 235,000 copies, and in 1969, they reached 243,000 units once more. Nearly 700,000 units had been sold under the moniker by the time it was discontinued for the 1970 model year.
Come 2023 and this figure prevents the first-gen Camaro from being a rare classic as a whole, but certain models are harder to find. The COPO twins are the most desirable due to their low production numbers. The L72-powered COPO 9561, also known as the COPO 427, was built in around 1,000 units. The COPO 9560, which left the factory with an all-aluminum V8 called the ZL-1, is the ultimate gem at just 69 examples.
In contrast, the SS and Z28 models from that era are regarded as unremarkable (apart from the 1967 Z28), yet some of them also turn into uncommon classics when we limit the production runs to specific features, engines, and even factory colors. For example, Tuxedo Black is an uncommon finish for the 1969 model year. This is due to the fact that only 0.6% of all Camaros manufactured in that year were ordered in this color. That is less than 1,500 automobiles. Champagne is in the same category.
Rallye Green is yet another rare finish. Granted, not as rare as black at about 4.9% percent of total production, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one in this certain color. You’d likely have more luck finding 1969 Camaros in Frost Green and Fathom Green, both of which were notably more popular back in the day. And that’s exactly why seeing a Rallye Green 1969 convertible coming out of long-term storage is a big deal in my book.
The drop-top you see spent almost four decades in a storage unit somewhere in Billings, Montana. There’s no specific info as to why it was parked, but it was still with the owner who retired it from public roads when it saw daylight for the first time since 1985. That’s a whopping 38 years in hiding but the license plate suggests the pony has been sitting since 1979. It might have been stored somewhere else until 1985, but that’s 44 years without a sip of gasoline.
But the Camaro is in surprisingly good condition given the amount of time it spent off the road. Sure, the soft-top has a hole in it, the fenders are no longer straight, and some parts are crammed in the trunk, but it’s not a rust bucket, which many cars like these end up being after decades in barns. And don’t mind the white hood covering the engine, this Camaro comes with the original SS-style lid with four square vents on each side.
The paint has seen better days, but it’s still there and I bet it will come back to life with proper polishing. The black “hockey stick” stripes adorning the front fenders and doors, which makes this SS ever rare, have survived as well. To top it all off, the car comes with all the original paperwork, yet another rare feat for late 1960s classics.
However, is this Camaro a real SS? Of course! The camera doesn’t get close enough to clearly display the front fender insignia, and our host doesn’t divulge any information about what’s under the hood. Engine choices are limited to the 350- and 396-cubic-inch (5.7- and 6.5-liter) V8s as it’s evidently not a COPO. The latter produced 325 to 375 horsepower depending on the engine code, whereas the former had 300 horsepower available.
I’m pretty sure this SS is more likely fitted with a 350 than a range-topping 396 V8, but it’s still a cool find. And the fact that it was rescued to be revived after all these years is great news.