All About The 1969 Camaro
Dealer Introduction Date: 09/26/1968
By 1969, the Camaro was extremely popular. Sales had steadily increased during the first years of the Camaro and set a new all-time high, thanks to its long production run (from September 1968 through February 1970). The 1969 was given an updated look that was meaner than the grace****ful 1967-1968 models. It had a more aggressive grille, slightly squarer body panels, and squared-off rear wheel openings. Out back, new multi-sectioned rear taillights were used. Up front, partially see-through headlight covers were used with the Rally Sport grille package (previous RS headlight covers were solid panels).
For the first time, the general public could order RPO Z11, which delivered the special Indy 500 exterior package (fitted to a total of 3,675 cars).
Engine options were at an all-time high with the 1969 Camaro, as 14 different power plants were available. A traditional array of potent small- and big-block V8's were optional, but un****der a special ordering procedure, a 1969 Camaro could be fitted with 2 different killer 427 V8's. Central Office Production Order (COPO) No. 9560 netted the ZL1 option that delivered an aluminum-block, aluminum-head 427 V8 that was an all-out race engine. A total of 69 ZL1's were produced, which makes them prime collectibles. In the same vein, ordering COPO 9561 netted an RPO L72 425hp, iron-block 427 V8 originally fit****ted to a '66 Corvette.
Suspension offerings in 1969 weren't that much different from those in 1967-1968, but there was a special RPO JL8 option that netted factory-installed, power 4-wheel disc brakes. The JL8 option wasn't very well known and was an expensive upgrade ($500.30). As a result, a total of only 206 were actually built.
Inside, the Camaro was similar to the 1967-1968 offerings but featured a new dash fitted with square-shaped instruments. Although a manual transmission was popular, the 1967-1968 shifter linkage was extremely vague. Thus, in 1969, manual-trans Camaro's were fitted with positive-shifting linkage from Hurst.
New muscular-looking sheet metal.
Improved theft-deterrent steering column.
Chevy built 211,922 Camaro's at Norwood in 1969, plus an additional 31,163 more in Van Nuys for a grand total of 243,085 Camaro's produced.
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1969 Camaro Model Year Facts
The 1969 Camaro model year now had deep recessed grille and scalloped rear-wheel openings with simulated brake vent louvers.
1969 was the first Camaro model year that a factory cowl-induction hood could be ordered. (SS & Z/28)
Flattened wheel wells that give a more aggressive stance.
The grill has sharper angles than years previous.
Optional Rally Sport models had vacuum-operated headlight covers with three see-through slots which permitted limited lighting even with headlight doors closed and lights on.
The 1969 was the first to feature variable-ratio steering. As the steering was turned, wheels turned proportionally more as they approached lock.
The optional console and console-mounted instruments carried over from 1968, but 1969's main instrument panel was new. Two squared main pods flanked a smaller center pod. In base form, the speedometer was to the left, the fuel gauge to the right, the optional clock in the center. With RPO U17, fuel, battery, temperature, and oil gauges were on the console, the tachometer was in the right main pod. If just a tach was ordered, a clock wasn't available because the fuel gauge moved to the center pod.
Four-wheel disc brakes (RPO JL8) were legitimate 1969 factory options, available with all models. These used a four-piston caliper design similar (but not identical) to the Corvette, and differed completely from the single piston, floating caliper design used in the disc/drum (RPO J52) package.
1969 was the first Camaro model year for two-tone paint availability.
Cowl-induction hoods with rear-facing cold air inlets were installed on all 427ci COPO models, on the Z10 and Zll pace cars, and could be ordered for any SS or Z28. A fiberglass version was also sold over the counter for use with the dual-four barrel crossram setup, or (with an adaptor) with the single four-barrel engines.
An RPO Z10 pace car coupe was available briefly in a limited geographi****cal area. Appearance was similar to the Zll convertible, but coupe interiors varied. Build quantity is currently uncertain.
Camaro paced the 1969 Indianapolis 500 race. Chevrolet sold 3,675 replicas of the pace car as RPO Z11. These were SS Rally Sport convert****ibles with code 50 Dover White exteriors, orange houndstooth cloth seats, custom interiors, orange striping, white body sills and rear panels, Rally Wheels, bright exhaust tips, and cowl induction hoods. Other options weren't mandatory, but to match the actual pace cars, the following were needed: A01, A39, A85,C06, D55,D80,G80,M40, N34, N40, Ul 7,and U63.
While the 1969 hood, roof, and deck did not change appearance, the body lines were significantly modified at the nose, fenders, quarters, and tailpan, giving the Camaro a more streamlined look. A molded body streak extended from the rear of each wheel opening, adding to the effect.
The ignition switch moved from the dash to the steering column.
The interior simulated woodgrain pattern was changed from walnut (68) to rosewood (69).
The dash was redesigned.
A rear quarter panels side "louver" impression was included in the sheetmetal in front of the rear wheels (this impression was overlayed with chrome trim as part of the Z21 option).
A body-colored soft front bumper option was added.
The angle of the standard grille, always taken to a center point, was increased to make it more "pointy," and the size of the grille openings was increased. The RallySport grille was redesigned.
Tail light bezels were changed to a triple-lens styling.
This year continued the exact same "turbine" style Rally Wheel center caps.
New muscular-looking sheet metal.
Improved theft-deterrent steering column.
Production for 1969 Camaro's started September 26, 1968 and ended February 26,1970. Total build of 243,085 made this the highest volume model of the first Camaro generation (1967-1969).
Headlight washers were unique to 1969 models. Included with Rally Sports, the washers could be ordered separately as RPO CE1.
Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmissions (3-speed) were available in any 1969 Camaro except the Z28 (which was manual only). Availability in previous Camaro models was more restricted.
The 1969 was the 1st year to feature variable-ratio steering. As the steering was turned, wheels turned proportionally more as they approached lock.
1969 Camaro dealer order guides did not list 427ci engines, but COPO (Central Office Production Order) Camaro's were factory-built. These included sixty-nine COPO 9560 ($4,160 retail) units with aluminum block "ZL1" 427ci engines, fifty going to Chevrolet dealer-racer Fred Gibb, nineteen to other dealers. Chevrolet developed special graphics and trimmed at least two prototypes, but ZL1's sold to the public carried no special exterior identification. COPO 9561 had iron-block 427ci engines. Racer Don Yenko received 201 units and sold most through his Chevrolet dealership with Yenko graphics. Additional iron-block 427ci Camaro's were factory-built, but the quantity is uncertain. Also, non-factory 427ci engine swaps by dealers and others were common.
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