When a rare Olympic Gold 1969 Camaro Z28 RS was listed this week by Nickey Chicago we realized it was one of the first purely original Z28 RS’s we’d seen so far this year. (Follow this link to see more photos and information.) With the 2016 spring sales season upon us it is about time that these highly sought after hidden headlight Z28’s come out to play. (Click here to view the Cars On Line Camaro Section with hundreds of Camaro listings.)
This hard-to-find Olympic Gold 1969 Camaro Z28 came with an M-21 4-speed and 3.73 posi 12-bolt rearend, which Nickey Chicago points out are all original drivetrain pieces. They say the VIN is correct and it has date code parts. Most important to a collector is the fact that this car has all original body panels, including quarters, floors, trunk pan doors except for passenger fender (GM) and the cowl hood (GM). (It had a flat hood, now has all NOS cowl induction system including hood.) They say the interior is very original; comes with full working tach and gauges. This Camaro is a late ’69 build with 6665xx VIN. You will note that it has correct original YH Rallys with bias ply tires.
The Olympic Gold paint is original per the trim tag. Nickey Chicago tells us that recent upgrades include: recored original Harrison radiator, replaced water pump with correct dated replacement, and installed a new Gardener chambered exhaust. ”Drives and shows very well!” they say.
Nickey Chicago told us this Olympic Gold 1969 Camaro Z28 RS has been certified and inspected by Jerry McNeish of Camaro Hi Performance. A restoration album is available to be inspected.
The Z28 option was created by Chevrolet so it could compete against the Mustangs in SCCA Trans Am road racing where the Manufacturers Championship was a coveted award. All first-generation Z28’s were coupes with a 302 ci/290 hp V8 engine (to keep within the 305 ci maximum for the Trans Am series), a 4-speed manual Muncie transmission, Hurst shifter standard, front disc brakes and 12-bolt rear axle. The 302 featured 11:1 compressions, forged pistons, and forged steel crank and connecting rods. It should be noted here however that the solid-lifter 302 with an 850 cfm 4-barrel was available only on the Z28. Dynomometer tests at close to 400 hp made a joke of its 290 hp factory rating. To the driver the handling was quick and precision cut, yet maintained that raw road feel. The 4-barrel Z28 could run the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds at 101 miles per hour.
The Rally Sport (RS) option (also known as RPO Z22) was an appearance package. Some say the Z28 RS is such a powerful combination appearance wise, it makes it one of the top ten muscle cars of all time. Our site statistics would prove that right. The RS package included special black painted grille with concealed headlights and headlight washers, revised taillights with back-up lights under the rear bumper, RS emblems, simulated rear fender louvers and exterior brightwork.
The Camaro Z28’s won the SCCA Trans Am series in both 1968 and 1969 giving the manufacturers trophy to Chevrolet.
The post Rare Olympic Gold 1969 Camaro Z28 RS at Nickey Chicago appeared first on blog cars on line.