1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS 350 V8, Rally Sport Package, Black on Black Why This Car Is Special The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro is widely regarded as the high point of the first-generation F-body design. Chevrolet stretched the production run of the 1969 model year well into calendar year 1969 ultimately building just over 243,000 coupes because the replacement second-generation car was delayed. That extended run made the 1969 Camaro the best-selling first-gen model year by a significant margin, and it also meant Chevrolet had more time to sort the car. The result was a slightly wider, lower, and more refined version of the original 1967 design, with a more aggressive front fascia and a body that has aged exceptionally well. The Rally Sport package, RPO Z22, was a pure appearance option in 1969. It did not add horsepower or suspension upgrades what it added was presence. The signature feature of the RS was its vacuum-operated hidden headlight system, which replaced the standard exposed round headlights with a split front valance and motorized doors that concealed the headlights behind a body-colored panel when not in use. It gave the 1969 Camaro RS a clean, almost European front end compared to its contemporaries. The RS also included specific taillights, RS badging, chrome accents, and a blacked-out grille surround. Buyers who wanted the performance of the SS with the looks of the RS could combine both packages but the RS alone on a 350-powered car was a legitimate and popular configuration, chosen by tens of thousands of buyers. The VIN on this car decodes to a Norwood, Ohio assembly plant build, which is consistent with the 'N' plant code in the sequence. Norwood was one of two primary Camaro assembly plants in 1969, alongside Van Nuys, California. The body style code confirms this is a sport coupe, and the engine position in the VIN is consistent with a V8-equipped car built in the 1969 model year. This particular 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS presents in black over black, which is about as purposeful a color combination as you can put on this body style. It has been upgraded thoughtfully performance improvements where they make sense, appearance details kept consistent with the RS theme. Features List - 350 cubic inch V8 engine - 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission - Front power disc brakes - Rally Sport (RS) package - RS hidden headlights vacuum operated and fully functional - RS badged steering wheel - Dual exhaust with headers - Chrome valve covers - Aftermarket open-element air cleaner - Center console with horseshoe shifter - Black vinyl interior - Chrome front bumper - Clean undercarriage Mechanical The 350 cubic inch small block V8 is one of the most proven engines in American automotive history, and it fits this car correctly the 350 was a standard V8 offering in the 1969 Camaro lineup and is right at home under this hood. The engine bay on this car has been dressed up without going overboard. Chrome valve covers and an aftermarket air cleaner give it a clean, finished look that photographs well and holds up to closer inspection in person. The factory carburetor has been replaced with an aftermarket unit sitting under that open-element air cleaner, and the exhaust starts with headers before feeding into a dual exhaust system out the back. Headers on a small block 350 are a straightforward and effective modification they improve exhaust scavenging, reduce backpressure, and give the engine a more immediate throttle response compared to the cast iron factory manifolds. The dual exhaust system running to the rear exits cleanly, as visible in the undercarriage photos. The transmission is a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive, which is a swap from whatever automatic the car would have left the factory with. The 700R4 is a well-understood swap for first-gen Camaros. Its primary practical benefit is the overdrive fourth gear, which drops engine rpm significantly at highway speeds
