1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

I bought my car just after I turned 18 in October 1980. I was looking for a 69-72 Chevelle SS but came across this one in the local newspaper.
I went to look at it and it was sitting beside a garage and needed some work. The son who owned in was in Florida and his parents got the okay to sell it on his behalf. They really wanted it out of their yard. The son was in the Air Force and brought the car back from Grand Forks, ND where he was stationed. He worked on it for awhile and then left for a job in Florida.The car was pretty complete with original paint but he had pulled the original 4 speed out and had put in a TH350. There were a bunch of parts in the trunk too. It had very little rust in the lower front fenders but the rest was rust free. After going to see it, I made a deal for $1100 which is what they were asking. Gave them $100 to hold it because they said the phone was ringing off the hook and people wanted to come see it. The next day, I convinced my Dad to cosign a loan for me for the remaining $1000 and I bought the car. Had a buddy come with me to put air in the tires and try to get it running so I could drive it home. Never told my dad that it didnt run, so I was hoping we could get this thing going! Ended up needing tranny fluid (trans leaked bad) and a tuneup and points adjusted. Fired that thing up and drove it home. So over the first 2 years I owned it I decided to freshen up the paint. In 1981-82, I bought 2 new GM front fenders at $92 a piece and all the chrome and emblems and I repainted it and changed the strip color to white. Had to fix the headlights with new actuators and a hinge, but everything finally worked. I decided back then to keep it all stock and looking back I threw away 3 of the remaining original 14x7 steel wheels because I didn't know what they were doing with the car. Little did I know. I put a set of N66 SS wheels on it and drove it only in the summers until 1987 when I bought my 1987 Monte Carlo SS new (still have it). Over the years I moved this car with me, from storage to storage. After driving it those 5 years and being outside during summers, the paint was starting to fade. Ended up getting married, kids and the old Camaro just sat in my garage. I had offers to sell and one day I agreed to sell it for $4500 back in about 1998. The guy came over and looked at it and really wanted it. So here I am really doing something I never thought I would do, sell this car. My very first car. So the guy comes back and says he has a great idea, he wants to trade me his snowmobile and cash. I say no way and I end up not selling it. This was enough to get me motivated to fix this car up and bring it back to new. I ended up putting it on a rotisserie and taking it all apart. I had aquired all the parts over the years and with eBay starting up was able to find pretty much everything I needed. I finally completed it in 2004. I also found out how valuable those steel rims are. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/blush.gif[/img] This car is an LOS built 11A of 68 car.
So during the resto, I pulled the tank and luckily the build sheet was on the tank still. I knew what I had but this totally verified it.
I asked Kurt S why my wheels on the sheet said IF, as I thought they would be XT. Ended up IF wheels were used at LOS plant. Never knew this. I guess I have learned alot about these cars over the past 35 years. Some through the Camaro Club mags and Super Chevy. I wish I knew in 1980 about the build sheet on the tank. Im sure it was in better shape than when I found it in 2001.
My car isnt really a Super Car. Its a 350 RS/SS, 4 speed with 727 White Interior with no power steering.


Here it is in 1980 with early 70's Camaro rallys. Had a broken grille and hideaways didnt work. Just after I brought her home!!
Notice original stripe is black.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...camaro_001.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...icture_031.jpg

In about 1983 or 1984 after I did an amateur resto - Notice N66 SS wheels and changed stripe to white. I just thought the white stripe looked better with white interior. Mis matched tires - Hey, I was on a budget!!
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...5_55_paint.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...9_camaro_3.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...9_camaro_2.jpg

On Rotisserie about 1999-2001
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...30-69rotis.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...29-azure13.jpg

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

After getting off the rotisserie in 2004 and finally on the road for the first time since 1987.
Stripe color back to origina; and with Ralley wheels plus matching tires.
I think this was the first time I ever had matching tires on this car.
Also added the front and rear bumpers to it.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...2-img_2060.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...3-img_2065.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...4-img_2068.jpg

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Yesterday I had it out. I finally got around to putting the IF wheels on it. I wasnt sure if I liked this idea, but it is what was on it originally. My car had a Rydell Chevrolet Grand Fork, ND emblem on it when I bought it. I always just figured the car was from there. I also had some paperwork from the guy who owned it before the guy I bought it off. Not sure what he paid total but the loan he got in 1976 was for $1800. That was the end of my paper trail. The car was so clean and not rusty I had a feeling it may have come form the West coast. It wasnt until 2014 when I sent in my $50 to NCRS that I found it came from Hallman Chevrolet in Reno Nevada.

Just checking it out without hub caps

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...5-img_1712.jpg

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

With Caps on. I think this car reminds me alot of Steve Sandlins RS COPO that is Azure Turquoise
Not a common color that you see. Im starting to take a liking to this setup [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...6-img_1715.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...7-img_1714.jpg
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...8-img_1716.jpg

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

After finding out I have a Hallman Chevrolet car, I found a pair of these on ebay.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...9-img_1707.jpg

And a Hallman emblem which I plan on putting back on the car:
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...hev_emblem.jpg

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

I also found this newspaper ad that ran about the time my car was on the lot at Hallman Chevrolet.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...an_chev_ad.jpg

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Great story. Love the colour too! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Now that's a cool story, keeping it was a great thing to do. Having it restored with the steel wheels and caps really look good. Love the white interior with Turquoise to. Steve. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Nice ride Jonesy. Just love that color. You got a keeper there. Thanks for sharing - love the story!!!

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Love the steel wheels and caps changes the car totally for me! Very nice

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Really great looking car. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Love the color combo, the stock wheel/dog dish is the way to go, looks great. I wish I had my first '69 Camaro from 1980 when I was 18 also, wrapped that one around a tree.

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Awesome, great, rare color. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img] It's sure a super car to me.

Mike

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Looks great with the hub caps!

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Such a great story Mike also your car turned out totally awesome!!!
I love the Steelies best, especially that bare road-racer look!
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Now that is a ride to be proud of!! TAZ

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Very cool, thanks for sharing!!!

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

A beauty for sure. Az blue is such a nice color, it's a wonder you don't see more of them/that they didn't make more of them.

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Love the story and have always loved that color. Nice ride Mike! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Very nice! Wonderful color combination and looks clean with the hub caps and steel wheels.

Remember - the NCRS paperwork shows where the car was ordered to, NOT who originally sold the car. It is conceivable that it was a dealer swap?

Congrats nonetheless.

Dan

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Thanks for all the kind words!! Grand Forks had an Air Force Base (still does, I think) back then. That's probably how my car got there. Its possible a soldier brought it from out West to Grand Forks?? I was pretty surprised that the floors, trunk, frame rails, drop offs were not rusty at all. It got more rust from sitting after I had than anything else. So I had this feeling it was from out west. I guess my paper trail died at about 1976 and I cant get ahold of that guy at all.
Actually my paperwork said it was Reno, Nebraska. There is no Reno Nebraska (I did check):).
I never got to meet the guy I bought it from, but I did find him and his phone number. I called him last year and his wife answered. She was so rude and basically told me not to call back. I found the other guy he bought it from on Facebook and have left messages for him but no answers. Kind of disappointed and left a bad taste in my mouth. I thought the guy would be excited to hear about his old car, but the lady was very defensive and short. Oh well. I also thought about mailing him pictures and a letter asking him if wanted to call me he could.

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Sweet!!!

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Grand Forks still has their Air Base, but the mission has changed from bombers to drones. The population has been reduced from about 8,000 to about 3,000 currently.

A lot of muscle cars came and went because of the airmen assigned to the GFAFB.

Rydell Chevrolet was, and is, a high performance dealer. They were not part of the Yenko network, but they sold a lot of special high performance Chevrolet muscle cars. The owner today has a &quot;toy shop&quot; and they build high dollar street rods on the dealership site. They have many dealerships around the country and the one in Waterloo, IA was, or is, owned by his younger brother.

The owner has been part of several NHRA drag teams and the have won the Spring Nationals around 1970 and they won the Indy Nationals in the early 90s.

One of the neat cars that I remember was a good friend and customer of the current owner ordered a 68 Corvette bronze 427/390 hp vette. Shortly after delivery they dropped in a blue printed L-88 and they went NHRA drag racing in the old A/Sports class. They were in the NHRA finals at Brainerd where they lost to Warren Johnson in his 38 Chevrolet A/MP coupe. The same owner of the vette had ordered a 66 SS396 Chevelle and they dropped in a 427/425 engine shortly after taking delivery of it and went racing.

They moved to the current site in 1965 and they recently built a new building on the same site. I checked with them back in the early 80s and the old records have been discarded.

You have a very nice 69 and I hope you can figure out the puzzle. One nice thing is that back at that time North Dakota did not use salt on their roads.

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

My first '69 Camaro was Azure Turquoise /Black vinyl/Black std. I was 17 making car payments as a Junior in private high school. All my buddies were sons of doctors, lawyers, business owners; my Dad was a car man.
Very rare color, and YES, your car is beautiful.

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

great car and one of my favorite colors

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Great car and story, congratulations...

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: camaromb</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Love the color combo, the stock wheel/dog dish is the way to go, looks great. I wish I had my first '69 Camaro from 1980 when I was 18 also, wrapped that one around a tree. </div></div>

This one Mark?

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

What a shot...Must have been one of those 500's that let loose eh?


BIG

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

I saw the 500's and wondered the exact same thing too.
Super cool car @ 18, other than broken heart I hope everyone was Ok!
Was it already For Sale or just sign added after accident?
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Where's the license plate? Looks like a sprinkler going off underneath as well!

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

I had just bought the Camaro 9 days earlier, I was on my way back to my friend's house in a 30 mph zone. Last thing I remember was the rain drops coming over the hood. Somehow the car took a left turn off the road, hit the first tree going sideways into the right rear wheel, rotated around that tree and went forward over the driveway lamp and into the final tree. I was ejected out the passenger window hitting the first tree, broke my back and jaw. Years later I was looking at a Shelby GT350 on the same street, mentioned the accident and they gave me a series of pictures they had taken of the scene. My example of not doing something stupid and almost getting killed. Hard to express to young kids how quickly a car can get in trouble, or us old kids for that matter.

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

just to clarify, you were IN a 30 MPH zone, not GOING 30 ...

Re: 1969 Camaro RS/SS Azure Turquoise
 

Looks great! I love the hubcaps too. Much better than the rallys.

Hi,

I'm dealing on a Hallman car at the moment and am interested in having an emblem custom made. Would it be possible to have you send a good straight-on photo of your emblem and plate frame? Still have you car?

Thanks,
Bill Neumiller
[email protected]
312-875-3825

Bill, yes I still have my car. I may also have an extra emblem and plate frame.
I am in the process of moving and my garage is almost ready to move into. Then I can sort throw all my stuff and see.

That's great news! Sorry I haven't checked back until now. I did not get a notice that you replied. Please email me when you run across something. I imagine you made the move by now. Email is [email protected]. I live in the Twin Cites. Thanks, Bill.

Bill Im sure I have that extra emblem. I think it may be in the trunk of my car, same with the plate frame. I made the move already and have my new garage up and functional.
I will email you.

Love that color!
I got one in the works right now.

'

Another Herb Hallman emblem on eBoy...
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Herb-Hallman...EAAOSw7FBgSZ14
:beers:
~ Pete

.

Here is my old 69 L89 that is a twin to Steve Sandlins RS COPO. This was an early built Oct 68, & yes the front fender hockey stick stripe should have been extended down on the lower fender extension.