The Supercar Registry - Hotrodpaul's (Paul Jezek) Hot 1969 SS L78 Camaro

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Hotrodpaul's (Paul Jezek) Hot 1969 SS L78 Camaro

1969 Camaro SS L-78

By: Paul Jezek

My journey with the 69 Camaro all started in the summer of 2004 when in Louisville on business I attended a local car show across from the Hotel where I was staying. After seeing a really nice 1970 SS 454 Chevelle, my juices started flowing to own another Chevrolet muscle car. Since the sale of my 66 Chevy II L-79 car in 1994, I had wanted another nice original example to restore and show. After returning from my trip, I discussed this with my wife and we agreed that I should start looking. For retaining value, I thought the best car would be a First Generation Big Block Camaro, you know, big engine in the smallest car. So I set out on a quest to find the “one” and purchased reference books and materials so that I would know what I was looking at (Or so I thought).

Anyway, I found a 68 L-89 Camaro, rally green in Florida in September 2004, flew out and looked at the car, then realized it was a restamped clone in so-so shape, and passed on it. As luck would have it, I had also inquired about a blue 69 SS in Georgia at about the same time of which the broker called me the next week. We set up a time and I flew out a week later to see the car. After looking the car over, I was astounded at the condition of the car, no rust, perfect interior with 120,000 miles, cobwebs underneath with P-O-P, numbers matching M21 tranny and 4.10 rear axle, dry rotted tires, and so on. I had never seen a first gen Camaro without some form of rust somewhere. The engine sounded good and was a correct CE warranty replacement block with smog system, original carb, manifolds, etc. After thinking about the car for several milliseconds, I gave an offer and struck a deal. Due to the Hurricanes passing through Florida and Georgia, I had to wait several weeks for the car to arrive back in Houston.

After driving and then disassembling the car, I noticed that the bearings and seals had little or no wear. This put me on a mission to contact the previous owners to find out more info on the car. I located the second owner who then gave me a lead to the original owners son. After finally reaching the original owner, he gave me the skinny on the car.

Low and behold, the car had 20,000 miles and original paint. He had purchased the car in St Louis at Francis Chevrolet after his 68 Camaro L-78 was stolen. He proceeded to street and drag race the car until the original engine sucked a valve in the early 70’s. The engine was yanked and discarded (Ouch ) and the car parked with 10,000 miles on the clock. His family moved from St. Louis to Atlanta in 1975 and took the car with them on the trailer. The original owners son and brother can be seen standing next to the car. Notice the large slicks and plain XT front rims and lack of spoilers.

After arriving in Atlanta, he sold the car to a friend at work for $800 less the engine who proceeded to drop a small block in the car and drove it for about a year. At the 12,000 mile mark, the second owner sold the car a year later to a young guy who drove the car very little, added the spoilers, then parked it in his basement. The car sat for about 17-18 years until it was brought out for a driveline restoration. A correct 4 bolt CE L-78 engine was located and installed, then the car was sold to a local Atlanta mechanic in the mid/late 90’s with 18,000 miles on the odometer.

Eventually, the car was put up for sale by a local Atlanta broker where I saw it on the internet, and the rest is history. After I took delivery, I drove the car for a few days then began the disassembly process. The fuel tank, rear axle and suspension was removed and cleaned/repainted, new seals and bearings installed, etc. The original 4.10 ring gear and posi unit is still intact. I also replaced the 2nd and 3rd gears in the Muncie M21 with original GM gears due to the drag racing power shifts earlier in its life. The underbody was also cleaned but not repainted. I wanted to leave the original paint where possible.

After the back half was done, I yanked the front half and blasted/painted the subframe, cleaned the suspension components, and installed NOS YM code front springs, correct for the Aluminum headed L-89 engine. The original front shocks were also restored and still work The CE replacement engine dated August of 69 was rebuilt with correct L-78 components, 11.1 forged pistons, NOS solid cam, and a set of low mile takeoff L-89 Aluminum 842 heads dated March and May of 1969. I decided to use the heads to lighten the front end by 60-70 pounds and they really look nice on the car. The original Harrison radiator was cleaned and repainted.

As far as the exterior, nothing has been done since I bought the car. The paint is 80% original as are the stripes. Some touch up work was done to the drivers side quarter and lower door due to a parking lot scrape. A matching set of XT wheels was located and were painted with the correct code 71 Lemans Blue Lacquer. They give the car that sinister look. Interior is all original and untouched. All panels are rust free. The original owner has seen the car and said except for the spoilers, it looks like the day he bought it.

Overall, I think I was very lucky to find this car. It really happened by accident.

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