Hello,

Sorry for the type on the thread title, meant to say “advice” not advise. I cant seem to edit that header.

I am new to the forum and would love to get some feedback on a 69 Convertible that I purchased.


My 69 is extremely original and unrestored the car is a California and Arizona car and still has the original convertible top that is needing to be replaced due to age and condition. I am wanting to preserve the original condition of the car as much as possible and the car has always been kept in the garage with the top down and is still as such but, I do feel like replacing the top would be something that should be done. I am in the car pretty deep and if I were to replace the top and do some other minor preservation related and maintenance items I would be in the car for Mid 30s. I dont want to put more than what I could safely recoup out of it after I am done enjoying it as I intend to enjoy it for a while and then sell it or trade it for a classic.


Do you guys think it is okay to replace the top ? Or would I be better off from a collectibility standpoint/value standpoint to leave the original top intact (tears and crispy back window and all).


My 69 was purchased new in California and built at the Van Nuys plant front what I can tell. I have all of the original paper work and documentation from the time the order was placed and forward until today. The Original Hugger Orange paint still presents nicely. Black interior, 307 V8 car. Very very very few options. It appears to me that only the 4 speed and radio might have been the only options on the car. It had been a one owner/family car when I purchased it and I dont have any interest in modifying it or changing it. I view it as a time capsule/preservation type of car so I just want to enjoy it in its original configuration until I am ready to pass it on.


I cant seem to find much information to identify how many may have been made with this drive train, color combo, and option combo, I would be curious. I would think it was likely not too common for such a base/bare bones example to have Hugger Orange paint with the 4 speed manual. But I am not sure as this is my first dive into the Camaro world :-)


Thanks for your time and for the feedback I really appreciate it.

 

Welcome to the Club. You can find out what options were installed by going to Camaro Research Group and a picture of the Trim Tag, next to the brake master cylinder.
Unless you have Bill of Sale and/or POP (Protect-O-Plate), the warranty card issued at time of sale, this info will be helpful as the codes told the assembly line what options to install.

 

Thanks for you response Everett, I appreciate it. I do have the bill of sale and the POP so I will check them out and go to the website you provided, I appreciate it very much!!!!!

 

I don't think replacing the top will hurt a thing,ragtops are almost a wear item like tires.
I don't think you'd have any trouble getting your $35K investment back,at least up here in the PAC NW it would be a quick sell at that price.

 

You're welcome.Replacing the top would be fine, an accepted item.

 

Your are making a lot of claim about the cars originality, In most cases you would need to have that authenticated by a professional for it to add a lot of money to the value of the car. Is the build sheet still in the back seat? leave it there if it is. Keep in mind these cars where designed to last 5-8 years and while modern tops can last 10-20 years the ones the factory installed in the 60's rarely lasted over 10 years. The authenticators know things about how these cars where made that is not in most books but there is nothing that can not be faked. The mid 30's number seems top of the full retail price to me. Not long ago I saw a all original 69 RS/SS 4 speed, ragtop, small block sell at an auction for 45K. That was a Authenticated car, so that is about 40k in the owners pocket. Of course mileage is also a huge factor in a unrestored car.

GM did not record combination of option. So you can see how many SS's and RS's GM built but not how many RS/SS combined cars where built. You will find some people online gathering information and trying to calculate statistical estimates of option combination. The issue I have with this is many cars where altered long ago so people are unknowingly reporting options as original that where not original,

As for option combos there is no limit to those by 69 the salesman handed you a sheet of paper you picked check boxes of what you wanted so options ordered was as diverse as the people buying them.

 

Thank you guys for the replies. I appreciate it. Sounds good in regards to replacing that top. I look forward to getting that done. Do you guys have any suggestions as to what parts companies are the best or most accurate when it comes to trying to maintain originality etc?

Thanks,

Steve

 

Hello Gorn,
THanks for your detailed and comprehensive reply. I understand what you are saying. Are you aware of an authentication export in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area? I would love to have it authenticated. I have not removed the back seat but I am happy to do that and check for a build sheet. I only know that from what I can tell it has never been repainted and I have claimed all over and under the car inspecting it. I have all of the original documentation for the most part from the original owner, and then from his son when he passed it down to him in the mid 2000’s when the original owner stopped driving it. The top in its current state is not very useful as the back window is completely yellowed/brown with age and very brittle and there are small tears in the top in various places etc.