1968 Chevrolet Sunoco Camaro Racer Sells For $990,000
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We previously highlighted one of the many incredible machines that were headed to RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction being this 1986 Chevrolet Camaro.
Not just any 1968 Camaro, though, a race-prepped and engineered Sunoco livery Camaro. The pony car was done up with a 302 cubic-inch Traco-Chevrolet V8 engine with dual four-barrel Cross-Ram intake manifold, good for 420 hp. Power is sent through a four-speed Rockcrusher manual gearbox, and racing suspension buts round out the 1968 Camaro’s pedigree.
If you wanted it, it’s too late, however. The 1986 Chevrolet Sunoco Camaro moved at RM Sotheby’s for a cool $990,000. Initial estimates pegged the Sunoco Camaro to sell between $900,000 and $1.2 million, so it certainly landed within the ballpark.
Now, the owner gets to enjoy seat time where Mark Donohue and Sam Posey spent countless hours wheeling the 1968 Camaro to numerous wins and podium finishes in the U.S. and Europe.
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Ok. Impressive car. Two impressive drivers. Cross-Ram intake very rare. Can someone explain to me why this ride is worth a million dollars? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a hardcore GM guy. I have a rare Vette, but that’s another story. The person who bought this must have his/her insurance company having many sleepless nights. C’mon, a million bucks? This nice ride will probably sit for eternity in a barn. Hence the term “barn find.” I am serious though, can someone explain why it’s so rare? If it’s because of the Cross-Ram manifold, that’s one hell of a price for an intake manifold. Please educate me.
Rob the car is considered one of the best Trans Am racers of all time in the golden age of SCCA racing. It also is one of the most famous racing Camaro’s of all time.
When you mix the options, The owner Roger Penske, the Driver Indy Winner, Can Am Champ and Trans Am Champ Mark Donahue this gives the car a heritage of people that are seen as some of the best in racing history.
Then you add to that the back door support by Vince Piggins as Chevy was not involved in racing and that story is also a big part here.
The Penske Unfair Advantage was born in these Camaros and they hold many tricks that were only rivaled by Smokey Yunick.
You take this and mix it all up it presents a car that many Chevy Collectors and racing collectors in general would pay a sweet price for. To be honest it was a little lower than I expected.
If this had been the championship car from 1969 I would easily have passed the million dollar mark.
I would have to say this car would have been the lowest priced of the Penske cars as the 67 being the first would garner more and both 69 cars I suspect would garner even more even the #9 car.
I know you may not understand or appreciate the history here but many people do and it drives the price.
The other cars from Trans Am that would also do well are the Bud Moore Mustangs. They too are the pinnacle of the Mustang racing over the years.
The key to this is they were cars that were line build and stock that become race cars unlike later cars in Trans Am or even NASCAR today that are no where stock any where.
One other factor is how much of the original car is left too. Some most of them have been replaced but if only the body was replaced or part of the body with the pan, suspension and many other features still in place it can add to value. These cars have been copied many times with race and street versions. One guy built one with a slot car track in side it for his home
racing heritage, fully restored to its racing days, thats my guess