A 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 sold for a jaw-dropping sum of $1,094,500 at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale last weekend. While this was a record-breaking sum for a Camaro ZL-1 at auction, it wasn’t so surprising to see the car fetch seven figures, as an original ZL-1 is one of the most sought-after Chevrolet vehicles ever built. What’s really interesting about this sale, in our opinion, is the circumstances surrounding it.
According to Hagerty, this exact Hugger Orange 1969 Camaro ZL-1 was auctioned off back in 2017 and sold for just $770,000. It also traded hands once more between 2017 and 2020, selling for a similar amount. What caused such a significant jump in value in such a short time, you may ask? As Hagerty marketplace expert Colin Comer explained, the car was previously fitted with a non numbers-matching ZL-1 V8 engine. The owner that decided to sell the vehicle this time managed to track down the original ZL-1 engine and installed it back in the car, transforming it from just another rare classic into an irreplaceable piece of General Motors history.
“The location of this block had been known for some time,” Comer explained. “Rumor states it was replaced under warranty when the car was nearly new and had been owned by a former GM warranty administrator since that time. It supposedly had powered a ski boat and had also held other less glamorous positions since 1971 or so.”
Comer also said that “no previous owners cared to cough up the reported $100,000 it took to purchase (the numbers matching engine) from this former GM employee that it ‘followed home’ decades ago.” The most recent owner decided it was worth it to return the car to its original state, however, and pulled the trigger.
This car, which is Camaro ZL-1 #59, is also extremely desirable due to its various factory features, such as its bright Hugger Orange exterior and four-speed manual transmission. It is also the only ZL-1 to ever leave the factory with the optional NC8 chambered exhaust fitted to it.
“When a car has the right options—in this case color, chambered exhaust, and four-speed—and is in exceptional condition with known provenance and factory documentation, a world record result can result,” Comer also said.
The 1969 Camaro ZL-1 holds a place among muscle car royalty thanks to its all-aluminum V8 engine – which was only available with the car when ordered via GM’s secretive Central Office Production Order system. The V8 was originally developed by GM’s racing division and was used by McLaren in its Can-Am cars and also sold to drag racers. A total of 69 Camaros left the assembly line with this ZL-1 engine under the hood.
A little more information and some more photos of this record-setting 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 are available via Barrett-Jackson’s website.
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Source: Hagerty
Comments
I witnessed this sale. Just awsome. I was just 19 years old when these came out. GM had a very hard time selling these. The cost was outrageous. In fact, many got sent back to Chevy and had the ZL1’s pulled and a another engine installed to sell it. The engines then were sold to whoever could afford them. I would like to know just how many of the original 69, actually were sold with this engine. They will only get more costly as time goes on. Oh for those days again. Just have to admire my 1969 Chevelle SS 396, I bought just before Uncle Sam called me in April 1969. I still own it!
That’s awesome that you still have your car. I bet it kept you going through long nights and endless boredom that comes with The service. I’d love to see the car.
While I greatly respect Chevrolet heritage, I remain a skeptic of all that B-J represents, and have little respect for it’s millionaire customers. This car, along with most others like it that pass through the B-J money-making machine, will never see the light of day, or be seen by any enthusiast, until the current owner decides it’s time to make some $$$ and run it, once again, through auction so some other millionaire can buy it and hide it away for a couple more years. SMH.
As far as the “original” engine block suddenly “showing up,” well……………………………….
Many times these cars sell at great prices to show up a year or so later for sale at a lower price.
There was a 1970 Chevelle race car sold for near 2 Million and came back when the owner sobered up for sale at below a million.
As for collectors. Well don’t judge them all buy some. I just spent time with a collection last weekend that held the largest amount of factory lightweight race cars around. The owner is a great man and likes to share his collection with others by opening the doors if you call the shop.
Like it or not the rich people help keep the industry alive buy getting excitement in the market. If not it would be nearly impossible to restore many of these cars with the lack of parts.
Well it’s sad that the average blue collar worker can’t even dream about owning a true muscle car as the rich horde them and bolst about it it’s so sad that you would have to clone one and now that’s nearly impossible thanks to new epa rules and Obama’s clash for clunkers that destroyed a many car just sad