I have been looking for a real SS Camaro ever since I bought my first Camaro - the Kitchen blue racer - back in January 2001.  In those days I didn't care much for the 69 model and thought the lines of the 67 and 68's were better looking and certainly cleaner, however my opinion on the 69 has changed over the recent years and now I think its the coolest of the 1st generation Camaros. So the search was on for an original 69 SS - hard to find, but then suddenly a friend knew one was for sale in Manila and I waited little time jumping on a plane to go and see the car in person.

It was love at first sight bought when I saw this beautiful car in Manila on July 8, 2004. The guy sold it to finance some house construction project and he had to sell some of his cars, he also had a 68 Camaro SS with fold down rearseat and another green on green on green 69 Camaro in his garage - that two years later also became mine.
I had been told that the car was a real SS, but I have heard that sooo many times and always been disappointed. As this was my third Camaro I knew what I had to look for to identify a real SS, thanks to research on CRG and Team Camaro websites. Actually a friend of mine had already been there to check out some other cars (69 Elcamino 454 and a late 70'ies Chevy 454 truck) the guy had for sale, but had no interest in the Camaro. So I went to Manila and when I first saw the car it was obvious that it was a real SS. 
The seller then presented a book with all Chevrolet engine codes stating that L48HA was a SS engine for manual transmission and since the car had the L48HA engine with matching VIN number - there was no longer any doubt and the Camaro & the 69 Elcamino 454 changed owners in a double deal.
Then I had to wait 2 looong days before the car could get hauled on a truck to Angeles, I didn't want to negotiate Manila traffic by driving the car to Angeles so it was much more convenient to get it transported.
Finally Saturday morning July 10 I took delivery of the car - just in time for the afternoons race at OMNI Aviation in Clark Air base.

The car had 96555 miles on the odometer when I bought it and it ran great and I have since put a couple of thousand miles more on the odometer.

HERE IS HOW THE CAR LOOKED LIKE WHEN BOUGHT

The car has since been on Mindanao, transported back and forth from Luzon by ship. I enjoyed driving it weekly, on a Sunday cruise with the family, to work or trips to the beach. We also took the car on a couple of longer trips, click on the link below for road trip to Camiguin Island.

ROAD TRIP

The car is now in Angeles waiting a complete strip down and frame off restoration. I last drove it last December 2005.

Paint and Body

Not many original SS matching numbers cars around in the Philippines (or elsewhere for that matter) either, so I am very happy for my latest find.
All trim on quarter panels, the SS ornaments on the hood, the emblems, the grille, bumpers, lights - everything is original 1969 GM parts and although its not in perfect condition it nonetheless still looks good. The car was missing the wheel moulding trim and the rocker panel trim, the mounting holes were still in the rocker panels so it was easy to place the new trim when I recently installed it.

This car is an original vinyl top car, I quess somebody tore the old vinyl off at some stage and threw the mouldings away.
I had the car painted to its almost original colors at Jessie's shop in 2005, the plan was to make it original looking now but with white painted roof instead of the vinyl, which is not available here in the Philippines and has to be ordered from the states. Its a great color combination (71 code) Lemans Blue, white D90 stripe and Parchment (white) vinyl top, up three with the Hugger Orange cars as the most sought after color combination. The vinyl top will be installed when we do the complete full frame off restoration next year.

 

Frame Off !!!

The car had very little rust, except some in the rear quarter panels top wheel opening - and a couple of small holes in the trunk and floor pan. Its still all original sheet metal.

The complete frame off restoration started early 2006, its a 1.5 - 2 year plan that will bring the car to immaculate condition, pictures of progress will be posted at a special frame off section here at the website, watch for updates this year.