The First Generation Camaro—Chevy’s answer to the Ford Mustang—is a sleek, stylish beast. The smooth lines and subtle flares of this fine machine’s body make heads turn and car lovers smile, even when they see one sitting still. Yet, when this beast is in motion and the engine is rumbling, this car absolutely commands attention. Those who own classic Camaros know this vehicle is the perfect mix of beauty and power, and they never forget it.

 

If you can make it past drooling over the spectacular, show-stealing paint job of New Hampshire Native Gene Shaw’s shiny, jet black ’69 Chevy Camaro SS, you’ll already be in love. Whether you’re addicted to the car show circuit or consider it a chore to deal with all the machismo and technical jargon, Shaw’s car will convert you into an aficionado instantly. After all, the show at which this particular Camaro caught my eye was a Mustang specific show, and it won the top award of the day for non-Mustangs:

 

 http://archive.citizen.com/2004/september2004/09.17.04/news/laconia_09.17_04g.asp

 

This car was so special I never forgot about it, always intending to follow up down the road with Mr. Shaw and write the sequel. The more I found out about the SS, the more I wanted to write the history of this majestic and uniquely customized classic creature. It didn’t take me long to track down some past owners and trace the car’s incredible cross-country journey.

 

This car began its life at General Motors' Los Angeles plant in February 1969 equipped with the 350 cubic inch engine, Turbo Hydra-matic 350 transmission, 3.08 rear axle, air conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes, center console with gauges, tinted glass, exterior trip group & spoilers.  It was then purchased from the original owner because of the condition of the body: original sheet metal, arrow straight with no rust, no dents, and no Bondo.

 

It has changed owners, time zones, and coasts since then, criss-crossing the country to end up where it is now in Gene Shaw’s Franklin, New Hampshire garage. Owners in Illinois, Texas, and Florida have also had this puppy parked in their driveways in the past.

 

The paint scheme, of course, is the vehicle’s most striking feature. A simple side-striping scheme accents the car with subtle tones of pink and purple. The main color is the deepest, darkest black you could possibly put on a car. Put a shine on that kind of black and it looks bottomless and reflective all at once, sending a person into a trance when he first gazes upon it after a fresh buff and polish.

 

A professional restoration shop in Sun Valley, CA did much of the restoration under Bob Uden’s guidance.  Beginning with the body, the original hood was replaced with a special ducted hood. Side mirrors were replaced using 1972 vintage Camaro mirrors, and the radio mast was moved to the rear of the car.  Extraneous chrome was then removed before the car was stripped & primed.  Next, five coats of R-M Ebony Black lacquer were applied before being hand-rubbed.  Then another five coats were applied & rubbed again.  And then yet another another coats. And rubbed again!  This process continued until a total of twenty five were applied and the car was hand rubbed five times. 

 

Next, stripes were applied down each side using House of Kolor pink & purple over a pure white base and & PPG white toner.  Finally, the side marker light trim, rear light trim & bumpers were de-chromed and painted using the same R-M Ebony black lacquer.  The original trim around the windows was retained and a black radio mast was installed.  This process took approximately 350 hours and the end result is nothing short of phenomenal.  This car has a true mirror finish. The glistening and gleaming body of the SS could easily match up to the shoe tip of the sharpest soldier in the military.

 

A 1972 chromed Trans Am exhaust and Flowmaster muffler also went into the car’s early customizations along with 1969 Fenton Hustler III one piece die cast rims to add to the car’s flashy appearance. The Camaro’s graceful lines are complemented by wide street tires, a flared backside fender, and the detailed, contoured hood.

 

Next up came the interior.  In keeping with a black/polished aluminum/chrome theme, the original seats were covered using gray tweed & black vinyl, set off by a hot pink Chevrolet Bowtie emblem, matching the Bowtie emblem on the hood. 

 

Stereo speakers were installed in the rear before the rear deck shelf was covered in black vinyl.  The original door panels were retained with the driver's side having a 1972 vintage remote control for the side-viewing mirror.  Billet aluminum pedals were installed along with the billet aluminum dash trim and a Corvette steering wheel. 

 

The original AC speedometer was retained, and the original tachometer was replaced using a Z/28 AC 7,000 rpm tachometer with a 5,500 rpm redline to keep tabs on the high-winding LT-1.  Also in the dash are factory oil pressure, water temperature & amp meters to monitor vital engine signs. A Hurst shifter was set in the console giving a factory look along with an LT-1 350ci / 370hp badge from a Corvette.

 

Restoration of the trunk matches that of the interior.  To match the smooth, glossy finish of the body, taillight lenses were constructed using Lexan thermal plastic.  Red was mated to white that was diamond-cut to give 3 horizontal lines which can only be seen when the rear lights are on.  An aluminum shroud, covered in black vinyl and attached using Dzus fasteners, hides all taillight housing & wiring to give the trunk a finished look. 

 

A polished aluminum rim - supplied as the spare - sets next to a chrome fire extinguisher.  Additional chromed pieces include the jack and trunk latch.  Black OEM 80/20 Rayon/Nylon type interior carpet was used to trim the trunk floor.

 

As far as the drive train, first, a 1969 date-coded LT-1 short block from a 1970 Corvette was bored 0.030" and fitted with TRW 11:1 (LT-1) forged pistons.  High-flowing Dart Sportman II heads with fast-burn 72cc combustion chambers provide a compression ratio of 10:1.  Stainless steel 2.02" intake & 1.60" exhaust valves were installed along with bronze valve guides.  An Engle solid lifter camshaft (0.491" lift with 274 degree duration) was installed to give a broader power band (2,000 - 6500 rpm) than the original LT-1 camshaft (0.458" lift with 317 degree duration).  Z/28 valve springs & rocker arms were used along with chrome-moly pushrods. 

 

Timing is maintained by a Cloyes true roller chain & gears.  An OEM 1969 Z/28 intake manifold (PN 39322472) was deburred & polished to a chrome-like luster before being topped off by a 780 cfm Holley "3310" carburetor restored by Jerry MacNeish of Camaro Hi-Performance (http://www.z28camaro.com). 

 

An Accel electronic ignition & coil with a GM module & chrome-moly pickup handle the ignition chores.  Taylor spark plug wires transmit fire to AC Delco Rapidfire #2 plugs.  OEM LT-1 valve covers dress the engine along with a 1969 Z/28 air cleaner.  The engine was bolted together using ARP stainless steel connectors. 

 

OEM LT-1 exhaust manifolds are connected to 2-1/4" exhaust pipes & Flowmaster mufflers that gives a fantastic sound!  1972 Trans Am chromed exhaust tips exit the rear of the car.

 

Torque is transmitted through a Turbo Hydra-matic 350 transmission rebuilt & upgraded by Darrell Young Racing Transmissions out of Sun Valley, CA (http://www.racing-transmissions.com).  A 2,800 rpm stall converter was installed along with a shift kit.  Shifting is firm but not harsh - excellent for the street.  A GM 12-bolt positraction unit was rebuilt for the car using 3.36 gears.

 

The engine package is nestled in an engine bay that is second to none in appearance.  Steel components were chromed & aluminum parts were polished to a high luster (such as the OEM 7-blade fan).  The black finish of the inner fender wells, firewall and fan shroud matches that of the body.  Custom pieces were constructed to maintain a smooth finish such as the battery cover and the aluminum sleeves on the radiator hoses to hide the hose clamps. Anodized fittings can be seen throughout.

The hundreds of hours of custom, body, and paint work on this unique ’69 Camaro SS definitely paid off in making this vehicle so magnificent to see, but it’s not all about the exterior looks. This muscle car has some power, too. The SS registers on the dyno at 410 horsepower.

 

If this car had an anthem it would be George Thorogood’s Bad to the Bone.

 

The interesting and intricate geographical history, on top of the Camaro’s unique custom features and basic appeal, makes this SS a truly unique and amazing piece of memorabilia. During its lifetime, the SS traveled across the country and up the East Coast.

 

The SS remained in California until Bob Uden took it to Illinois. Uden did most of the modifications to the vehicle and used it as a rolling business card and a living museum of his excellent custom work for a business he called Bob Uden Designs. The estimated cost of the Camaro’s modification topped $65,000. The restoration and customization of the car took place in the early 1990s, and all the improvements paid off. Uden’s streamlined street machine won the Best Camaro Award in the 1995 LA Super Chevy Show. 

 

Chester Babin became the next lucky owner after he bought the SS off a consignment lot in Illinois. He took the Camaro to the Lone Star State of Texas. Babin, who confessed that he really misses the SS, described how a Chevelle once tried to challenge him on the freeway. Babin burned up the Texas asphalt and smoked the Chevelle with ease, barely flexing the muscles of the SS to finish the job.

 

“Before I realized the Chevelle had given up, the Camaro’s speed had topped out at 130 miles an hour,” said Babin. “But, the steering wheel never shook. The transmission never hesitated, and the ride was as smooth as ever.”    

 

Babin also held the paint job in high regard, recognizing how special it was when he first drove the SS into his garage. “I looked down at the roof when I got out, and I could actually read the printing on the bottom of the light bulb hanging above it,” he explained.

 

Babin always appreciated owning the car and called the SS “The total package.”

 

Doug Jahn bought the vehicle next, parking it in a special spot in the center of his showroom-style garage in Florida.

 

Jahn, of Palm Coast, Florida, pampered the vehicle and took it to multiple car shows in the Sunshine State. As a classic car fanatic, Jahn knew this vehicle was something special and was smart enough to put it up on eBAY when he decided to sell it in 2004.

 

Gene Shaw made his first bid on the Camaro after going on the auction site to “get a rough idea of prices.” With just four days left in the bidding, Shaw selected the “Buy it Now” option on June 4th, 2004 and became the SS’s proud new owner with one click of the mouse. Other bidders, furious that the auction ended early, submitted much higher offers that Shaw’s $30,000 “Buy it Now” price after finding out about the impending sale.

 

“I could probably make you quite a bit of money if you want to leave it here and see what we can get for it,” Jahn told Shaw. The new owner refused, recognizing his good fortune and ready to claim his new classic.

 

Much to the dismay of friends that he told about the purchase, Shaw never personally saw the car before buying it. “How could you spend $30,000 on a car you’ve never seen, people kept asking me,” said Shaw. “I’d never bought anything else on eBAy before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I was a little nervous until I got it.”

 

Shaw sold his 1970 Mustang Mach 1 in May of 2004 to make room in his garage and help provide some capital for the new Camaro.  Before he made his final decision to buy the SS, he called Jahn in Florida and asked about the car.

 

“He told me he could guarantee the car was laser straight,” said Shaw. “He said it had won almost every show it had ever been in and would win any show I enter it in.” That sealed the deal for Shaw, and he never looked back.

 

Jahn’s prophecy proved true. The car continued to win show after show, and Shaw fondly remembers one time when his Camaro helped steal the glory from another show-going car owner who claimed to have won every show he’d ever entered his car in.

 

“I remember a car show that I went to in Kingston, NH where there was a guy who was detailing his car with what he claimed was ‘the best stuff on the market.’ After talking to him for a while, I realized that he was a salesman for the detailing product he was using. I also came to the conclusion that he was the type of person that liked to brag about his ride, which also happened to be a ‘69 Camaro.”

 

After a crowd of people gathered, he proceeded to tell them that every show in which he entered his car, he came away with the first place trophy. I had never seen this car at any of the shows that I attended, so I had no evidence to prove him wrong. At the end of the show when they were awarding the trophies, I noticed him standing a few yards to my left. When my name was announced for the first place trophy, he glanced over to see if it was my car that was the winner. When I returned from picking up the trophy, as I passed him, I turned and said, "You can't say that anymore can you?” There were five or six people standing around him that just looked over at me and gave me a big smile and a thumbs up.”

 

In late July of 2005, Shaw attended the Super Chevy Show, sponsored by Tremec and put on by Super Chevy Magazine at the New England Dragway. It was a two-day event, with the judging and "Editor’s Choice" awards on Saturday and the "Best of Show" awards on Sunday along with the door prizes. Shaw was fortunate enough to pick up one of the ten "Editor’s Choice" awards on Saturday.  On Sunday, the Camaro won in the "Outstanding in Class" category. Finally, at the very end of the award ceremony, Shaw’s name was called yet again as the winner of a Waterloo roll-away tool box and top chest valued at $1,600.

 

“I guess that’s what they call the Car Show Trifecta,” said Shaw. “Needless to say, it was a very good weekend, even though I did get caught in a downpour on the way home.”

 

Shaw loves showing his car whenever he can. He said the best part of owning his mint muscle car is “having people come up to me and comment on it.” He truly beams when he explains each and every amazing feature of his auction acquisition. Other car buffs can’t help but get caught up in his enthusiasm as they take it all in, drawn in at first by the car’s gleaming engine and body paint.

 

“They usually say something about the paint job and how shiny it is,” Shaw reports. “I like to talk to people about it. For people with show cars, it’s what we live for.” 

 

By Rich Bergeron

Rich is a dedicated and focused individual with a military school education and real world experience. He has written for various publications over the years, with two significant stints at established local newspapers. He has four published magazine articles to his credit, with the last one winning an Archbishop Edwin T. O'Meara Award, published in the St. Anthony Messenger Magazine.

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