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Car Tales: Ferry Magnificent, Chevrolet Camaro

Such a quintessentially stylish car, the Chevrolet Camaro was the vehicle of choice in mid-1970s’ London for a good pal of my Dad. This guy’s name was Simon Puxley, a very close friend of – and ‘media consultant’ to – the effortlessly stylish Bryan Ferry, to this day an iconic musical artist and personification of high-end taste.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible for sale
Unfortunately Simon is now deceased – my Dad learned of his passing when he went to see Bryan Ferry play the Wiltern in Los Angeles in 1999 – but his legend lives on amidst the global cognoscenti: as it roared around London, Simon Puxley’s Camaro was merely one aspect of his abiding and all-consuming attention to immaculate levels of elegance, always with attention to the very finest detail.

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Initially known at its Chevrolet home as the ‘XP-836’, the prototype car’s working-title soon became the ‘Panther’ or ‘F-body.’ It was a sporty coupe and convertible based on the Chevy Nova platform, but with some powerful engine options including a 396 cubic inch V8 making up to 375bhp.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible side view
Approached by Chevrolet’s marketing team with a highly sophisticated, tongue-in-cheek flair on the edge of Madmen genius, GM seriously worked up the pre-publicity for the September 29 1966 premiere of the 1967 model of the Camaro.
This was a serious endeavor to create an iconic car – what would become a legendary muscle car – to rival that of the rampantly successful Ford Mustang. When the Camaro name was finally revealed, Chevrolet’s representatives inevitably were asked what a Camaro was. The response laid out the game plan: ‘a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.’
Then came a less facetious, somewhat pedantic explanation of the origins of the name. In The Complete Book of Camaro: Every Model Since 1967 it was explained that – presumably taking a break from watching paint dry – with great diligence Chevrolet merchandising manager Bob Lund and General Motors vice president Ed Rollett had been going through a pre-World War 2 edition of Heath’s French and English Dictionary. There they allegedly came across the word ‘camaro’, a slang term meaning ‘friend, pal or comrade.’ ‘Camaro’ would presumably therefore be a corruption of the French ‘camarade’, meaning comrade.
Finally agreed upon and sanctified by then General Manager Elliot M. ‘Pete’ Estes, later to become President of General Motors, Estes declared:
‘Chevrolet has chosen a name which is lithe and graceful…It suggests comradeship of good friends, as a personal car should be to its owner.’
1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible rear view
Accordingly, in such a spirit of camaraderie, we at Beverly Hills Car Club introduce to you a first-generation 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible that is finished in its factory color Cortez Silver (69), complemented by its chrome trim. This vintage beauty is a true testament to the timeless appeal of classic American muscle cars. With its iconic design and Fisher-body, the Camaro is a symbol of power and optimal performance. To further enhance the exterior, this RS comes with a convertible soft top, giving you the option to enjoy the open air on a sunny day.
Powered by a V8 engine, automatic transmission, and Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor, our Camaro is equipped with dual exhaust outlets, a 2-spoke steering wheel, chrome bumpers, BFGoodrich tires, and 14-inch rally wheels with Chevrolet motor division hubcaps.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible interior
Step inside the cabin, and you’ll find a Black interior with bucket seating, driver-side rearview mirror, and a Chevrolet retro radio, perfect for long drives or cruising around town. Featured amenities include manual crank windows, vent windows, quarter windows, sun visors, center console, glove compartment, and a fender-mounted antenna.
If you’re in the market for a true American classic that combines style and performance, look no further than this Camaro RS that is mechanically sound.
The ‘RS’ designation on the Camaro we have stands of course for Rally Sport, an appearance package for the first and second generation Camaros. Electronically controlled headlight covers, upgraded rear lights, and assorted trim were all included in the RS package.
The Camaro was extremely buyer-friendly; it could be modified to almost anybody’s taste: there were roughly 80 factory choices and 40 dealer upgrades.
But what happened to Simon Puxley’s car? Well, it was unfortunate. Early one morning Simon heard an unpleasant crashing sound outside his West London house.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible Engine
Rushing outside in his nighttime robe, he saw a truck disappearing up the road, driving unsteadily. And then he looked across the street, where his Camaro was parked. Except it didn’t look as it had the night before. The truck – it later transpired after the police had located its driver – had drunkenly smashed in the rear of the beautiful Chevy Camaro, rendering it essentially un-drivable. It was a write-off.
Simon wasn’t having a good time of it that year.
But you will have a fantastic time, helping to restore his memory to glory, with our 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Convertible.
There is no option.
-Alex Manos, Owner
1969 Chevrolet Camaro buyer Alex Manos

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