The Camaro
SS
The Super Sport
option had always indicated one of Chevrolet's top performers, from the SS 409
Impalas of the early sixties through the SS Chevelles. When Chevrolet decided to
add a Super Sport option to the Camaro line, they made sure that it would
continue the tradition of high performance. Curiously, Chevy never called it a
Super Sport, referring to the option only as "SS."The first engine offered in
the Camaro SS was the 295 horsepower 350 cubic inch engine. This was the only
Camaro offered with the new 350. In November of 1966 Chevrolet introduced the
396 Mk IV big block, producing 325 horsepower, to the SS lineup.
For 1968 the big block SS
Camaros received a black painted rear body panel to help distinguish it from the
small block cars. This was continued in '69, as shown here. The engine choices
also increased, including the L34 396/350 hp, the L33 396/325 hp, the L48
350/295 hp, the L78 396/375 hp, and the aluminum head L89 396/375 hp.
These engine options
continued in 1969, but the hood ornamentation choices were reduced. In 1968 the
350 cars had a finned type insert and the 396 cars had simulated intake stacks,
but for 69 only the stack type insert was used.The 69 SS cars all had a black
grill, as oposed to the standard Argent Silver grill. The D90 Hockey Stick
striping was also a part of the SS option, but could be ordered separately for
any Camaro.
When the Camaro was
chosen to pace the Indy 500 in 1967, and again in 1969, Chevrolet chose their
top performer, the 396 Camaro SS. All the Pace Car replicas were SS/RS
convertibles, except for a small number of '69 Pace Car hardtops. You can get
more information about the SS Pace Cars on the Pace Car
Page. The RPO designation was also changed
slightly during the first generation. Until 1969 the engine RPO identified the
car as an SS. In 1967 the Trim Tag included info about options such as the SS in
Group 4. An SS350 was a "P", a 396/325 was an "N", and a 396/375 was a "K". In
1968 the Trim Tag was changed, and since this code does not appear on the trim
tag it can be difficult to verify the identity of a 68 SS. In 1969 the SS was
assigned RPO Z27, which appeared on the trim tag of Norwood cars as an "X" code.
- X11 - Style Trim Group (includes SS350)
- X22 - Style Trim Group with SS396 (black rear panel)
- X55 - Base car with SS350 (rear fender louvers, black body sill)
- X66 - Base car with SS396 (rear fender louvers, black rear panel, black body sill)
1967 Production
L35, Camaro SS; includes special hood and
ornaments, front header panel paint stripes, underhood insulation, special nylon
red stripe tires, 14x6 wheels, suspension features, fender SS emblems and SS
emblems on radiator grille and gas filler cap; with 325-hp Turbo-Jet 396-cid
engine. $ 263.30, 1,003 built. L48, Camaro SS; with 295-hp Turbo-Fire 350-cid engine. $210.65, 29,270 built.
L78, Camaro SS; with 375-hp Turbo-Jet 396-cid engine. $500.30, 1,138 built.
1968 Production
L34, Camaro SS; includes special hood, black
accented grille and ornaments, sport striping, hood insulation, special red
stripe tires, special suspension, bright engine accents, SS emblems on fenders,
grille and fuel filler cap; with 350-hp Turbo-Jet 396cid engine. L35, Camaro SS; with 325-hp Turbo Jet 396-cid V-8 engine. $263.30, 10,773 built.
L48, Camaro SS; with 295-hp Turbo Fire 350cid V-8 engine. $210.65, 12,496 built.
L78, Camaro SS; with 375-hp Turbo Jet 396-cid V-8 engine. $500.30, 4,575 built.
L89, Camaro SS; with 375-hp Turbo Jet 396-cid V-8 engine and aluminum cylinder heads. $868.95, 272 built.
1969 Production
Z27, Camaro Super Sport (SS); includes
300-hp Turbo Fire 350cid engine with bright accents, power front disc brakes,
floor mounted special 3-speed manual transmission, special hood, suspension and
ornamentation, sport striping, hood insulation, F70x14 white letter tires,
14x7-inch wheels, black painted body sill, simulated rear fender louvers, SS
emblems on fenders, grille and rear panel. (Camaro SS package price increased
twice during 1969, once to $311.75, again to $327.55. The second increase
included dual exhausts with bright tips) $295.95, 34,932 built. L34 Engine; 350-hp Turbo-Jet 396-cid V-8 (requires Camaro SS) $184.35, 2,018 built.
L35 Engine; 325-hp Turbo-Jet 396-cid V-8 (requires Camaro SS) $63.20, 6,752 built.
L48 Engine; 300-hp Turbo-Fire 350-cid V-8 (included with Camaro SS) 22,339 built.
L65 Engine; 250-hp Turbo-Fire 350-cid V-8 $21.10, 26,898 built.
L78 Engine; 375-hp Turbo-Jet 396-cid V-8 (requires Camaro SS) $316.00, 4,889 built.
L89 Engine; 375-hp Turbo-Jet 396-cid V-8 with aluminum cylinder heads (requires Camaro SS) $710.95, 311 built.
source: http://www.holisticpage.com/camaro/camaros/ss.htm
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