A blue 1969 Chevrolet Camaro convertible with a fresh 383 stroker and an overdrive automatic is for sale at Vicari Auction’s Biloxi Fall 2026 sale, which runs October 8–10 during Cruisin’ the Coast on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Offered as Lot S575, this first-generation drop-top is built to be driven rather than parked: the money has gone into the drivetrain, chassis and brakes, exactly the parts that decide whether a 57-year-old convertible is a pleasure or a chore on a warm coastal evening.
Unmistakable 1969 Camaro Presence
The 1969 model year is the one most enthusiasts picture when they hear “first-gen Camaro,” and this car leans into that image. According to the Vicari listing, a prior owner refinished the body in blue with white Yenko/SC-style stripes over its original Garnet Red, then added a cowl induction hood and front and rear spoilers. Chrome bumpers and trim frame the look without overdoing it, and the stripes read as a period-correct tribute rather than a claim to Yenko provenance.
Up front, an RS-style grille hides the headlights behind doors that now run on Detroit Speed electric motors. That is a smart, practical change: the factory vacuum-actuated system is a well-known weak point on aging Rally Sport cars, and electric actuation keeps the signature hideaway effect working reliably. Owners who have chased a leaking vacuum line on a first-gen will appreciate the detail noted in the auction description.
A Fresh 383 Stroker Does the Work
The heart of the car is a BluePrint Engines 383ci stroker V8 installed in 2024. It wears aluminum cylinder heads, an Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap intake and a Holley four-barrel carburetor, a proven combination that trades nothing in drivability for a meaningful jump in torque over a stock small-block. Because it is a known-brand crate engine with a recent install date, a buyer is starting with a documented, low-hour powerplant, as outlined in the Lot S575 details.
Behind the stroker sits a 700R4 four-speed automatic with overdrive, installed at the same time with a matching new driveshaft. The original three-speed made highway cruising a buzzy affair; the 700R4’s overdrive top gear lets the car settle down at modern interstate speeds. Power goes to a 12-bolt rear end with a limited-slip differential, the rear axle Camaro people generally want under a car making this kind of torque. Full specifications are on Vicari Auction’s lot page.
Chassis Upgrades Where a Convertible Needs Them
First-generation Camaro convertibles are known for body flex, since the roof that stiffened the coupe is gone. This car addresses that directly with a Hotchkis under-floor X-brace and subframe connectors, plus tubular upper control arms and a front anti-sway bar added in 2023. Power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes and power steering round out the package, and the seller notes the steering pump and speedometer cable were replaced ahead of the sale, per the listing.
Houndstooth Cabin With Modern Comforts
Few interiors say 1969 like houndstooth. Black vinyl and white houndstooth cloth cover the front buckets and rear bench, and Yenko SC-style decals on the headrests tie the cabin to the exterior stripes. It is a cheerful, era-appropriate look that photographs beautifully with the top down, as the Vicari gallery shows.
The driver faces a wood-rimmed steering wheel, a 140-mph speedometer and an AutoMeter auxiliary gauge package, with a center console and horseshoe shifter at hand. Everything a driver needs to monitor a fresh engine is in view, while the overall layout stays faithful to the original dash. See the details in the Lot S575 description.
Audio has been updated discreetly. A RetroSound head unit with Bluetooth keeps a period-looking face on the dash, fed through Kenwood dash speakers and Kicker kick-panel speakers, so the car can stream a playlist without looking like it was built last year. The full equipment list is on the auction page.
A trunk-mounted Bazooka Bass Tube fills out the sound system, and polished 15-inch American Racing Torq Thrust wheels complete the classic muscle-car stance. The car also comes with service records and a selection of spare and removed parts, with a few receipts shown in the photos and more available, according to Vicari’s listing. That paper trail is worth having on any modified car, since it tells the next owner exactly what was done and when.
Upfront About What It Needs
The seller has been refreshingly transparent. The listing discloses a tear in the soft top above the passenger seat, a hole in the trunk floor visible in the photos, BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires carrying 2016 date codes, and an odometer showing roughly 11,500 miles that the seller states is not accurate, with total mileage unknown. None of these touch the freshly installed drivetrain, and knowing them in advance lets bidders budget for a top, tires and a trunk pan repair before the hammer falls.
Why It Matters to Collectors
This is not a numbers-matching investment piece, and it does not pretend to be. Its appeal is the combination collectors increasingly pay for in the driver-grade market: iconic 1969 convertible styling paired with a documented, recent drivetrain and chassis package that makes the car usable on real roads. For a buyer who wants to enjoy a first-gen Camaro rather than restore one, Lot S575 at Vicari Auction is a compelling place to start. Inspect it in person in Biloxi, or register as an online bidder if you cannot make the trip.
Vicari expects more than 500 vehicles and collectibles at this sale. The auction is open to the public, and if you decide to bid once you’re inside the gates, you can sign up at the on-site office. Can’t be there in person? Register to bid online.
Bidding runs Thursday through Saturday, October 8–10, 2026. This is the 29th year Vicari Auction has held a sale at Cruisin’ the Coast and the 30th year for the event itself, which fills the Mississippi Gulf Coast from October 4 to 11 with cruise-ins, live bands, oldies acts and a swap meet. Rooms can be booked through MS Gulf Coast Hotel Reservations at 1-888-388-1006.
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Kyle Matthews