'69 Pace car

[69houdini]

I am looking at a 69 Pace car convertible currently offered for sale.  The 350 engine is not original, however I noticed the speedometer goes to 140 mph and the tach goes to 8000 rpm.  I would like to know if this was an original option or was it replaced at one time.  (I thought this particular tach and speedo only came on double copos).

Also, did ALL '69 indy pace cars come equipped only with a power top or did some come with manual tops?

Finally, which is more valuable:  a '69 pace car w/matching 350 engine and rear end but not tranny (changed from auto to 4-speed) OR a '69 pace car without matching 350 engine but with matching tranny and rear end?  Both seem to have pretty similar options, paint and interior quality.

Thanks a lot!

[jl8dale]

I can't speak for the speedo, I'm pretty sure the standard one is a 120MPH which is what I have on my pace car. The power top was an option. There are plenty out there without it.
My opinion would be that a car with the original engine is more valuable than one without. The tranny and rear axle are less important, but I also wouldn't want one that was switched from one style to another.
Just my opinion.

[69 Z11]

I agree, I would rather have the original engine than tranny (although I'd like to have at least one of them for mine).  Mine is a manual top as well.

The Tach is wrong, CRG reports that only the Z/28 came with that one.  Check it out here:

http://www.camaros.org/diffs69.shtml

[69houdini]

Thanks for checking in. I just looked at a pace car with a 140 speedo and a 8 grand tach, it also had the heavy duty radiator and the 1" sway bar. Go figure?! Owner swears he has a Camaro book stating this is correct. You tell me, stay away from it? Can't wait to hear your opinions.

[JohnZ]

Thanks for checking in. I just looked at a pace car with a 140 speedo and a 8 grand tach, it also had the heavy duty radiator and the 1" sway bar. Go figure?! Owner swears he has a Camaro book stating this is correct. You tell me, stay away from it? Can't wait to hear your opinions.

Bogus. All that stuff was added/swapped after the car was built. It left the plant with a 120 speedo, 6K tach, and 11/16" front sway bar.

[KurtS]

If it even had gauges....

[69houdini]

My thoughts exactly. Enough said. Thanks!