Hey Guys,

I finally got my first camaro. After finding out that my 65 nova SS had the VIN's swapped, I just traded for a 68 Camaro SS. (I was truthful and told the guy because it sucks when a car is misrepresented)

Anway- I was told that the car was an origional SS car. So after my Nova episode, the first thing I did was verify the trim and VIN tags for tampering. Both look good on the camaro and the VIN comes back as a 68 V8 camaro.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/68-Chevy-Camaro-SS_W0QQitemZ290303372765QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars _Trucks?hash=item290303372765&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A317%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

(The old owner hasn't removed the car from ebay for some reason)

I don't have any paperwork with the car so I think it's going to be hard to figure out exactly what it was origionally if not impossible.

Here are the trim tag options:
Corvette Bronze Paint
Deluxe Houndstooth Buckets
Vinyl Top

Accessories on the car:
Power Steering
Power Brakes
A/C (Still have everything under the dash and says Astro Ventilation on pass Window)
FLoor console (Just has brackets in the floor)


WHat I noticed about the car:
I has a MPH Gauge, and Fuel Gauge in the dash
Has a standard hood now
Standard Grill with RS Valance (verified Body shop did this)
10-bolt multileaf rear.
The fenders on the car have holes for the "Camaro" embles but don't have holes underneath where the SS would go. Unless the SS Badges glue on.

The previous owner said you could tell it was an SS car by the options. But I was told unless you have all the paperwork OR the numbers matching 350 it is going to be very hard to truly identify if the car was RS, SS, or RS/SS in 1968 becuase the trim tag doesn't specify anything other than V8. And the SS hood, 12 bolt and console is missing. It does have delux interior, but it's black and not the factory houndstooth.


Anything I can look for to help? I was told the RS would have brackets on the inside of the fenders. But I'm not counting on all the metal to be origional.

I want to go back all origional but don't want to waste a lot of money on a car that isn't a real SS or RS/SS. I learned this with my Nova's.

Any way this could have been a 396 SS Car?

Welcome to TC, nice color/interior combo. So it says it has an auto....powerglide or??Have you checked those (trans) partial vin numbers to see if they match? PDB is nice...are they single or 4 piston calipers? How many leafs in the rear springs?

Yeah, you've heard correctly as far as verifying a non numbers '68. All you can do is look for clues. Here's one. SS hood hinges have 28 coils in the springs to account for the heavier hood.

Happy hunting....oh, all badges are held on with pins through body holes.

Do you actually have possession of the car? Looks like he's still hoping for a better offer. When it comes to '68s, unless there is documentation, it's not an SS for all practical purposes. Looks like a good project assuming the underneath is solid. Interesting fan shroud.

welcome neighbor

For starters...10 bolt rear end..if thats original its definitely not an SS.

Im trying to figure out from the pics where the heater hoses are going?? :confused:

Im trying to figure out from the pics where the heater hoses are going?? :confused:[/quote]



does that matter on a factory air car?

The Heater hoses do go back in that area on a '69 with air. I am assuming that this is why, they go that way. I hope for your sake it is an SS. It really doesn't appear to be, though. I have heard that 68's are the hardest years to prove. The car looks like it was put together, from other cars. There are too many things that say it is not a true SS.

Thanks for the replies gentlemen.

Yes, I do in fact have the car. My nova is still on ebay, but I put in the listing that the car has been traded.

Anyway-

I have been driving the car for a couple days now, and so far it seem real solid.

Its a period 350 with the single hump heads and a overly rich carter AFB carb. The trans is a turbo 350, but I wouldn't imagine it to be matching either.

I looked under the dash and the factory connectors to the console gauges has 9 pins wired up out of the 10 so I'm guessing it came with the factory gauge option. (Unless someone added it in the past, I haven't noticed spliced wires and it looks factory)

I will have to go count the hood springs, but again I'm not sure if they are factory. But thats a good tip for when I'm out looking. :)


So at this point, since I can't really verify it being an SS car, I'm not going to spend a lot of money to restore it back to original paint color and houndstooth interior. I will finish it out red with black deluxe interior and sell it. The the next car I buy, I will make sure it has the paperwork or better history if possible.

I can't stand being sold a fake SS, and I don't want to do the same to anyone else. To me this is just a high optioned 68 camaro unless I can 100% verify it was a real SS.

But after I have been looking around, it would have been possible to get the bronze paint, deluxe houndstooth, a/c, pb, and ps on a RS car.

Good to meet you guys!. I finally got my first camaro, but it's not the "keeper" i want just yet.

I went and counted the hood springs, it has 26 not counting the ones on the end.

So I wouldnt be unfair representing this as a high optioned RS car and putting a built 327 I have in it.

I wanting to restore cars as a second business/hobby so I want to know what I have, and also the person who buys it.

I'm thinking if I finished the car out nice, it would be worth at least 16-17 in this market.

welcome neighbor


Howdy Martin-

Good to meet local guys from Alabama. I'm up in Hayden, just below Cullman.

JP

Do you actually have possession of the car? Looks like he's still hoping for a better offer. When it comes to '68s, unless there is documentation, it's not an SS for all practical purposes. Looks like a good project assuming the underneath is solid. Interesting fan shroud.


Yeah- I got the car.

Still trying to figure out why they riveted a FORD fan shroud on the car. Looks like they built it to sell, is what my grandfather would say.

Bidding appears to be goin hot & heavy still:confused: maybe the guy will want it back:D

Well, I can't put a price on it and nothing suggests RS either, other than the lower front valance. No pix of the rear of the car....does it have the lower back-up lights?

Either way, the Corvette Bronze/ Deluxe Houndstooth makes it somewhat "desirable" imo. How 'bout the PDB.... '68 would've had 4 piston/caliper and although they were somewhat troublesome, still a semi-rare, nice option to have.

Congrats on the buy. Pictures show me a standard car with a RS valance, the roll pan under the front bumper, has two holes for the RS turn signals as standard has turn signals in the grille. Standard fenders and hood with std hood springs.

Most any option could be ordered at purchase when new, i.e., door sill moldings.

Bidding appears to be goin hot & heavy still:confused: maybe the guy will want it back:D

Well, I can't put a price on it and nothing suggests RS either, other than the lower front valance. No pix of the rear of the car....does it have the lower back-up lights?

Either way, the Corvette Bronze/ Deluxe Houndstooth makes it somewhat "desirable" imo. How 'bout the PDB.... '68 would've had 4 piston/caliper and although they were somewhat troublesome, still a semi-rare, nice option to have.


hehehe

Looks like I shouldn't have problems selling it on ebay. I couldn't end the bidding on my nova either, so I revised it to say I traded the car.


I would rather paint it the bronze with the houndstooth myself if I was going to keep it. But the one I keep will need to be documented. Call me picky, but I want to know exactly what I have.

Can I check the calipers to determine pistons without taking off the wheel?

Congrats on the buy. Pictures show me a standard car with a RS valance, the roll pan under the front bumper, has two holes for the RS turn signals as standard has turn signals in the grille. Standard fenders and hood with std hood springs.

Most any option could be ordered at purchase when new, i.e., door sill moldings.


Not sure why they put the RS valance on it? It has the standard grill. The previous owner said they wanted the RS/SS look. But they haven't swapped over to the RS grill.

The rear panel does not have the backup lights cut out. I also noticed it has standard fenders on the car but I'm not sure if they were origional.

I don't know if it's because the car is red, or because it's a camaro, or both. But 10x more people stare at this car than the 65 nova I had.

So I guess a better question may be. How would you properly represent this car to a buyer.

1) A 68 SS Camaro with a period 350
2) Deck the block and call it a matching # 68 SS
3) 68 RS Camaro
4) A high optioned 68 V8 camaro.

I know several guys that would have no problem with #2, but I have to sleep at night.

VIN is stamped in two places on the block - pass deck and drvr side bellhousing flange next to the oil filter, in the rough casting surface of the block. If they match, then born with engine to the car.

I don't know about location of the trans VIN - either the inspection cover edge or surface.

Date code by the block casting number would determine casting date as to whether the engine would be period correct if VIN is not found nor matching.

Trim tag will tell if deluxe interior came with car. Numbers on bottom line of trim tag tell options delivered with car.

Calipers can be viewed from under the car from the backside. If you see one large piston as in later model cars, then it is maybe a '69 and later caliper. Four piston caliper will have two round cylinders per side of rotor- you'll see two bumps.

hey JP Im in oneonta just east of hayden

So I guess a better question may be. How would you properly represent this car to a buyer.

1) A 68 SS Camaro with a period 350
2) Deck the block and call it a matching # 68 SS
3) 68 RS Camaro
4) A high optioned 68 V8 camaro.

I know several guys that would have no problem with #2, but I have to sleep at night.
How about a 68 Camaro Hot Rod with NOM 350/350?

I wouldn't even call it "highly optioned" from the factory, just AC (small block), deluxe interior, and style trim. It does have some nice hot rod upgrades.

Nothing on this car says original RS or SS, but that doesn't mean it isn't desireable, it is still a first gen Camaro!

Do you have the car yet? I see the auction is still going, it will be interesting to see what the market determines this car is worth. How much was your Nova worth?

As long as you are happy with car, have fun with it, but it doesn't look like a good car to flip for a profit. Deluxe interior and AC add alot of money to the cost of repair/restoration.