I'm looking into purchasing a 67 Camaro Convertible. The car is in peaces, and it is missing engine, transmission, center grill, motor that controls the hide away lights, windshield, door panels and front bumper. But all of the other major parts seem to be available.

So, my questions are: I am some what mechanically challenged, so I’ll need to find someone to put the car together for me. So how much do you think it will cost to finish this project, and how much time?
Thank you,

Len

There are so many variables, I am not sure how someone would answer the question. How is the sheetmetal? How much bodywork is going to be required? What type of restoration do you want all original, tricked out a little or tricked out a lot. Are you going big block or small block? How much of the work are you going to be able to do and how much is going to be hired out.

Here is a link so you can at least get an idea how much parts will cost.

http://www.rickscamaros.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/blankp.htm?E+scstore

Plus, things changes as you get into the project. Originally, I planned to just buff the paint and get the motor running and then it turned into a rotisserie restoration.

len,

i say you should do it yourself. you will save tons of money. i think you might get more satisfaction and be more proud of your ride from all the sweat you would have put into it. plus, you can simply tell everyone that you put it together. wilth me, the only thing that i wont touch is the body and paint.

but if you want to pay someone, i can see them charging up to $20k.

angel

I would recommend buying the 67 Assembly manual. It shows you how a lot of the car is supposed to go back together.

Almost anything else you can search this site and find. This is a great site!!

So how much do you think it will cost to finish this project, and how much time?
Thank you,

Len

I don't know what the dollar figure would be, but I would guess it to be a number larger than the cost of a car that is done and ready to drive. If you're paying a body shop ~$80.00 an hour to do the work it's going to add up in a hurry. Leave the projects to the do-it-yourselfers and buy a driver.

Things can get out of hand quick, jhilts mentioned exactly what i did, I was only going to get some minor bodywork and paintjob done and it turned into a full blown rotisserie restoration, over 1500 hours, takes a camaro "junkie" like myself to get that deep into it timewise/moneywise.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Don't do it! Don't do it!

If you're anything like me, you'll want perfection (or close to it). Paying for someone to restore the car will cost tons of cash and take a long time. If you're in the market for one, I seriously suggest you pony up the cash up-front for a car in excellent condition. Make it an investment?

I had a 1969 SS350 (or so I guessed). I put a lot of time and cash into the car, but it was never raised to my expectations.

The 1968 Z28/RS I just bought is exactly what I wanted. It's a keeper, fairly unmolested, and just needs a turn of the key to run it. The 1969 needed everything and it had constant problems.

My vote is to buy a car just like you want and pay for it up front. Get a "numbers matching" for investment....

I'm with chedderboy. I worked in a Camaro business for 15 years and could relate dozens of resto horror stories. My personal favorite involves a Camaro delivered to a restoration facility in 1993. It is still there.

Unless you are handy with tools and money, buy'em done.

unless you're very rich... either start learning, or pass.
Just for some interesting info...
In 1999, I bought a presentable running 68 vert for $8500. $2500 for stuff it needed the first year.
$1500/year from then until 2004.
Then I upped the bar a lil... $6000 last year, no budget for this year, but it will be close.
I did ALL my own work, even the paint and engine rebuilding. The car was running, driveable, and driven the entire time, work was done in the winter, and I have not missed a summer. When I bought the car, it worked. It took me 3 hours home the day I handed over the cash, the body is and was 100% solid.

This addiction can be expensive...

Do yourself a favor pass on this one! Even if you can't afford a full on show piece at least get a nice driver with a solid body. Body work is VERY expensive! And if you find a car with a nice body changing the drive train is cheaper than body work and paint.

Len, take it from me, I've been through it-- think real hard before taking on that project...I'm also only moderately skilled at restoring car, and I don't have a lot of tools or an equiped garage, so some things I have to pay other people to do. And even with recommendations, speed shops/body shops just might not give your car the care and attention it deserves, because businesses just can't spend months on a single car-- they'll get it done, but you might be disappointed (and poorer at the same time). This has happened to me several times during the past 25 years.

Another advantage of buying a car 'already done' is that in the long run it will be less expensive-- every restored camaro represents hundreds of hours (or more) of labor and sweat....

If $$ is a factor, consider a restored 'plain-jane' camaro rather than a convertible or highly optioned RS/SS. Last fall I bought a very nice restored 'plain-jane' 68 Camaro at a very reasonable price-- only needs maintenance. You can always add whatever options you like, to get whatever "look" you like. Things like adding wheels/tires, interior pieces, carbs, etc are relatively easy to do for the do-it-yourselfer. Also, as you probably know convertibles present unique restoration challenges-- suspension is different, handling is different, body is slightly different, some interior pieces are different...this all costs $$$. Also, a convertible can be stolen very easily. Don't get me wrong, I love convertibles, but there are additional factors involved....would you consider a hardtop??

Good luck and keep us "posted" on your decision!

Terry

BTW as far as how much time that project would take, a few months would be a minimum, it takes time to schedule drivetrain replacements, body work, paint, suspension rebuilding, etc.

Let this one go. You will end up spending way more money they you estimate. If I was to start over I would just take out a loan for $35K-$45K and buy a finished car and I am not mechanically challenged. I have done everything except media blasting the under carriage and paint (which the previous owner did) and I will end up having only $35K-45K in it if I can stop myself.

I would agree on passing on it. Your post doesnt read like you really want to do it as a project. We began on a restification project 3 years ago and have done pretty much everything on the car. I keep a spreadsheet and we are $34k Canadian into it and likely $4k to go. I doubt we could get more than $25 - $27k for it although we are not selling it. I bought it as a father - son project not to turn key drive it. Run from this vert and buy a finished car.

I would say do it if it was an all original rs/ss convertible with the original drivetrain, a "pedigree" car so to speak then you have something when your done that will bring all those dollars back however being a non-original motored car id pass unless money is no problem and you just want a nice car built the way you want it.