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6th option... 68 matching numbers

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lonetreecamaro

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi guys,

At least one of you kindly pointed this one out to me on ebay and I've since had a long conversation with the owner and gone through the car remotely.

Here's the description on ebay:
1968 Chevrolet Camaro · Coupe · Driven 69,735 miles

Very clean and original numbers matching 68 Camaro. 350/4speed ( m21 ) one repaint, one engine rebuild and transmission. 2-1/2” exhaust with x pipe. This car is very clean and Zero rust! If you are interested I can take a video of the undercarriage it is spotless. Aluminum radiator. Hi torque starter. 8 quart oil pan. Long tube headers. 6AL ignition. It only has bolt on things Nothing done to lower its original quality.

Here are the pics from the ebay listed and others the owner has sent plus a video with commentary from the underside. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZLFDzhN6KDC9dwQC7

Notes that I've taken from conversation:
  • Current owner has had for 6 years. Overall is in very good condition, no rust at all and very original.
  • Was repainted in 07/08 and generally holding up very well. There are 2 spots identified in the pics, one is a crack in paint on the top of the driver’s side B pillar. Second is a chip about the size of a quarter middle of the roof above the rear window.
  • MSD ingnition
  • Billet alu distributor
  • Demon carb 650 down to 620 due to alititude (he's at 8,000ft above sea level)
  • KYB shocks in fonrt, multileaf in rear
  • Tires 95% up front, 75% rear
  • High torq starter
  • Power steering
  • Manual brakes
  • Borla turbo exhaust with mufflers, 2 1/2 inch.
  • Original interior - bottom of doors both sides is a bit tatty
  • Tach on steering wheel
  • Original radio in place, new in glove box

Current owner had looked at getting the 2 paint spots repaired and was quoted $1,500 but said it could be $2k ish elsewhere.

Had a really good feeling speaking to the guy. It does appear to be well looked although a pretty base model. I like that he's owned it for quite a while and seems to know a lot about it.

Work that I'd definitely want to get done:
  • Fix the paint
  • Add front discs
  • Revamp interior

So I'm guessing those alone will run to $10k ish?

Current asking price is $30k.

What are your thoughts? Any other questions I should be asking at this point in time?
 
#3 ·
Correct if I am wrong, but didn’t you say 69 was your favorite? If so, IMO you should not settle for anything but a 69. You would regret purchasing anything else. Just my opinion
 
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#4 ·
Noted:

Suspension looks old and would possibly need rebuild. I fact the whole car needs freshening up IMHO.

10 bolt or 12 bolt? Gear Ratio? Posi?

Would be good to know the specs on the engine. The oil pan and larger bell housing make me wonder why?

The door panel in the picture is trashed on the bottom. This would make me wonder if the owner was a very good at maintaining the car in other areas as well. If the paint repair estimate was $1500 why didn't he do it?

My overall impression is it looks tired. Run hard and put away wet.

The paint issues although relatively small may just be the tip of an expensive iceberg. Appears to be a cheap paint job with poor prep. The cracking on the A-pillar is usually due the the rust in that area around the windshield being bondoed.

Perhaps Scott can take a look at the pics and chime in?

$30 K no way. If you pay 30 and put 10 into it you're at 40 and it's not worth it. You'd have 40 in a car that may be worth $30

If you pay low 20, freshen it up, paint touch up (it won't be perfect but maybe livable)

The ride height has that 4x look. I would want to change that if it was mine.
 
#8 ·
lonetreecamaro said:
2nd gen not for me... really dislike the front end.

If I up my budget to say $40k - what should I expect?
Click to expand...
1st decide exactly what you want.

Year? If you want a 69 then only look at 69s.

SBC BBC LS?

I know you want manual however that limits your search and honestly unless it’s a 5 or 6 speed (a must for me) it doesn’t matter because that’s the 1st thing I’d change.

Next determine what are must haves. AC? Etc. all of which can be added. Just need to budget.
 
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#9 ·
Nathan, This car is probably the best of all you've looked at. It's not worth $30k.
My guess is the seller's expecting/hoping for ~$25k. Unfortunately the paint issues
are enough to walk away unless you know someone that would fix them for you.
The fixes could get quite involved. I didn't see anything alarming on the underbelly
and actually looks pretty good. Have you heard the engine running yet? I'm not sure
if you've told us what you're planning to use the car for. Daily driver, weekend cruiser,
long trips, car shows/cruises, etc. I believe you originally wanted a big block w/manual
trans. I would start narrowing down your must haves. Such as year, power disc brakes,
power steering, a/c, trans type, etc. and look solely for those cars. You may have to be
flexible on certain items though. Your car is out there.
 
#10 ·
Those are more than a crack and a chip in the paint. No good pictures of the car.
 
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#11 · (Edited)
I would avoid that 68. Serious paint problems indicate poor prep. What's under the paint is just as important as the paint itself.

I found this yellow one on Hemmings by accident. I don't know what it will bring, but it sure looks nicer than all the ones you have been looking at.

As you figured out, EVERY yahoo out there with a first gen thinks it is made of gold, because they see these cars bringing big bucks. Junk is still junk; even if it is a first gen Camaro.

I am not a huge fan of the 325 horse 396, but this looks like a very nice car.

https://www.hemmings.com/auction/19...o-4?refer=saturday&utm_source=saturday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020-04-11
 
#12 ·
If you're being told this car has the matching number 350, it has to be a SS. I think I see multi leaf rear springs and he lists trans as a M-21. Quick view in video shows the rear is a 10 bolt.

If you can first save and then blow up the picture that includes the hood springs maybe you could count the number of coils. SS hood has 28 coils and standard hood had 26. I realize the hood has been changed out for a cowl hood but the hinges may be original.

He's saying in the video that they changed the oil pan for added lube safety. Maybe because he's in the desert? Radiator also changed, desert conditions? Also added the larger bell housing to someday put in a bigger clutch. I'm making a lot of assumptions here but listening to him he seems to believe that he did things for the right reasons even if only in his mind. Kinda believable.

Overall it seems to be in typically good condition (except for the lifting paint spots) for a fifty two year old car. Also it's not too messed with being a first gen.

Replacing the interior door panels is a breeze that you can do yourself. The paint issues are another thing. I would visit your favorite auto body guy and show him the pictures. Granted he's going to say that he needs to get into it, but maybe he can give you a worst case scenario ballpark price. I agree with you that this seller sounds like he wants to be honest. He's owned it since '08 and may have bought it after the re-paint so he may not know what is under that paint causing the cracking and lifting.

The asking price is high. I would be somewhere around $25 max. Maybe start at $22. You would have to address the paint issues right away so figure that into your offer. Then change the interior door panels. IMO doing these things plus the usual miscellaneous things we all eventually do, I think you would be in it for under $28, certainly under $30.

If he really is a honest dude, be honest with him. Tell him straight out that at $30 it needs paint and interior work right away.

Good luck
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
rgwiz said:
If you're being told this car has the matching number 350, it has to be a SS. I think I see multi leaf rear springs and he lists trans as a M-21. Quick view in video shows the rear is a 10 bolt.

If you can first save and then blow up the picture that includes the hood springs maybe you could count the number of coils. SS hood has 28 coils and standard hood had 26. I realize the hood has been changed out for a cowl hood but the hinges may be original.

He's saying in the video that they changed the oil pan for added lube safety. Maybe because he's in the desert? Radiator also changed, desert conditions? Also added the larger bell housing to someday put in a bigger clutch. I'm making a lot of assumptions here but listening to him he seems to believe that he did things for the right reasons even if only in his mind. Kinda believable.

Overall it seems to be in typically good condition (except for the lifting paint spots) for a fifty two year old car. Also it's not too messed with being a first gen.

Replacing the interior door panels is a breeze that you can do yourself. The paint issues are another thing. I would visit your favorite auto body guy and show him the pictures. Granted he's going to say that he needs to get into it, but maybe he can give you a worst case scenario ballpark price. I agree with you that this seller sounds like he wants to be honest. He's owned it since '08 and may have bought it after the re-paint so he may not know what is under that paint causing the cracking and lifting.

The asking price is high. I would be somewhere around $25 max. Maybe start at $22. You would have to address the paint issues right away so figure that into your offer. Then change the interior door panels. IMO doing these things plus the usual miscellaneous things we all eventually do, I think you would be in it for under $28, certainly under $30.

If he really is a honest dude, be honest with him. Tell him straight out that at $30 it needs paint and interior work right away.

Good luck
Click to expand...
Interesting - the hood has 28 coils so that increases the chances of originally being an SS? I have asked for the casting number on the block. I have the cowl tag but that doesn't seem to give much away when decoding that, although it's the cleanest tag I've seen!

From talking with him, he seems to know a lot about the car, it's been his pride and joy and I think he just needs to sell up for financial reasons. He has replaced the 10.5 inch clutch with a 12 inch clutch, hence the increase in size on the bell housing.

He's owned for 6 years and repaint was done in 2008.
 
#14 ·
Ray is correct. If this is the original 350 it would be an SS car. Sure looks like multi springs
in the video. Start with verifying the engine pad stamp. If the pad was machined removing
the stamping I would just consider the car a non numbers 68 unless the seller has the POP.
He's not listing it as an SS so if it is he doesn't know it. Here's a CRG link discussing items
to check for SS on a 68.
1968 rs/ss decode help
 
#15 ·
10 bolt rear end. Also, if it's really an M21, it's not original. Only the M20 was available with the 350. The original 10.5" clutch is also an indicator it's not a 350 since that engine came with an 11" clutch. And I would guess the engine isn't original either. Probably started life as a 327. What's the ebay link and the VIN?

Ed
 
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rgwiz
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