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'69 vs. modern cars?

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ro9397

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have driven modern European cars & own an '04 Monte Carlo S/C, which handles OK (for FWD),& is smooth & quiet.

I'm thinking about buying or building a nice '69 coupe to replace my Monte Carlo daily driver. Priorities are quietness (I'm old & need my hearing for music interests), ride quality, & handling precision. An '04 Tahoe weighing 5000lbs has decent power with a small block, so I'm sure a Camaro with a small-block & A/T will have adequate thrust.

1. Considering my experience with newer cars, if a Camaro was built with my above goals in mind, how might you compare the noise levels (at cruising), ride quality, & handling precision? Damping materials would be added, all new door seals, body openings sealed, quiet exhaust/intake, best suspension components, body/chassis braces added, etc...

2. Is the company that makes new copies of '69 convertible bodies now also selling coupes?

3. If I started with a new '69 body, are all other necessary parts available new, either OEM or reproductions?

If anyone knows of a nice '69 in the SF Bay Area, where the owner might take me for a brief ride, please let me know.

I appreciate your help. I can supply home theater or home audio system advice (my hobby) if interested.

Jim R., Sonoma County CA
 
#2 ·
http://www.dynacorn.com/

Here's your answer on the coupe question. If you could start w/ a new coupe body probably 99% of the parts are available. Why not find a nice pro-touring conversion (what you are really talking about) to buy already done? You can buy one less expensive that building one. That is unless you want the fun of building a car. Welcome to the site.
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
Gary
Talk to me! Where can I read about pro-touring conversions? Good sources to purchase one? What do you think about daily driver application? It would be nice to own & drive a fantastic looking & nice running car that does not depreciate. I only suggested building because I thought it would be too difficult to find a Camaro as described.

This site is great. Chevy fans are great people! Thanks for the tips.

Jim R., Petaluma CA
 
#4 ·
I found this for sale - price seems pretty steep, here is the description:

350 4BBL V8 (built by professional speed shop) approx 585Hp, Auto w/OD (700R4 w/2500 stall), Power rack & pinion steering, Power 4 wheel disc brakes (Wildwood), Tilt w/custom leather wrapped steering wheel, Vintage AC, Power windows, Custom built interior w/BMW leather seats, $10,000 sound system w/DVD, Painless wiring / custom Tangerine paint w/ghost stripes, Keyless entry & trunk, 18” Torque Thrust II wheels, 12 bolt rear w/4.11 Moser posi, Polished billet & chrome throughout, Only 500 mi on complete “Every Nut & Bolt” frame-off resto, Car built by professional rod & custom shop, All updated suspension w/poly bushings, Approx $115K invested, Receipts for all work & parts, Way too much to list! The Best of the Best Bowtie Bad Boys!!

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It here : ProTouring 69 Camaro

Just shows its cheaper to buy (sell at 70k and 115k invested) than to build. protouring cars can be had for much less than this one.
 
#5 ·
I doubt that this is what Jim has in mind. Don't get me wrong it is a very nice car, but with a 585hp engine it will be far from quite. Although most pro-touring style cars have an upgraded level of comfort (like in better seats) but also have a firmer ride, due to wider tires, performance shock absorbers and higher springrates. Also most make more noise than stock, because it makes more power (and the owners like that sound!)

A very mild/stock smallblock with factory stock exhaust is pretty silent, so I would look for a non high performance model that has not been to much modified. You could easily modify it to your needs (better seats, A/C, soundsystem etc). And if you make sure the modifications are easily reversible you will always be able to sell the car again at good value.

I don't believe a '69 Camaro will reach the exact level of comfort as a brand new car, but it also has something no new car has!
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Originally posted by Dutch69Camar:
I doubt that this is what Jim has in mind. Don't get me wrong it is a very nice car, but with a 585hp engine it will be far from quite.

Yes, my sentinments exactly.

A very mild/stock smallblock with factory stock exhaust is pretty silent, so I would look for a non high performance model that has not been to much modified.
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Exactly what I was thinking. I'm considering building from scratch because I could install a state-of-the-art 4.8L, 5.3L, or 6.0L Chevy V8. I've driven trucks/SUVs with all three motors, & they are some of the best motorvators extant: smooth as silk, strong, quiet, & a sound to die for. What more could you ask for? I want something quiet so I never tire of long drives, which I expect to make a lot of.

You could easily modify it to your needs (better seats, A/C, soundsystem etc). And if you make sure the modifications are easily reversible you will always be able to sell the car again at good value.
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Makes sense to me!

I don't believe a '69 Camaro will reach the exact level of comfort as a brand new car, but it also has something no new car has!
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I'm needing only something relatively smooth & quiet, not equal to my Monte. The Camaro's specialty is the ability to turn heads of just about anyone within view! The '69 is certainly one of the best proportioned & best looking cars extant.

My sirname is Romeyn. Thanks for the input from the Netherlands!
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#9 ·
There is good information on dropping in a LT1/LS1 in the 1st gens. My long term plans are to go there with my 67 coupe. My first focus will be on the body and suspension though.

www.ls1tech.com is a good source for that information.
 
#10 ·
Originally posted by ro9397:
Gary
Talk to me! Where can I read about pro-touring conversions? Good sources to purchase one? What do you think about daily driver application? It would be nice to own & drive a fantastic looking & nice running car that does not depreciate. I only suggested building because I thought it would be too difficult to find a Camaro as described.

This site is great. Chevy fans are great people! Thanks for the tips.

Jim R., Petaluma CA
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I just figured to start the answers. Other guys here are more knowledgeable than me on the pro touring thing. I like original stock type cars. OK, maybe headers but mostly stock. :D
 
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#12 ·
Since I have both a 69 camaro and 96 RS camaro, I would suggest a 4th generation camaro. If you did not care about comfort and ride, than build the 69. Another thing to consider is theft. 69 camaros are pretty easy to steal and they are on the top ten list of stolen muscle cars. Also you can make them into the perfect car but it will cost big time $$$. You can get a 4th gen z28 for a pretty decent price and 305hp will definitely move you. If its not enough, put a $4000 supercharger on it and a new aftermarket exhaust. The new camaros handle great and the ride is much better than a 69, plus they get 25mph on the highway. Although the 69 is much cooler, the new camaros are definitely the cheaper way to go and can offer the same or better performance with the comfort your looking for. If you get a 4th gen that was done right it will turn heads, not as many as a 69, but it will turn heads.
 
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#13 ·
Jim - one of our members wrote a book on the subject... http://www.camaros.net/books/index.shtml on the right.. Also be sure to check out the Goodguys show in March at the fairgrounds in Pleasenton... I think what you find on the sites listed by the others will get you going but you may find most of it on the extreme (not that that is bad) side.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
I sat in a 4th gen Camaro & 3rd gen Pontiac Forumla. I'm too tall & wide to fit comfrotably. I sat for twenty minutes in a C6. The wheel was too close to my legs. I've given up fitting in good-looking modern American sports cars (the GTO is a styling failure, plus mediocre handling).

I'm going to check the fit in a neighbor's 1st gen Camaro. By appearances, it seems the 1st gen offers a more upright seating position & greater head clearance for entry/exit compared to the three later generations. Is this correct?

There are great European cars but I want a non-depreciating USA V8, preferably with "Chevrolet" stamped on the valve covers.

The '05 Mustang looks good but it's a Ford, plus V6s are girl cars (fine, but I want a guy car). Actually most new cars are girl cars because women buy more than half the new cars. Have you noticed how effeminate virtually all new M-Bs are?

Cheers!
Jim R.
 
#16 ·
Jim be prepared to relocate the seats further aft than they came stock on any first gen Camaro. I'm 6' 1" tall and have difficulty getting in and out of four speed cars. The best way I've found is to fully depress the clutch pedal for a little extra leg room to slide my leg between the larger diameter wheels that the manual steering cars had ( don't like power steering first gens) and the seat. This works but there is not enough leg room for me in a first gen and it seems the seat is a little lower than I prefer to sit. The 68-72 Nova has a seating position that I much prefer. I can comfortably rest my arm on the window opening. In a first gen your arm is pretty elevated to do this.

Several members have posted a modification that is easily made to relocate the drivers seat further aft on a first gen Camaro.

By the way the first gen cars are pretty noisy with little or no sound deadening and don't really ride very well in stock form. But I like the road noise and hearing every thing working on the car, I don't like a radio, I'd rather listen to the car. The suspension there is a lot that can be done to improve the ride and handling of the cars, it's matter of how much you want to do.
 
#17 ·
That '69 convertible is a pro built car for a company (Year One I think) that sells camaro parts, I bet it cost over 100k to built that car.

Like DJD mentioned on the pro-touring site many cars are pretty extremely modified. Do what you mentioned yourself, any of the engines you mentioned would make a great cruiser out of a '69.

So do your ancesters originate from Holland?
 
#18 ·
Jim, just a short bit of advice. BE PATIENT ! Spend some serious time looking for what turns your crank. There are a ton of mods out there and just as many builders. When you find your car, make sure and check out the builder as well as you would the car to insure that you get a professional job. Resto Mod and pro touring are really becoming popular and a personal favorite of mine. There are some terrific cars out there, keep looking, you'll find yours. Best of luck
Scott
 
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