[jeff5295]

Just looking for some opinions. I have a 67 RS/SS 350 4-speed that I found in California about 10 years ago. I have stored it the whole time I've owned it, only driving it a few times, waiting for the right time to do something with it. I'm getting close to that time now. I dug it out of storage last week and brought it to my shop to decide what to do.

It's a solid, mostly complete, driveable car (just missing the headlight doors and motors, and SS hood) in need of a complete restoration. It has some decent options, 4 piston disc's up front, deluxe interior with fold down rear seat, and 12 bolt rear with traction arm. It has no AC or tach/gages or spoiler. Non original motor with some performance mods. Muncie 4 speed, not sure if it's original, with Hurst shifter. It has a GM cowl hood (not a repop), obviously not original. I decoded the trim tag and it was originally Butternut Yellow with black vinyl top, black deluxe interior and bumper guards. It's currently faded silver with black Z28 style stripes and original, well worn but complete interior. The drivers door was smashed before I bought it, but I have anonther California shell to put on it. Quarter panel was damaged as well, but fixable. No rust ever, anywhere, as far as I can tell. It would be a fairly simple restoration, which I'm fully capable of doing myself.

The problem is that I'm not really interested in restoring it completely stock, especially since it doesn't have a numbers matching engine, and the fact that I don't care much for the original color combo. When I bought it, I had envisioned doing sort of a Pro-Touring type "restification". Keeping relatively stock interior and exterior appearance with some performance and handling mods, and possibly a 6 speed manual trans. Maybe add an aftermarket AC unit as well. I would probably go with a non original body color and maybe switch to white deluxe interior, just to be different. The car does not have the vinyl top right now either and I would probably keep it that way.

My question is, given the potential value of a car like this, would it be foolish to not bring it back to original, or at least use original colors with mods that would be reversible? I know it's not worth as much as a big block car, and it's not extremely rare, but it's still worth a decent amount. I like the look of the RS, especially with the cowl hood. I like some of the options this car has as well. But for what I want to do, I really do not need a true RS/SS car, I could easily build a clone to suit my needs. Would it be a "waste" to do these things to this particular car?

I just don't have a real affection for completely stock vehicles and would like to do some cool but tastefull with this one. I kind of know what I want, just not sure if I should do it to this car. And I don't know if I'd like the car as much if when it was finished it was painted yellow with a black top. My uncle has an exact clone to this car, but his is a big block SS with more options, so there'd be two Butternut Yellow 67's in the family if I went that route.

Let me know what you guys think, I welcome all opinions...

 

[Gary L]

Hello Jeff. Going too far from stock hi-po is not a real option for me. PT may be a good way to go on this car. Modifying the subframe is not too bad. Another one could be used to restore it if someone wanted to do that. Non-stock paint is reversible also. If you want to go pro-street I say it may be better to buy a plain jane to start with. They are all getting expensive to buy. The real value is in originality. But that is getting marginal with all the faking going on these days.

 

[jeff5295]

Thanks for the reply Gary,

I would never cut this car up (no wheel tubs, roll cage, or anything to that extent). If I wanted something like that, I'd definately be shopping for a plane-jane. I couldn't bring myself to hack up a rust free floor and trunk pan. Maybe some subframe connectors, swaybars, drop spindles, that sort of thing is what I had in mind, and possibly leave off the front bumper for a cleaner look. Everything would be tasefully done and well executed. I'd like to make it handle well and have some modern items like an OD trans and AC, maybe a LS1 someday. Something nice to cruise in, have some fun on winding roads, and take on Power-Tour and similar events.

I get mixed opinions on straying from the original colors. Some people think I'll destroy the value, some say it doesn't matter if it wasn't a very desirable color anyway. I'm envisioning a dark metallic purple/plum color with a "ghost" RS stripe of a slightly different shade of purple. I know just about anything I would consider doing to it would be relatively reversible, but it would take some time and money to do so. Changing colors later is a huge job (door jambs, inside edges of fenders, etc) and would require almost complete disassembly to do it right. So yes, almost anything is reversible to some extent, but not necessarily easy to do.

For the interior I was thinking of going with white deluxe and keeping it mostly stock. Possibly some aftermarket gages under dash or on the console, stereo, shifter, and AC would be the only non stock appearing items inside.

I can't seem to get myself convinced to make this one all stock, I just don't think I'd be content with that. If it were an extremely rare model (Z28, pace car, or big block, etc) I don't think I would be asking these questions, but I not sure about this car. Since it's not a "surivor" in reasonable original condition, I feel a little less guilty about not making it stock. I'll probably never sell it either, so maybe I'm worrying over nothing on the value. I just want to make sure I'm not making a stupid mistake by not restoring it stock and be kicking myself later. I don't want to be one of "those guys" that ruins a relatively rare car by making some personal choices about how to build it.

Do you guys think this car is rare enough to be worrying about these issues, or should I just build it the way I want and have fun with it?

 

[Old Man]

I don't know how rare a 67 RS/SS just not numbers matching is but I would find a plain jane to resto if that's what you want to do and leave the RS/SS alone, jmo.

 

[Microgiant]

I vote for do whatever you want. Its your car. It may not be what I would do but hey its just a car and its not like there arent a bunch of others around.

 

[PowerWindows]

I vote for do whatever you want. Its your car. It may not be what I would do but hey its just a car and its not like there arent a bunch of others around.

X2. That's what I'm doing with mine. It's not a real RS/SS nor is it an original BB car. But that's what I wanted, I got the car for a song 20 years ago, had the parts lying around and after stripping it and drag racing it for several years with a 427, I decided to restify it and clone what I wanted. Although I'm going with orig paint and interior (Emerald Turquoise with Parchment deluxe) not much else about the car came on it except the power windows (it's on the tag), power steering and maybe the 4-piston caliper power disc brakes and tilt wheel (which were on the car when I bought it).

Some folks frown on this but I say hey, it no longer has the #'s matching drivetrain, I have all the parts (from years of collecting and restoring other cars) so why not. Besides, I intend to make it an occasional driver. I never intend to falsify anything and an original power window car is of more interest with the original tag anyway.

I say enjoy your car the way you want to.

 

[Stewie]

Jeff: I have been in the hobby for almost 40 years and I am finding a trend towards using late model technology in the first Gens.. I have owned several Zs that I resto'd to stock form and one was an umolested orginal. The beauty of using the modern parts is that you get 40 years of technical advances and it makes driving them much more pleasing, and less of a chore. I have seen stock cars changed to ZZ4s with 6 speeds (GMJIM). The original components were kept and will go with the car if it is ever sold. That is the breauty of doing this because you can always put it back to stock.
I have gone from the 100 point cars to fun drivers. I am slowly changing it over to modern technololgy and it has made the experience so much more fun and safer. Modern disc brakes over drum! Colors can be changed and basically you will have a great looking, great handling hot rod, with the retro look. Just take a look at what the big three are doing with their retro Camaro, Mustang, and Charger.
I think that is the trend in the hobby. Almost stock looking exterior styling with modern technology underneath. Jump in it and drive anywhere with style and comfort.

 

[Mark .L.W.]

I agree with Stewie , i started out with mine with the stock rebuild with all the numbers , i soon found this to be not what i wanted , i went the modern stuff and the car is so much fun to drive . These cars stock with a 4 spd and 3:73 gears in the rear will just plain wear you out . In two years we have just over nine thousand miles on our car and love every minute of it . Build it and drive it the wat you want it to be .
Mark.

 

[Firewheel Classics]

Do what you want with the car, it's yours! If you think your going to sell it soon after restoration, then I would put it back to the original color, because the first question asked will be, is it the original color or is it the original engine? Just have fun with it, lifes short!

 

[jeff5295]

Well, you guys are making my decision easier. I was kind of feeling guilty about doing these mods when I could get the same results starting with a plane-jane, but it sounds like my car is not quite rare enough to be concerned. It'll probably piss-off some of the purists, but I guess they'll have to get over it, right?

 

[camaromaniac]

Based on what you want to do, I would restore the RS/SS to stock and paint it a stock color (not necessarily Butternut) and then keep or sell the car and then buy a plain jane and do your laundry list with it. I have just seen too many guys perform major mods and then decide to sell the car only to find out (big surprise) that there aren't many perspective buyers. Charlie 69 RS

 

[yellow69RS]

I doubt my 69 RS with a fold down seat is ever going to be worth triple digits. I saw several restomoded cars at the recent Mecum auction bid over $50,00 grand. I don't recall any "regular" restored cars at the auction just the ultra rare, so I don't think it hurts the value much to restomod. I like my original color but have tossed around the idea of a more modern color too. Time will tell what's in the gun when I pull the trigger. I think everything you are talking is reversable so do it the way you like and don't look back.
jmho ymmv

Jeff

 

[jay'srs/ss]

I say do what you want! :yes:

I also have a 67 RS/SS 350, that is a real RS/SS 350 car with the correct tranny, rear end, & engine. When I bought it, it wasn't the original color which was Granada Gold. It was a faded red, and in desperate need of a repaint. Since I had wanted this car since I was a kid, and once I found the right one I knew I'd keep it a long long long time I was okay with changing the color. So since it was red, I went with red again. And even though it wasn't a correct red for the car, Porche Guards Red, I didn't think it would hurt the value much. "Resale Red" they say right. And since the block, tranny, & rear end were correct to the car I wanted to leave that alone, for now. So I upgraded everything else to make it a great performer, but if it came down to it I could convert it back to stock. So I put Baer Disc Brakes on all four corners, Tubular Upper/Lower Control Arms, Hotchkis Suspension front & rear, lots of engine bolt ons, the list goes on. I was going for a semi stock look, with a lil pro touring underneath, and just an awesome car to have. I do plan on swapping the Muncie for a Tremec 5 Speed, and upgrade to some posi in the rear. But I'll save the stock stuff of course.

Sure I'd love to have a LSx, 6 speed, 4 link, mini tubbed, serious pro tourer. But for a real RS/SS car that would've been too much maybe. I'd do that to a plain jane any day. But again it's your car, so do what you want. Restomods can bring some good dough if they're done right. Good luck! :beers:

 

[jeff5295]

I was kind of half expecting to get "bashed" on this site for event thinking about doing these things to this car, but it looks like a lot of you have the same ideas as I do.

I'm not building my car with the intent to sell, but you never know what life might throw at you, making you want/need to sell a toy. Seeing that some of you are making similar mods to similarly optioned cars makes me feel a little better about doing mine the way I had envisioned when I first bought it.

I can't see restoring this car stock and selling it to build another one, that's a lot of work and money, even if I could turn a good profit on it. It'd probably make more sense to sell as -is and buy something else to build, as I have a shop full of projects as it is. But by the time I found a clean plane-jane and added the RS trim, disc brakes, and 12 bolt, it'd probably be a wash, or even cost me more money. Plus my wife now says she'll leave me if I get rid of this car (I knew there was some good reasons I married her :thumbsup. So it's looking like I'll build what I want with this one. Either that or I'll be looking for a new project and a new wife too. I don't think I could do better on either, so I better stick with what I've got.

Thanks for all of the input, I appreciate everyone's opinions.

Jeff

 

[thorpe67RS]

You certainly would not get bashed on here for doing what you want to your car. If you had a real and correct Yenko car that you were going to paint pink and drop a 6 cylinder in it you would certainly get many folks saying you might want to reconsider. But its still your car and you can do what you want with it. Its not numbers matching so its even less of a "big deal". Do what you want and have fun. Some modern era upgrades can sure make it more enjoyable to drive. Thats exactly why i put a 383 and a tremec 5 speed in mine. Wouldnt have it any other way now. Good luck!!

 

[1st 67 SS/RS]

I have a 67 true SS/RS that has a replacement 350 and the color has been changed. I was torn too, I lean toward keeping things close to stock but the whole point to having my Camaro is to enjoy it! The upgrades that I have done can be changed back if I what to go back to stock. Do what you want so you enjoy driving it, don't let it sit for another 10 years.

 

[1967 Plum]

I have two 67 RS/SS350's. My first one is a true Granada Gold car, now Marina Blue. It doesn't have the original engine but I have collected all the parts to have a casting number/date code correct engine. I am in the process of installing it now. I much prefer the blue paint now to the original gold. It is an auto car.

My second car is a true RS/SS350 4 speed car. It is a car someone put on the track and came to me with no engine/transmission, and a 10 bolt rear. I have completed the sheetmetal work, keeping the car orignal looking. I am going the LSx route with a T56 transmission in it. Four piston disk brakes all around, aftermarket A/C, new 12 bolt rear, etc. This will be a better performing car all around with the latest technology. It was originally a buttenut car.

In the end I will have one pretty stock car and a more modern, better performing version. I'm not too worried about their value as my wife will be the one to sell them after I am dead.

 

[Car nut]

Do it for you. I would kick myself to drive or look at my car after it was done and say " I wish it had this or that". I can appricate an original car but it should not be the first criteria unless it is a special car. Brian

 

[rod67ss]

Paint jobs no matter how well kept will need to be redone at some future point so I believe in having it the color you want.... Explains why my Granada gold SS has been brandywine candy for the last 20 years!