The Camaro Club (UK)

Hello, I have just bought a really rusty early 67, V8, its a total restoration case and I am weighing up my options quite carefully right now.
I run a small transport and storage yard with a side line in restoring interesting things, cars, old signs, petrol pumps, vintage garage accessories so this Camaro is not really a problem, just time consuming.

I understand it came into the country in November last year from all the paperwork I have with it, I looked it over and almost walked when I saw the state of it but I decided a complete-ish rust bucket was better than no Camaro so bought it anyway.

The rear Shocks are both in front of the axle and the ViN tag is on the driver door shut, it has an LSD fitted and I believe it has Corvette wheels, either both or certainly the rears.

I am 38 years old this year and want to drive this on my 40th birthday in October 2014. we shall see !

Currently on my big thinking list is the pros and cons of a new body shell, very expensive but ought to save a lot of time, the other alternative is to buy almost all the panels and fix this existing shell, that would require both rear quarters, a trunk floor, a parcel shelf assembly, roof and inner drip rails and some floor pan repairs. Oh, and the upper front cowl is gone too....

I can do the job, its just wether I want to spend a year welding.

Welcome to the forum, it's good to have another member and another 1st Gen being restored. Sounds like a big project but at least your giving yourself plenty of time, you might need it though . These things have a habit of taking longer than planned. Good luck with it all.

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Cheers Gerry

Thanks, I am going to court controversy a bit and tell you all now I am intending to build an SS clone, hideaway lamps, all the extra lower valance lamps and red deluxe interior.

Gloss black body, chrome trim around windows and rocker panels.

The car was originally gold and with a low spec interior, its been monkeyed about with long before it got here so I am not quite so afraid of buggering up originality.

Hi there, one noobi to another, glad to say mine is good to go... but an ss clone sounds good.

sounds like you are after building an RS clone

SS option gives you mechanical improvements the RS the hideaway headlamps etc

you can have an RS/SS

sounds like quite a project you have there!

keep us posted

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Kind Regards
TopCat
Secretary
Classic Camaro Club
Member of The Association of American Car Clubs UK
Email :tboles@strathnoon.co.uk Websites: http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com and:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdhLJtR_ZY4

Hi,

In an effort to understand what I have here I have decoded the ViN and body ViN.

It seems the car was built in Los Angeles in the second week of January 1967, as a V8 coupe, it had a Gold Interior with non-headrest bucket seats, It had the option for tinted windows and deluxe seatbelts. Outside it was "double" Gold.

Engine wise it was fitted with a 327 and a two speed powerglide trans.

No Aircon.

The body ViN took some decoding because it was quite badly damaged, it has had a hard impact at some point so it is not readable from the front, we had to remove it and read it from the back in a mirror. I suspect the impact was from a transmission tailhousing judging by the size and shape of the impact.

The Engine is not original, nor is the trans, this backs up my body ViN damage theory. The motor is a 68 from an as yet unknown donor vehicle, I will be making efforts to ascertain what this was.

The Main ViN was in the door shut, and matches the hidden ViNs, (top of cowl and behind the heater box)

Today I removed the intake manifold and cleaned it up, its a nice Edelbrock item so will be going back on what ever motor I build for it, possibly even this one if it turns out to be do-able. I am picking a small job to do each day to get me started while i wait for panel prices to come in from the various people I emailed.

I am going with an RS/SS clone for sure, I like the look of the hidden lamps

Hi and welcome, nice to see a 1st gen project car .
Will be interesting to watch this one take shape ,I always liked the RS/SS combination of looks and performance .The good thing is that just about every panel and part are now available, so even cars that were once almost impossible to restore are now viable...good luck .

Too right about the parts availability, I think it might be possible to build a complte car without actually having a car to start with.

Sort of a Kit car but cooler looking.

I have started collecting smaller parts and bits that I know I am going to have to recondition, the front seats are a long way off being sat in but If I can get a good pair of bases i can get the new foam and covers in for them later on and do them all at the same time when I do need them.

I am lucky in so far as I have loads of storage, I have a container yard as part of the haulage business and we have a good stock of empty containers ! they are a perfect instant garage or parts store.

Welcome to the forum, I'm looking forward to seeing this one come together, I just love the RS version of these cars

cheers...Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

Once I start actually doing the project I will start a project thread.

for the moment I am piXXing about buying little bits and bobs to satisfy my impatience, once I get the big shhet metal parts delivery then the real work starts.