The Camaro Club (UK)

Greetings to all

After missing my much loved 2004 Monaro VXR I've taken the plunge and bought another G.M. muscle car, albeit an older one used to own a 1972 Firebird Formula 400 many years ago.

The plan is to collect my new ride later this week, a 1979 Camaro Z28. Really looking forward to classic muscle car ownership and attending the meetings.

Greetings back......

We thrive on pics here so as soon as you can....

I'll do my best, she ain't the tidiest, bit like the new owner
Hopefully I'll be able to spend out a little and begin sprucing her up. Certainly looking forward to fetching the car tomorrow evening.

Ok, so I ventured down from Essex into North Kent last night in the depths of rush hour, pleasant it wasn't. I took Over two hours to reach the seller's destination, a mixture of excitement and apprehension gripped me as me and my lift travelled at a 7 mph average speed over the required 30 miles.

Bearing in mind I'd won this car via auction, although never actually seeing her in the flesh before yesterday. Believe it or not I bought her on the strength of the pictures, convincing and assuring chat with buyer and the all important spec and finally calling it with a flip of a coin!!!

It's fully dark by the time we arrive weaving in out of the traffic and crashing over many an annoying speed bump. Parked outside the seller's home is the car, looking clean with seemingly good shine present from the street lamps.

Sadly the seller couldn't be there due work commitments but a very close family member is runs me through all the details of the car and what's been done. There's plenty of bills that have accumulated over the time owned plus many MOT s and the all important V5, all of it checks out.

We're out to the car. Despite risking being roadkill from the less than forgiving traffic me and the cree torch play detective in search of the terrible tin worm. True to word the only areas of concern are the ones illustrated in the photos. In fact, and yes I know I broke several golden rules in buying a classic car, she actually appears better in the flesh than the photos. The vinyl isn't as faded as pictured, ok, so it could do with a fair few parts replaced, but it'll certainly suffice for now.

Oh dear, she won't start. Turning over fine, but just not firing. I've bought many a car over the years and call me superstitious but something spooky has happened either when I've bought or sold from time to time. In my mind this is just one of those moments.

A few more turns of the key and that's it she awakens! As does any one in the local area trying to grab a few Zzz s before a night shift! That enigmatic and capturing primal sound of a rough idle from a cammed V8 quells that irritating apprehension and the heart begins to rule head

I'm taken for a ride round the block, being shown the essentials and that she drives as described...and then comes a demonstration of the performance available. I'd like to mention my last car was a 2004 Monaro VXR, and although no slouch this Camaro has much more get up gand go! and this spec is the reason behind it http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/hrd ... -bolt-ons/

So, we return to the seller's premises, paper worked signed and the deal is done. Now it's time to drive back. The killer traffic doesn't help and neither does my inexperience with left hookers or the shifter, never had and auto and it's been quite a while since I drove one from across the pond.

Finally I arrive at my destination. I surprise the Mrs, and pleasure the neighbours briefly with the exhaust note at full chat Then once I shut the engine and fumble to lock the door I surprise myself. I stand back with a heart warming feeling and in awe of this wonderfully styled car...this my first classic American muscle car.