The Camaro Club (UK)

Hello all, I am brand new here and seeking thoughts and opinions.

Firstly, don't shoot me. I am a Mustang owner. A lovely 1965 Coupe.
I had to get what I could afford so please be kind.

Anyway, life is moving on as am I.

I am going to sell my Mustang and a lovely little classic Mini I own and plan on pooling the money from both to buy a Camaro.
I'm a fan of 60's American cars so it has to be a Camaro from this era.

I've started looking into prices and general adverts.

Any of you current owners have any handy tips for what to look out for, what to avoid and so on?

My only stipulation is it MUST have a manual gearbox.
I searched for a year to find a Mustang with a manual box. I just can not do an Auto.

My maximum budget will be around the £30K mark and with any luck will have sold my cars and found the perfect Camaro by summer time.

Thanks all and merry 2019 to everyone.

P.S. Anyone want a 60's Mustang or a heavily modified Mini?
:-)

Hi and welcome, I would have got the shotgun out when you mentioned mustang but as its a classic I think you'll get a pass from everyone on here :-), I don't recall ever seeing a manual 1st gen but there must be a few about, what's the mini had done?

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1997 30th Anniversary SS SLP
1993 GMC Typhoon

Hi there, I have a First Gen Camaro with a 4 speed Muncie floor shifter, they are tricky to get hold of but I searched Classic Car sites and found one in Naperville, Illinois. I'm the same as you, I couldn't be doing with an auto. She's a convertible and came in at under your £30K budget (I've since spent a fair chunk of change on parts but it's all good fun!). Purchased in May 2017 and collected from the importers in December 2017. Let me know if you need any information.

Ha thanks for being kind Twistedsanity.
I only had a small budget when I got my Mustang and was lucky to even get that.
It's my first American V8 and that engine and that era of car has turned into an addictive drug that has no cure.

Just curious, are there any trusted web sites to visit to help de-code the chassis numbers and work out what the car was originally and where it came from?

There is a door plate on my Mustang and it tells me all the details about the original car. needless to say the car is nothing like it was when it left the factory now.

Any tips on anything to watch for will be great.
Thanks all.

Hi and welcome
With reference to help de-coding vin numbers and cowl tags, this site will help:
http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml

Things to look out for...pretty much just the general with rust being the main one to be honest along with previous poor repairs. Have a good look around the car at floors, panel gaps, subframe looks straight, windscreen/rear screen pillars for rust and if the car still has a vinyl roof it has a habit of rusting underneath. Decoding the tags will tell you the basic info; whether it had a V8 or straight 6, trim level, original body colour specs etc. So you are aware there are basic models, SS, RS or both RS SS versions available.

Hopefully you will be enjoying your new Camaro before the summer

This ‘67 manual on eBay for £29,999:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2539926965

Good find, your prayers have been answered already

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1997 30th Anniversary SS SLP
1993 GMC Typhoon

I took a day off work and looked at that one already.
The spec is utterly fantastic but I think it needs a fair bit of money spent on it to make it into a road worthy and usable car.
I made a list and am doing my homework to try and add up what everything will cost to put it on the road properly.

P.S. It was a fabulous motor though. I am sorely tempted despite the cars needs.

If you have concerns i’d wait for spring, more should come available. I’m thinking out chopping my ‘73 for a ‘67 as love the lines. Don’t worry, we won’t competing as I want an auto

The romance of owning a 1st gen is often overcast by the practicities of driving something that feels like the qe2 on rough seas

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1997 30th Anniversary SS SLP
1993 GMC Typhoon