In the world of big block muscle and pony cars, $2,500 doesn’t get you much. In this case it gets you a rusty shell of a 1969 Camaro that the seller claims is an SS 396. The engine is gone, the rest of the drivetrain is missing and the title is long gone. However, the trim tag and VIN are still with it, so if you can fix all the rust, track down all the needed parts and manage to wrangle up a title you could possibly have a real big block ’69 Camaro! You can find this massive undertaking here on eBay in Cabot, Arkansas.
The seller claims that for less than the price of a brand new Dynacorn body, you could repair this shell. Unless you are able to do all the work yourself, I’m not so sure about that thought. I guess if you have a welding unit, a grinder and plenty of time on your hands, anything is possible. My guess is that most people would remove the VIN and trim tag from it and slap them on a nice new body and start building it from there.
In this case, the body is really just one of many hurdles that the next owner will have to clear. Once you have the body either rebuilt or a replacement sourced, you are going to have to track down the proper 396 V8 for it, with accompanying transmission, rear end, brakes and suspension. Some of those parts aren’t too difficult to find, but finding a date correct 396 could get expensive. A crate engine would probably be the easiest option, but it won’t be quite the same as knowing you have everything the way it was when it was new.
This really is a huge undertaking, but if you are patient and capable of doing the work yourself, this could actually turn out to be a reasonable way to get into an SS 396. Don’t get me wrong, in the long run, it will likely cost far more than buying one that’s already finished. But with this one, you can spread the cost out over time while having the satisfaction of building it the way you want. So do you think this shell is really a 396 car and is it worth $2,500 or is it overpriced?
You’re buying vin and build plates…nothing more, nothing less
I have a better idea. Restored this will cost tens of thousands, and that’s if you do it your self. How about going down to your friendly local Chevy dealer and stimulate the economy? Buy your self a new Camaro with 500 HP, good gas mileage, a warranty, reliability, better comfort and handling, and save a whole big bunch of cash? With some of the time and money you save, take your wife on a nice long vacation and rejuvenate your marriage. That smile on her face will spread to yours, she will make sure of that. This insanity of prices has to stop. If this hunk of rust were a few hundred dollars, well, maybe, but its whole existence is to become something it is not, a bold faced lie…and that is not only wrong, it is immoral.
Beautifully stated….thanks
Some people like fixing things and prefer the challenge.All the parts, tools, and materials he purchases will stimulate the economy too.
You don’t have to buy it, what do you care if someone else does?
Hi Scott, that’s true, except, when people ask exorbitant prices for items like this, it conveys a message, all ’69 Camaro’s are worth big bucks, regardless of what’s left, and it sends shock wave’s through the hobby, pretty much eliminating the little guy from enjoying it. Another problem, is yes, rebuilding this would stimulate the economy, just not the part that really needs stimulating. Unless there really is a shortage of ’69 Camaro’s ( there’s 233 for sale on Hemmings alone) like Billy sez,( in so many words, if I may) this stuff is killing the hobby.
Marriage counseling 101
@Howard A, agreed. The hobby is awash in rich boys who do not work by the hour like most of us do, and they have pretty much killed off the possibility of owning many of the cars from our youth. Yes, a few “regular” guys have made some cash, esp. those who have the time and talent to work on this themselves, but the end result is usually the same, the Average Joe is left out. When I had my 1970 Road Runner crushed in 1980 because I couldn’t afford to fix the transmission for the second time because I was in college, little did I know what was going to happen. I lament that choice because it was my first car and I sure would like it back, but having it because it was a warm fuzzy memory is one thing, not having it as an investment. Many of us would have these as a hobby, keeping for years, to pass on. I am sure a lot of that still happens, but for most, that’s not a possibility. I am pleased I can go to a car show and see these, and maybe the prices do mean that more are restored so I can, but looking at an over restored example behind a rope is not the same as being able to go over to your buddies house and go out for a ride, that’s what the hobby should be about.
If I am not mistaken, there is NO WAY to determine if this was a true SS or a 396 car from the VIN or the cowl tag. So without a title and no way to prove what it really is, the VIN’s don’t hold that much value. Still may be a worthwhile project if you throw it in the garage and collect parts for a few years as you work on getting bargains. Worth about $1,500 in my opinion. I just bought a similar condition 70 Dodge Challenger body for $900.
Would the build tag tell you the 396?
I guess it kind of looks like a Camaro. Sort of. Maybe if you squint.
Can’t wait to hear the “group’s” response to this. It appears someone took off everything their 101 piece Craftsman set would allow.
Lol 😁 looks like from the Roadrunner cartoon characters junk yard, or Fat Albert’s trash dump.. Geez now really why would anyone put this up for sale ? How bout just give it too Chip Foose at Overhaulin..
At what point do you just throw in the towel and say” Is it really worth it?”. Would you be better off with tube chassis, modern suspension and engine? Hold out for a better car? Or just say what the hell and buy a brand new Camaro. I’ve done a couple cars for the “labor of love”. After busted knuckles, stitches, and the lack of love I gave to my family, I was not feeling the love. Ok, I’m off my soap box.
$250. Donner Car and 250 is pushing it.
It’s a little hard to tell but from what I can see the only bad rust is the floor pan. If you were to media blast this thing you might find a salvageable shell, in the hands of a restorer your already ahead of the game because the front subframe is still there. This car if your a good scrounger would come back together for far less than what has been predicted in above comments, not all replacement parts need to be new. Like I said you need to be a good scrounger. finally for some guys it more fun to build them then it is to drive them, lots of guys are the type that as soon as it’s finished their out looking for another car to start on. Not everyone wants a shiny new one.
Here at this place you can purchase whole Camaros’ and other Muscle cars Cheap some being Insurance Theft Recovery, Flood Damage to even cars that set for years somewhere.. RepairableCars-ForSale.com
IF you don’t mind a SALVAGE TITLE maybe.
There is lots of ways around a Salvage Titles..
The heater core cover that is on the floor is definitely big-block Camaro. However, just about every part that can be removed has been, so it seems odd the one item that identifies with big block just happens to be with it.
Labor of love is one thing and I’m all for it.
The labors of Hercules are another matter,
looks like it was wrecked pretty hard then completely picked over to create an base Camaro with lots of SS parts this is whats left. is it worth 2500? no way…
Lots of good comments here. I agree with pricing on the classic musclecar. When I was looking for something to give some love to, I looked at thousands of ads. Most if them overpriced for a working class, married with kids guy like me. But I believed that there was something out there. I found it last fall just a few miles from my home. It was a original and unmolested 69 Coronet 440 Hardtop with a 383-2. It does not look very pretty, but it is all there, and the only rust is in the trunk. The price was extremely reasonable and within my budget. I know I am very lucky to find something like that and am very grateful. It still had the orginial California black plates on it from when it was new. The point is readers, that there are still cars out there for the average person with a average income. But you have to be patient, and flexible to what you would buy. A person could make an offer on this Camaro, and piece it back together, using some used parts to make it a driver knowing it would be okay as is because they saved it. Love this website.
Look at my post comments above Gunner at that place where there is tons of tons of Camaros’ and other muscle cars at.. Awhole lot better than this one in Arkansas shell, prices from make offers to $7k too $8k cars
Looks like you’re not even getting a good body tag. The only things this promises is that it’s a 69 Camaro, was built with a V8 (ANY V8) in Van Nuys, and was originally Fathom Green.
Real tags & clear ownership for a 69 are worth what he’s asking, more if you can verify if it’s a rarer model (z28 etc). This is a Van Nuys car (L in Vin). You can get original color & interior from trim tag but not model like a Norwood car (X22, X66 = big block SS)
But your not getting “clear ownership” with this deal! There’s NO TITLE! Your getting a distroyed front sub frame, a stripped shell, a rust pitted vin and a cowl plate. You’d need a build sheet to verify this is a real big block SS!
Yeah you’re right you could go buy a new one and then you have a piece of junk like everybody else has around you, I would much rather have something and do it myself make it my way instead of buying a cookie cutter from your local Chevrolet dealer just saying
Another way of looking at it, if you bought a new car you could take your kids on rides, join a club, ect. Depending your kids age how long they would stand working on a project rather than electronic game. I find no fault with either chain of thought. A kid that grew up with a certain brand tends to stick to it. A kid that is bored out of his her skull will like other things. A 2017 Camero in 40 years will be desirable. An 80 yo car may not be drive able like a model A is today. My son and I redid a MG Midget and a VW bug while he was in high school. He is now a gearhead. It’s a two way street. I love the ideas on this board.
I wouldn’t exactly call a new Camaro “junk”. Oh, you might have fun in a straight line with that 454 under the hood, but will you be able to stop? I can. On the curves I will pass you and leave you in the dust, do it in air conditioned comfort to as I listen to my favorite tunes via satellite radio. I am happy you are talented and have a hobby, but do not discount modern conveniences.
A good car to learn every aspect of restoring a car when you are done you should be damn good and proud as hell!
Los cars does not tell you much , not like Norwood , could be 396 or not . Norwood started mid to third week Dec 1968 with codes x22 ,x66
It would make a good 69 Camaro Charcoal grill the Trunk..
80.00 bucks a ton where I’m at, you haul it in.
It’s sad the Chevy didn’t document their cars. Not having a title or build sheet it would be extremely difficult to verify its authenticity. That being said, if someone wanted to build a 69 Camaro and had either lots of time or money, this one could be saved. And you never know, a title search may reveal the previous owner and they may be able to file for a lost title. Build sheet would seem to be more valuable.
Blank canvase
Blank canvas, like the “art” where someone spits paint on and calls it something esoteric and then places a big price tag on. Then waits for all the oo’s and ahh’s from semi brain dead, overly rich people to make offers on it. Laughs all the way to the bank and stops off at the local watering hole to buy the house a round.
I’m looking for exactly this (Well an original phantom Green body Preferably with the subframe). Looking to recreate my HS car to take back to my 30th Class reunion in a couple of years. Does anyone know what happened to this body? Send me a message at RobSchlack@gmail dot com :)