Some Assembly Required: 1979 Chevrolet Camaro

Sitting in this garage is a 1979 Chevrolet Camaro with a story to tell. It is an unfinished project where the hard and expensive work is complete. The seller didn’t cut corners on their build, striving to return this classic to a factory-fresh state. If a straightforward project build is on your Wish List, this Camaro deserves a close look.

The seller became this Camaro’s custodian in 2018 after buying it from the original owner. It is easy to see why they were drawn to it because it features a comprehensive paper trail documenting every aspect of its history from Day One. They started what was intended to be a light refurbishment in 2020, but as often happens, the project developed a life of its own. They dismantled the car to the last nut and bolt, restoring every aspect of this classic. Everything was restored to its factory form, and any items deemed unfit for service were binned and replaced with predominantly NOS components. Reproduction parts were a last resort, with only a few such pieces finding their way onto this classic. The Camaro never ventured far from a dry climate, helping to explain the lack of significant rust revealed during the build. After stripping everything to bare metal, the seller treated the underside with POR-15 to ensure it will remain rust-free. They massaged the panels until they were dead straight, before applying a dazzling coat of the car’s original Light Blue Metallic paint. All that remains is for the winning bidder to bolt everything back together and the car should present as nicely as it did when it rolled off the showroom floor.

This Camaro’s interior received as much TLC as the exterior, with the seller dismantling and restoring every item. The gauges were refaced and additional sound-deadening material was installed to provide a quieter ride. They replaced parts like the seatbelt warning light, ensuring they worked as they did on Day One. The interior retrim in Black vinyl contrasts the Blue exterior, with this car featuring air conditioning and an AM/FM radio. As with the exterior, all that remains is for the new owner to bolt and screw the final pieces into place.

Things become slightly more complicated when we delve under the hood, but the issue identified by the seller should be easy to address. This Camaro features the company’s 305ci V8 which produced 125hp and 235 ft/lbs of torque in its prime. A three-speed automatic handles shifting duties, with the car also featuring power assistance for the steering and brakes. The car had recently passed its California smog test when purchased by the seller, but an engine rebuild formed part of the project. The components were sent to a machine shop, with the seller reassembling the V8 before dropping it back into the engine bay. It refused to fire, so the seller handed the car to a professional race shop for diagnosis. The company confirmed there was no compression on any cylinders, and further investigation revealed that the machine shop didn’t properly seat the valves. That is one task for the buyer to tackle and should be the only item requiring attention. Almost every steering, suspension, and brake component is new, and with the engine coaxed back to life, this classic should run and drive as well as it did when it rolled off the lot.

The seller listed this 1979 Chevrolet Camaro here on eBay in Denver, Colorado. Subdued bidding has pushed the price to $1,225, which is below the reserve. However, with a healthy number of people viewing the listing, the action could intensify as the end draws near. Unfinished projects don’t appeal to everyone, but the indications are that this Camaro shouldn’t harbor any nasty surprises. Therefore, it will be ideal for someone who finds the idea of rust repairs and other major work unappealing. What would you pay for this classic? More importantly, are you tempted to move on it, hoping to park it in your workshop? We’d love progress reports if that happens.