The L30 Camaro may be familiar to some of you Chevy experts out there, but it certainly wasn’t to me until I started researching this 1968 model that’s listed for sale here on eBay. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Patrick S. for turning us on to this neat find! It’s located in Clyde, North Carolina and bidding is up to $14,000 as I write.
As I found out here in this great article, it turns out that the L30 was the only way apart from a Z28 or SS to get the heavy-duty “12-bolt” rear-end and multi-leaf rear springs that were featured on the more publicized performance models. It came with a 327 V8 and a four speed manual transmission as well. This particular one looks largely original apart from the Mopar wheel covers, but there’s certainly some body work to take on.
We’re told that the car only has 63,202 miles, has had two owners and has been stored for 20 years. The car does run and drive, though, and supposedly the rust is limited to the fenders and quarter panels. I’d recommend a closer look or some more pictures to be sure.
The interior makes the low mileage claim believable. I’m surprised to see it as nice as it is.
I’m hoping this is the original 327 V8, and it does look the part. Obviously it could stand to be cleaned up a lot, but remember, it does run and drive. We’re also told the seller has the original paperwork as well, which is a really cool addition to the deal. I’d like to see this car restored nicely and used to educate those of us that don’t know about L30s! Is that what you’d do with this unusual Camaro?
Sure looks like the faded Corvette Bronze my 68 was, not Matador Red.
Nice starting point for a “restoration”.
Auction has been ended. That was quick. I winder if it was sold or there was another reason for it to be pulled.
Steve R
Maybe the cops started investigating whose noggin bent the front clip above the grill? Ouch. No pedestrian crush zone on this baby.
Clyde NC is way out in the mountains. I am thinking someone from Asheville came along and waved cash at the dude and he killed the auction. Wish I would have found it before he did.
Something to have worked with.
That is some intense rust for NC. Also, not sure if I am buying the 63K miles. 20 years in storage still means 30 years on the road making that about 2000 miles per year. mmmmmm, don’t think so. It’s ok if it has 163K miles on it…..does it really matter…. the car has been neglected.
Certainly not garaged for the past 50 years or cared for at all. Still a cool car and worthy of restoration for sure.
I would keep it all stock. There can’t be too many of these kind of Camaro’s around. Besides, it’s all there.
The L30 is a pretty neat little package. It was basically an SS, without the SS badging, and powered by a 4bbl 327. The 327 was not available in the SS, only the 350 and 396. In 69, the 327 was dropped and the L30 was replaced by similar package based on the 4bbl 350, the LM1.
Both the L-30 and the LM1 were relatively rare, and made great little sleeper muscle cars.
I’d say that someone scored themselves a cool little Camaro.
Beautiful, up here in buffalo all the cars that were stored have rust… or at least that is what it seems like.
Agree with TomD leave it as is.
Great find, restore it to original and drive it.
Nice catch on those Aspen hubcaps.
Sooo the clutch pedal chrome stays in tack but the brake petal chrome is gone…? Looks low mileage to me…….
Actually they are referred to as L30/m20 cars but don’t think muncie these camaros had Saginaw four speeds! Love to own one! A guy by me has a very nice L30/m20 camaro convertible.
“We” had a 1966 Nova SS with the L30 motor and an M20 (wide ratio) Saginaw 4-speed. Several of the dealers in our area stocked these cars because they very narrowly squeaked below the 10-pounds-per-horsepower line that the insurance companies had drawn; which, of course encompassed the L79 Novas. I was 16 when my dad bought that Nova and I drove it regularly for over three years.
In ’66, the L30 package had a Carter 4-barrel (an AVS, as I remember), a relatively mild camshaft, heads with 1.94/1.50 valves, 10.5:1 compression and a single exhaust (unless you special-ordered duals). We, of course, added an aluminum intake, Holley carb, solid-lifter (30-30) cam and a set of Hooker headers, as well as swapping out the 3.08 gears for 3.73 set. We also swapped the original heads for a set of ‘feulies’ to get the bigger 2.02/1.60 valves and the long-slot rockers that the cam needed.
That was a really fun little car. After my dad traded it for a new ’70, I missed it so much that I bought one of the 1966 L79 variants in ’72 and still own it.
It went fast ! I really hope the new owner restores it to (close to 😉) stock configuration. Sure don’t see these around much anymore.
Mopar wheel covers? I knew there was something I liked about this car! ;)
L30 engine education is good reading. This month I bought a ’67 Biscayne Wagon that has the original unmolested good running L30 327 w/Powerglide. I need to look and see if it has a 12 bolt rear. Car is junky, but I’ve already been offered $750 for the engine.
The L30 in ‘68 was low production because it was not certified for pollution until December. You don’t often see them. The automatic had a ten bolt.