31k Mile Survivor: 1979 Chevrolet Camaro

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Despite that the U.S. auto industry was hit again with rising gas prices, 1979 turned out to be a great year for the Chevy Camaro. The automobile saw record sales at more than 282,000 copies. Physical changes would be minimal and the Z28 was on fire with buyers. This ’79 Camaro was one of the 92% built that year with a V8 under the hood, and it’s only seen 31,000 miles of paved highway. While not quite a time capsule piece, this very nice car is in Patchogue, New York, and available here on eBay. Bidding has reached $7,600 but the reserve is still in play.

Second-generation Camaro’s enjoyed an 11-year run from 1970-81. Not a lot was new for ’79, but little things like a redesigned dashboard, an available cassette tape player, and a built-in CB radio (remember the craze?) were thrown in. Nearly half of all Camaro production included the basic 305 cubic inch V8 that output 145 hp everywhere except in California where it was further detuned to 135. The seller says this car originated in Arizona, so perhaps it has the slightly peppier motor.

This Chevy is a low-mile survivor that still wears its original paint, as we’re told. It’s been recently serviced, including new brakes and a tune-up. The tires have lots of tread left and the seller says it drives as well as any 31,000-mile car should, making a road trip heading home should produce no worries. The drivetrain is matching numbers and should have plenty of life left. We’re told everything works as it should, like the various electrical doodads.

Other than a bit of surface rust around the rear window and another spot under the passenger side door, we’re told rust is not a problem with this Chevrolet. The floors and trunk pans look like the day the car was built. The interior is generally nice, but there are some tears in the driver’s side bucket seat. A ’79 Camaro in good condition should be worth $9,000, and this car is at least that nice. What do you think the top dollar should be for this survivor?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. StanMember

    Nice plain sport coupe.
    I think the 145hp may be ambitious Russ.
    I recall them having less ..more like 125-130 range. Either way i remember the 3 spd hydramatic was saddled with a malaise era 2.41 rearend. Nice looking survivor here, almost a Rockford esque version Chevy

    Like 6
    • Jack M.

      You must be thinking of the 267 cubic inch V-8 Stan. It was only available with a two barrel carburetor and was rated at 120 horsepower.

      Like 4
    • John

      I really don’t know if the car has 31,000 miles on it. The seat is worn and the steering wheel and brake pedal are worn also.

      Like 5
  2. Tony Primo

    I have owned 4 second generation Camaros. None of them showed that much wear on the seating surfaces with so few miles. Did the owner drive around with a screwdriver in his back pocket a lot?

    Like 34
  3. AndyinMA

    Oh my goodness I thought for a moment that this was my brown 79 berlinetta. Same color scheme, same engine, but of course mine had different wheels and the stripes, etc. Of course it wasn’t fast and it had its shortcomings, but I was 18 and it was a camaro, who could ask for anything more?

    Like 12
  4. Rob Norman

    My electric red 350 camaro rides and runs out like a dream… can’t believe the power steering is so smooth…. It is better looking than this one, by far, and owing a lot to the sweet touch of the rear spoiler….the seat can be refurbed for around 300.00.

    Like 2
  5. Bick Banter

    Buddy’s mom had a ’79 Sport Coupe back in the day. Same spec as this, only beige. It was a bit slow and we beat it like a drum. Today, I bet you it brings new GTI/WRX/Veloster N money.

    Like 0
  6. mooseandsquirrel

    In 79 I looked at Camaros and Corvettes. I chose to buy a Trans Am with the 403 engine. Faster than either of these cars.

    Like 2
  7. tiger66

    31k on a rebuilt engine, maybe, as the engine looks freshly painted but the rest of the engine bay and A/C compressor shows considerably more grime. Even so, a nice-looking example.

    Like 4
  8. Mrshred

    Silver grill only came with the Berlinetta model. Seating surfaces don’t match the bottoms.

    Like 0
  9. Richard Todte

    Love Camaro’s, but 31K miles with that torn seat and surface rust, I’m thinking 131K miles, still nice though

    Like 11
  10. Scott

    I owned almost the exact car. Ordered it in 1979 and took 16 weeks due to a train strike. Paid $6800 ,Mine was the same color but was the RS with a rear spoiler. She was not a fast car, but a looker and had 70k problem-free miles when I sold it for 4k ten years later. Same exact color and interior!

    Like 2
  11. Haynes

    Cool car…it deserves a hot motor,quick gears,tranny,suspension and a better place to hang that license plate

    Like 1
    • Tony Primo

      That is the correct front license plate mounting location for 1978-1981 Camaros.

      Like 1
  12. Novaman

    I had a gold 81 camaro same style back in the late 80’s . Of course in 80’s style I put air shocks extra wide Chrome rims on the back and louvers on the back window . Price isn’t to bad on this one . Looks like the body is in pretty nice shape . Interior wouldn’t be a hard fix . I take it

    Like 2
  13. Steve Clinton

    The main reason I hated the Camaros of these years was the front facia always ended up looking wavy.

    Like 1
  14. Steve Clinton

    $10,188.00 and the reserve still hasn’t been met.

    “All original ’79 Camaro, Runs, Drives, Stops and Looks like New!”
    A little exaggeration, me thinks.

    Like 8
  15. BB

    31000 original miles ya right. Bidding over 10k why?

    Like 3
  16. srintimidator3Member

    New carpet, black seat belts, extremely worn drivers seat & grungy engine bay smells like 131k!

    Like 5
  17. Denny Tuttle

    I have my 77 RS with 40 thousand miles and still looks new. Seats not worn at all.Its a 350 4 speed posi and all I could get is 3.08 in the rear end at the time I ordered it. Ordered first week of Sept. 1976 ,picked up Dec. 8th 1976.Just turned 40 thousand this fall.Two tone silver with RS stripes.

    Like 8
    • StanMember

      Cool car Denny bet it moves out nice still w stick, and is a good hwy machine w the 4spd and taller rear gear.

      Like 0
      • Denny Tuttle

        Does run nice,about 30 years ago put different 1st and 2nd gears in the 4 speed for better low end starts . Still has factory brakes and wipers on it .Had to change the battery twice in 44 years .Everything is holding up fine on the car. Soon be 45 years and no rain or salt on it.

        Like 2
  18. Swolf

    Can’t believe it’s a 31k car. Beware

    Like 1
  19. Duwop

    Where’s Jim Rockford

    Like 0
    • PRA4SNW

      At the Pontiac dealership.

      Like 2
  20. PRA4SNW

    This makes me miss my ’81 Camaro that I mentioned recently in another thread.

    There were so many of these basic models around and it’s nice to see a few still kicking.

    Like 1
  21. Stevieg

    A skirt I chased “back in the day” had a red one like this, but her child’s father had some legal issues with the car & spray bombed it satin black. He eventually went to jail. I stepped up chasing her skirt, ended up driving that car a lot. Handled well, decent fuel economy for the day, kinda peppy I guess. All in all not a bad car. Terrible in snow!

    Like 0
  22. PRA4SNW

    SOLD for $10,499.

    Not bad.

    Like 0

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