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350 Equipped: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro X44

Emerging from this shed is a 1969 Camaro that offers a world of choices for its next owner. They might decide to transform it into a mild-mannered cruiser or add some performance upgrades to its 350ci V8 to create a brute of a vehicle. All of that is in the future because they will first need to park it in their garage. This might not be hard, as the owner has listed the Camaro for sale here on eBay. It is located in Danville, Iowa, and with the bidding sitting at $11,100, the reserve has been met. That means that someone is mere days away from beginning their transformation on this classic pony car.

Choosing the right candidate for a project build can, at times, be challenging. Some cars show promise but can be let down by crippling rust problems that will cost an arm and a leg to rectify. That isn’t the case with this Glacier Blue Camaro. Yes, it does have rust, but it hasn’t managed to get its claws too deeply into this classic. The owner admits that there are a few spots in the floors that will need to be tackled, but it doesn’t appear that these are particularly bad. Nothing is visible in the supplied photos, which opens the possibility that they might be addressed with patches rather than complete floor replacement. The frame rails are said to be sound, while the top of the dash and the cowl appear to have little more than some surface corrosion. There are also the usual spots in the lower panels like the rockers and rear quarter panels, but once again, I think that patches could be the go here. Some of the trim will need to be replaced, but the tinted glass looks like it might be in good condition.

It appears that this Camaro rolled off the production line with a 307ci V8 under the hood, but someone has performed a transplant. The engine bay now houses a 350ci small-block that is backed by a Turbo 350 automatic transmission. That combination, allied with power steering, should make the Camaro an effortless car to drive. It isn’t clear what the specifications are of that iconic V8, but it offers the buyer plenty of options to consider. Left in a mild state of tune, this would be a comfortable and civilized classic that would make an accomplished daily driver. However, it is possible to extract some mind-blowing power figures from a 350, so it would be possible to transform the Camaro into a complete animal. It will come down to a matter of personal preference, and in a build like this, there are no right or wrong answers. The Camaro does run and drive, but it doesn’t appear that it is roadworthy. The owner admits that it will need a fuel pump, but it isn’t clear what else will need to go onto the shopping list. The saving grace with project cars like the 1st Generation Camaro is that parts are readily available and affordable. That means that returning it to a roadworthy state might not be difficult or expensive.

There’s no hiding the fact that the Camaro’s interior will need a lot of work if it is to be returned to a presentable state. How this is tackled will depend on the path that the buyer chooses to follow with this build. Since it is a blank canvas, they could decide that custom trim would make the car stand out once complete. However, if they want to achieve a more factory-fresh look, the seller is giving them a starting point. He includes a new set of seat covers in the original trim shade of Dark Blue. Admittedly, these alone won’t necessarily determine the buyer’s choice, but it is a starting point to consider. If a stock appearance is to be achieved, the shopping list will still need to have door trims, rear seat trims, carpet, a headliner, and a dash pad, as a minimum. The original console looks like it is beyond salvation, and it appears that a few dash components might also be missing. The list is sure to be a long one, but the final result should be worth the cost and effort.

Usually, I would look at a project car like this 1969 Camaro, and I will develop a clear picture of how I would tackle any restoration work. This car is different because the choices are enormous. It could easily be a tidy and mild-mannered cruiser, but it wouldn’t take much work to transform it into a vehicle with huge power figures being generated by the venerable 350. Of course, the buyer might also choose to scrap the entire drivetrain and tackle this as a restomod. That last option has its attractions, but it comes down to personal preference? Which way would you jump?

Comments

  1. Avatar Steve R

    The 350 engine, though nice, doesn’t much add value. Rebuildable 4 bolt main short block cores can be found for $200, sometimes less, which becomes a moot point if the next owner decides to go with one of the plentiful and inexpensive crate engines, big block upgrade or LS conversion. Even used good running 350’s with some mild performance upgrades can be found for $1,000. What really matters is how complete the car is and the condition of items which make the 350 chump change in comparison, such as structural rust, floors, dash, console, etc.

    Steve R

    Like 14
    • Avatar Dave

      Yeh, it’s a blank slate alright, a rust-colored one. It’s the rust you can’t see that gets you in the wallet!

      Like 5
  2. Avatar DON

    How would I jump ? Away from this , especially at the price its at right now !

    Like 1
  3. Avatar Charles Sawka

    Looks like a lose-lose situation to me. You can find way better ones, they’re not rare.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar victor Sanchez

    I restored my 1969 Z/28 about 6 years ago it took 6 years and around $75,000.00 to build and I love the way it came out but, like more than one person has said start with the best you can afford because it adds up QUICK , I’ve thought about selling it but I just don’t know who would give me what I have in it ANYWAY good luck to the new owner //// by the way I’m not a rich banker just a run of the mill retired Firefighter/ Paramedic so us normal folks can do it /// WHEEEEWWW

    Like 2
  5. Avatar John b

    U forget to explain what x44 means

    Like 1
    • Avatar Steve R

      It means nin SS, non Z28, without style trim option. Basically, it’s a plain Jane 69 Camaro. If you are interested in a more thorough description, Google X44 Camaro.

      Steve R

      Like 3

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