Oh, the idyllic suburban house with a 1977 Camaro Type LT sitting outside. Who wouldn’t be drawn in? Larry D found us this car, listed here on ebay for a current bid of about $6300 with the reserve not met. It’s waiting in Bentonville, Arkansas for its next caretaker, but be clear what you’re buying before you raise that paddle.
First notice the paint pattern: shiny sides, faded blue on top. That indicates a repaint that you’re going to have to redo, unless by a miracle you can buff out those top sides (not happening). There are other indicators of the fact that this car has over 100K miles (and thus is headed towards beater status): the need to replace steering wheel bearings, a soft brake pedal that might indicate a leak in the line, a driver’s lock switch that works when it feels like it, a horn that’s absent, and more, including work on interior trim and upholstery. In short, this is not a low-mileage original. It’s a car that’s been used, a lot. How much money are you willing to put into it, knowing that there are more expenses involved to get it back to pristine? In the good old days, $3500 might have done it. Maybe $6500. What the market will bear now will be interesting to see.
The 350-CID engine, at least, should be bulletproof, though the seller doesn’t give any clue as to its fitness. It is a double upgrade from the possible six-banger or 305 V8 the car could have been factory equipped with. But the fact that if you live in a smog state, you’re going to have to test this car every two years (I’m sure the eagle-eyed, lawyered-up amongst you Barn Finders will correct that) means that, to my eyes, this is car is priced at about what it’s currently worth. Should you feel like sinking your money into it, you’ll have a job of redoing the interior, as stated, and cleaning up a massive underhood mess, even if the mechanicals can be run without further repair.
So what will it be? This one’s lodged firmly in the middle of the run of second-gen Camaros, which were sold from the Spring of 1970 until 1981. It’s not particularly special. It’s not pristine. It’s just a used car, but if you have sufficient room for imagination, maybe it can be your next collectible.
Nice find! Drive as is, appearance wise, fix the mechanicals. The Type LT was top dog until the mid year intro of the Z-28. So, factory tach and gauges were standard, along with a few other niceties, like the chrome ‘flair’ on the parking lights. VIN decodes as a 350 4bbl., a nice bonus.
I agree with Big_Fun. Fix what needs to be fixed and drive it.
Nice solid body, factory 350, add tilt, looks like cruise is there, air, pw, pl, and a decent interior not needing much attetion and you have a nice fondation to make a very nice car. I think the write up is a bit harsh on this one.
The type LT is a trim option, not a performance thing. It’s certainly not an LT1. And cornering is more like a 50s car. By the mid 70s GM gave up on go fast and pushed decals and gimmicks to sell cars.
Interior looks great to me for age and year, tighten it up , beef up motor a little , headers, exhaust, carb, better tires. Drive it , no need for a show stopper, car has been used , but not abused.
In NY it just needs a safety check every year. Lots of potential here.
I say BEATER
Nice, clean car. Something you could drive today with a little lovin’ and restore at your leisure. Parts are cheap if you’re not immediately going resto-mad, and it’s an easy rig to work on in your driveway, if need be.
So in answer to the headline, I’d say the answer is yes.
Nice find has the typical Chevy rust areas the left rear has had some body work may need to rework some of it but its a nice car overall
20mpg- That’s what I got with my 1978 4- barrel 4-speed LT Camaro. No modifications, straight from the factory. Catalytic converter and all. That was a fast car for its time and could really give some drivers some grief. Of course there were still a lot of muscle cars on the roads that could stomp on it. I had it in 1985 when you could still buy ‘em mint condition for 2,500.00 bucks. I was just 21yrs old then. This is a good car but probably not more than 5k. You have to play it smart now. If we do get into an even “mild recession”, you won’t want a lot of money “tied up “ or you’ll get tied up.
I live in centerton. Id buy it. Great car.
I have 2 old firebirds.78. 80. Super fun cars. I have 256 gears in mine. Love it!!
Someone holler at me..i want to get by a see that…i love 76 camaro…great front end.
You see a ‘beater’, I see a SURVIVOR and a sweet one at that
There’s a huge difference between a type LT and the earlier LT-1 engine. The title is a touch misleading…
This is a nice survivor and I am sure there are some folks this car can strike the memory chord with. For what it is, it looks solid. Fix what needs to be, spruce up the interior and engine bay, nice exhaust and you have a good cars and coffee ride without breaking the bank. A set of Z28 colored rally rims or a set of 8″ Vette rallys with BF shoes all around and it will really be a looker.
A friend in The Army had a similar Camaro, his was a 74 I believe it was an LE, it was all dark green loaded with power everything. But had a 250 straight six! That could barely get out of its own way, all while only getting 16-20 mpg.
Yeah I was wondering how “LT1” is in any way an accurate description… it’s one “Type LT” Camaro? A decent looking car, not every Barn Find has to be a minty Hemi Cuda…
My first new car-a ‘77 Camaro. I loved that car,and I still think they are great looking. It rusted bad here in Michigan , though.
Well written objective description of the car. Loved how the mechanical pitfalls as well as obvious cosmetic defects were described to alert a potential buyer. Even as a used car, the light blue hues, the 350 V8 and the pleasing styling of the Camaro still looks awesome compared to contemporary vehicles.
These are good handling cars that respond to spirited driving.
I would sort the mechanicals, leave its appearance (its beloved patina, remember that term?).
Flip the air cleaner lid over for that throaty sound, and have some fun!
👍😎
Surprised the seat are not only so clean, but not ripped with high mileage.
Never seen a non strut supported trunk lid not stay up by itself, even after decades.
I think this car is over priced.
Ordered my 77 RS in Aug. of 76 came in Dec. 6th 1976 350 with a 4 speed and all I could get is 308 in the rear end Put it in my garage same day I got it.Never saw rain or snow,and that’s saying a lot for living in Ohio.now in S.C. with my son.Now 41000 .Got the gages and trim package including tach.
Denny, that’s awesome! Attach a picture of it for us to see.
Nice car. Good start for a project. The price is fair too.
These cars should sell for under 5k but it won’t ” obviously ” . It is remarkably clean for 100k miles. They were slugs along with the rest of the late 70s cars. Lots of after market parts in those days added a little juice. Engine swap and some rear-end gears was your best bet. The way it sits buy it for your kid as a first car.
I don’t believe this is a 1977. Looks like a 1975 because I believe in 1976 chrome bumpers went away.
77 Camaros still had aluminum bumpers,78 went to plastic bumpers.
Thanks, my bad. My brother had a 74 camaro and I had a 74 firebird. I know in 75 the rear window curved around more but didn’t realize the bumpers didn’t change until 78.
Only the rarely seen today ’77 z28 got body colored painted steel bumpers – actually my fav of the ’74-81’s.
https://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/gallery/CHEVROLETCamaroZ28-1855_1.jpg
& IMO looks best in black for ’77 …
https://www.admcars.com/1977-chevrolet-camaro-z28-s-matching-350-4-speed-c-1330.htm
tho the best motor is the 245 net hp 350 in the ’74 z28.
Those Goodyear Steelgard tires on the above black ’77 are heavy & do not look like radials, even tho they are! …
https://www.kelseytire.com/performance-group-7/gr70-15-steelgard-rwl