We’ve probably covered 34,671 Chevrolet Camaros from its sophomore year of 1968, but it’s a sure bet that we haven’t reviewed a ’68 sorta race car Camaro belonging to “Big Bubba Jones”. Now, I don’t know much about Big Bubba, but I can probably detail the highs and lows of this rather ouvert-looking Camaro. It’s located in Urbana, Ohio and is available here on eBay for a current bid of $8,800 with the reserve not yet met.
The listing detail is a bit light, but the images are informative, so let’s start with the interior. The reason for beginning inside is that the interior belies the condition of the exterior – it’s in pretty nice shape! There are images of the innards taken at various stages of its rejuvenation and it’s obvious that the floors are sound. Things that could still use attention are the rear seatbelts, door panels, and the steering wheel, but I can honestly state that I don’t think that I’ve ever encountered a ’68, one-year-only tiller that isn’t missing at least a chunk or two. The environment is stock with the exception of a tachometer that is mounted in a less than optimal, out-of-the-way location.
Let’s talk power. The seller tells us, “The engine is a 66 283 with a 67 327 crank.. That comes out to a 302 cubic inch.” Well, if you apply the geometric formula for calculating the area of a cylinder, you’ll learn that a 3.875″ bore (standard 283 bore) and a 3.25″ stroke (standard 327 stroke) equals 307 cubic inches, not 302. As a matter of fact, that’s how Chevrolet designed the new for ’68 307 V8 – they stuck a 327 crank into a 283 engine assembly, and voila, a 200 gross HP 307 CI engine was born. The engine is supposedly a 1966 variety 283 powerplant, and the “power pack” head casting mark does give it away. The engine is wearing the usual go-fast stuff such as an Edelbrock carburetor and aluminum intake manifold, an HEI ignition unit, and headers. There’s a muncie four-speed manual transmission backing up the 307 motor and a Chevrolet 8.2″ ten-bolt rear axle that puts the power to the pavement. The seller claims, “This baby is a blast to drive.”
Outside, well, it’s outside, alright. The body is lumpy, the paint is either weak or missing, and there are poorly formed flairs over the rear wheel openings. The front end is wearing some sort of a wire mesh grille, and the bumper has been removed. As for graphics, well, you can review those at your leisure.
I guess the thought here is to portray the vibe of some sort of a street racer. While it may be “a blast to drive,” I imagine that the power output from that parts department 307 CI engine is middling at best. And, the exterior is one of those things that I would suggest is a matter of taste. Well, the good news for the seller is that twenty-eight bids have been tendered so far, but they’re spread across only two bidders. Perhaps one of them is Bubba Jones?
Purple Hornies. Awesome. A practically required modification on any Camaro back in the ’70s. We used the ones that bolted to the headers then turned down just behind the transmission. A length of bailing wire from one side of the subframe to the other kept them from flopping around too much.
I guess if you are the seller, referencing a 302 sounds much sexier than 307 as it relates to a Camaro of the late sixties. In its heyday, I can imagine this car strolling the streets of Paducah trying to outrun the local sheriff deputies. It has that look…😜
Eat my dust
yes this Camaro is a copy or the original or maybe the original from the movie Eat My Dust someone should check it out it may turn out to be more valuable
Same wheels. I tried watching it the other night……………tried.
Good one! I somehow (luckily?) missed that Ron Howard film endeavor.
JO
Didn’t Bubba Jones have show where he drove camaros and novas off a ramp thru a flaming hoop landing on a pile of junk heaps that explode trapping him inside? Everyone holds their breath. They pull him from the wreckage on a stretcher. Is he alive, is he dead? He then pops up waving wildly to crowd of relieved fans.
Love the grey turbine rims.
I think the car is a tribute to the 1976 classic movie Eat My Dust!
At first glance, I thought it was pretty cool, but upon looking more closely, oh boy howdy is this thing rough. That being said, it’s still kind of cool in a rat rod sort of way. Also, I disagree with Jim a little on the motor. Depending on what is going on with the innards of this thing, it could be a little street sweeper. I dunno, it could make somebody kinda’ happy.
Kinda’ happy? HEII YA!
most people; all people I know? have never heard of purple hornies! took them off a Chevy, guy had filled them with BBs? put them on our 70 Cuda clone.sounded great!…l live in cHiraq. maybe they had a tariff on them back then LOL
I’d bet that engine would have even more power if it had a fan clutch on it.
If you compare this car to Eat My Dust carefully, there are differences in the graphics. The “8” inside the 8-ball is one. The sizing and the font (with black outlines) for “Follow Me” is also different on the rear spoiler. The closer you look, the more differences you’ll find. Also notice that the seller is making zero claims about a connection to the film.