Do you start on the mechanicals, or do the body first? That question has been answered in this patina-style 1967 Camaro RS, available here on ebay. The mechanicals are largely refurbished, and it’s up to you to decide how to attack the outer skin, should you win the auction. That, you need to know, is going on for another week. It currently rests at $15,100 with the reserve not met. That leaves you plenty of time to fly into the airport in Santa Rosa, CA, as the seller suggests, for a look. If you end up buying, you’ll take your car home from Windsor, CA for further refurbishment.
The opening picture in the ad makes things look oh-so-rosy. Twilight. Shadows. The hope that the car could be driven as is. And it probably could be, but you’ll want to book your date with the paint booth pretty quickly, most likely. Funny that the seller says the car is still wearing Granada Gold paint, with one repaint. It’s hardly like that topcoat is holding up. The Camaro is marred with surface rust and other paint rash all over the place. Underneath, there’s surface rust on various suspension members and other parts, but a generally solid-looking floor pan, which alleviates a lot of expense and trouble for whoever restores this car. There are pinholes in the trunk and a leaky rear window with rust, but that’s kind of par for the course in GM cars of this era.
As to what you’re getting, this is an RS with a few other desirable options including a deluxe white interior with fold-down rear seat. At first glance, this would appear to be a California car. But the 8-series of license plate dates only from a few years ago. This is explained at one point when the seller slips in the detail that this is a Texas car. Probably the same hot and dry conditions were prevalent there than if the pony car had been in California its whole life. It is motivated by an original 327-CID engine, backed up by a newly placed four-speed. Prior owners had converted the original four-speed to an auto, which the seller has reversed. Interesting history here.
Value-wise, the seller has done a lot of the work necessary to overcome the car’s apparent period of non-use. The fluids systems are renewed, as he details, and you’d guess (perhaps to your peril) that the car could be used with little further work. But as was said above, you’re going to have to dive in and spiff up the interior, at the very least. Whether there’s value here depends on how much you spend on the body. Apparently, this seller thinks things are short of what they’re worth, or he would have set a reserve that would have been reached by now.
Looks like a solid body, but more dimples than an orange! I can see hours of bodywork to get it back straight, as well as a complete interior refresh. The patina crowd would want to leave it as is, but it could be a nice car if you’re willing to put the dollars and work into it. It’s close to what it’s worth in my opinion, maybe $20g tops.
definitely not a Camaro expert and I guess an R/S could have a 2bbl? Did they put straight sixes in them too?
Most RS Camaro’s, from what I’ve read were 6 cylinder cars. I have a 69 RS and mine was a 6 from the factory. I’m sure someone will correct me if wrong.
Most RS’s were V8s(any V8 & carb available), not 6’s, tho Chevy never broke down the number of RSs built as V8 vs 230-6 cyl vs 250-6 cyl. I have seen a handful of ’67 & ’68 RS’s with either strait 6, & never seen a ’69, tho after what you say, there are now at least 3 ’69s out there i now know of reading the ads here, tho i would be surprised if there are any more than that – the rest now with a transplanted V8, but hopefully not an LS. lol
If one was on a budget in the late ’60s, no one in their right mind would get a RS with a 6, instead of a std camaro with a v8, unless you really liked the look of an RS & could not also afford a v8 &/or was elderly.
The interesting thing about the RS with a 6, is its std rear axle is an “upgrade” to a 3:07 ratio.
This was probably a 3 speed manual car originally. Back in the 70s I knew someone with a 327/210hp, 3 speed 10 bolt rear car. Usually if the car had a 327 and 4 speed, it was the 327/275hp, 4 speed saginaw, 12 bolt L30/M20 car.
I bought a 68 Camaro back in the 70s which was a 327/275hp, 4 speed saginaw, 12 bolt L30/M20 car. It was a lot of fun and after breaking the saginaw twice, powershifting it like a monkey-boy, I replaced it with a muncie trans and Hurst competition plus shifter. Good times!
Hi Dan, unfortunately the bids came in before I could add a picture of the trim tag. The trim tag states 4 speed, not 3. Cheers!
That’s interesting. Is it a 10 bolt rear?
Back in the late 70’s a friend of mine’s father bought him and his brother a 1969 Camaro, I think an RS. It was in beautiful shape, was blue with a white interior with black carpeting and bucket seats with console. Back then they got a lot of crap for that car due to it was a straight six and automatic. I’d love to have it today, with the six. I remember coming up on the car pulled up into a small parking area and one of them sitting on a bench next to the car sort of bummed out (to use an old term). Seems he had to stop a bit abruptly and his bong fell from the console and smashed. The good old days.
I had a 69 Nova with the 250 straight 6 and powerglide transmission. I sold it to a friend who put a V8 in it presumably a stock 327 and a 3-speed automatic. The car was actually quicker with the six cylinder and 2 speed in it
For anyone paying more than $10,000 for something like this yikes that’s all I could say. You are going to invest another minimum 35 to 50,000. If you pay more than 10 please let me know if you want to purchase some prime swampland that I have.
They say a car is worth what somebody feels. Well to me it feels foolish to pay any crazy price for this
I thought all r/s Camaro had hide away headlights this car does not that what put the r/s apart from other straight camaro
Stu – this car does appear to have hideaway headlights. It appears that the doors are open. The rear valance has the backup lights down below the bumper. That is another rs feature.
The car looks solid, and evidently from a DRY emvironment, which will alleviate the concerns regarding deep rust issues ! This car also a RS which does place it at a much higher level, regarding pricing. Once again as l have VERY often stated, the value of this car is what the MARKET dictates or allows.. PERIOD!!!!! Not what individuals would like to perceive or pay, but MARKET VALUE 2023. That is reality, not what someone paid back in the 80s, 90s etc!
1. Drop a Ford or Dodge engine in it.
2. Proceed to pi** off a lot of people.
3. Smile and have a good day.