Chevrolet gave the red-hot Ford Mustang a run for its money by introducing its new Camaro in 1967. Though its sales were way below that of the upstart from Dearborn, the Camaro quickly established its second-place foothold among all the other competitors also joining the scene. The Camaro would be little changed in 1968 when the seller’s drop-top was built. It’s been out of commission since 1984, but still has its original 327 cubic inch V8.
Subtle differences separated the ‘68s from the ‘67s. Like the addition of side marker lights on all fenders and the disappearance of side window vents (in favor of flow-thru ventilation. While Chevy built 235,000 Camaros in 1968 (up 6% from the year before), fewer than 17,000 were convertibles with a V8 engine. This car is one of them. It is a rather basic model with a 3-on-the-floor manual transmission and no console.
As the story goes, this drop-top has only had three owners and the current one has possessed it for at least 40 years. It’s a project that once had a color change from maroon to blue and some body work was done at the time. But time and inactively have brought corrosion back, especially in the floorboards. The single muffler has more holes in it than dampening materials. Since it’s been in a garage for 2.5 of the past four decades, we assume the other time was spent outside.
We’re told the engine had been rebuilt at 74,000 miles, but it hasn’t run in ages. It’s not stuck, so perhaps there’s hope for an easy recovery. The clutch disc is stuck to the flywheel, and the car won’t come out of gear, so it will have to be dragged out (perhaps on dollies?). Some of the interior is still functional. The seller says he’s not a broker, yet the name of his firm confirms it’s a brokerage, so perhaps he has a personal connection with the car’s owner.
No trades will be accepted and this is a cash deal in Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland. The current bid is $3,550 here on eBay but a reserve has been set that is above this figure. If you’re looking for a project convertible from the growth period of “pony cars”, does this Chevy pique your interest?
That engine looks rough and hard to believe rebuilt at 75000 mikes. Thats unless it’s currently 175,000 plus miles.
The trans will likely need to be pulled to replace clutch and pressure plate. I have seen old farm trucks pulled and other tricks but this is best to pull trans or with engine prior to rebuild.
One could set drivetrain aside and put a LS with trans under it …
Good luck with sale and restoring metal. A beautiful future very….
If the clutch is fused to the flywheel, and it’s stuck in gear, how do they know the engine is not locked up? They would have had to turn the damper bolt hard enough to make the car move with corroded brakes and flat tires without stripping the threads in the crank snout.
Back when glass pack mufflers were popular and Dino, Frank and Sammy were still with us, Thrush developed a prototype “rat pack” muffler and tested it on this very car. Sadly it never became a bit hit, but “they did it their way”.
As a canadian born in montreal , our safety inspections would definitely refuse this crusty topless cruiser , much money and time will be needed to get this beauty going again on the roads , it will not be me !
Our labor force is non existant and very expensive with very limited talent and NO work ethic..
So a 68 with rear side markers filled in or rear quarters replaced with 67? The body line on the passenger side is way off from rear quarter to the door not a good sign
Cool car with and interesting drive line but that reserve better be within shouting distance of the current quote IMO
95.5% feedback so I’ll pass…..
Unfortunately to make a nice car out of this one you’ll have to spend about what it might end up worth to fix it. It’s a “nothing” Camaro as it has exactly three options I can see. The V8, a radio (that one may be an a/m as knobs are wrong), and the convertible top though I can’t tell if it’s manual or power. I’ve done 3 Camaros (one a convertible) as well as a ’68 Firebird 400 convertible and this one just isn’t worth the trouble. The rust you see is the tip of a large iceberg.
If the clutch is fused to the flywheel, and it’s stuck in gear, how do they know the engine is not locked up? They would have had to turn the damper bolt hard enough to make the car move with corroded brakes and flat tires without stripping the threads in the crank snout.
High bid of $8,100, did not meet reserve.
Steve R