While this 1970 Camaro has belonged to the same family since new, it has undergone a few changes in that time. However, its overall condition and lack of significant modifications mean that returning to a factory-fresh state would not be a difficult task. This would not be essential because it is a tidy survivor that is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for spotting this beautiful pony car for us. It is located in Santa Rosa, California, and has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. You can park this beauty in your driveway by handing the owner $22,000.
The owner’s grandmother bought the Camaro on her regular dealer’s recommendation in Park City, Utah, back in 1970. She traded a black Studebaker on the vehicle, which rolled off the line finished in Camaro Gold. She used the Chevy as her daily driver until she passed away, and the current owner’s brother inherited it. He performed a color change to black and eventually sold it to the current owner. He wasn’t taken with this new color, so another repaint ensued in its current Volkswagen Mellow Yellow. Beyond that, the Camaro remains unmodified. I can’t say that I find this new shade particularly inspiring, so if I were to buy it, I would make an effort to return the Camaro to its original Gold. The panels are extremely straight, and this is a classic pony car that has managed to remain rust-free. It is missing one hubcap, but the remaining trim is in better-than-average condition for a survivor. The car was ordered with tinted glass, and this has survived in excellent condition.
It would seem that the original owner knew what she wanted from her new Camaro, so she chose to order it equipped with a 307ci V8, a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The 307 should be capable of producing 200hp, which is enough to fire the Camaro through the ¼ mile in 17.1 seconds. That doesn’t make it the fastest Camaro that you could buy back then. However, it was probably sufficient to keep “grandma” happy. The vehicle remains mechanically original, and the engine bay presents exceptionally well. The owner claims that the Camaro has traveled a genuine 79,000 miles, but he doesn’t indicate whether he holds verifying evidence. It is worth noting that the car’s ownership history might make it possible to confirm this claim. The owner doesn’t indicate how well the Camaro runs or drives, but it looks pretty promising if appearances count for anything.
The Camaro’s interior isn’t perfect, but it is so close that it probably doesn’t matter. There is a wear mark on the driver’s seat outer edge, but that is one of the few flaws that I can spot. The dash and pad look extremely good, while the same is true of the door trims, carpet, and the remaining upholstered surfaces. I can spot a set of aftermarket speakers mounted in the rear parcel tray, but any stereo equipment must be hidden because it looks like the factory AM radio is still in the dash. This is not an interior loaded with optional extras, but the original owner did have the good sense to order Camaro with air conditioning.
Choosing to sell a classic car with such strong links to a family’s history can’t be an easy decision. The listing indicates that the owner’s grandmother was a cherished member of the family and that she was quite a character. I can’t imagine ever referring to my grandmother as “The Little Old Lady From Pasadena,” but that was the nickname that she received from her family. I would have loved to have met her because she sounds like a lady that would have captured my heart. I hope that someone buys this car and respects her memory by returning it to its original color. I also hope that they don’t chop and change the Camaro but leave it original and unmolested. It has survived for more than half-a-century that way, and it deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. After all, and to use an over-used phrase, they’re only original once.
Wonder why it has newer plates on it?
I saw a new ’70 Buick with blue plate “000 AAR”.
The story in the ad explains why it has newer plates.
Steve R
It looks like they moved to California in 1985.
Well, it’s not the most beautiful color combo on earth.
But the condition is amazing and options too.
I love the look theses have when there is no rear wing on the trunk.
Camaros never came with a ‘wing’.
I think he meant ‘spoiler’.
What a sad journey this car has taken to sit before us in that horrible VW color, and “old man tan” reupholstered vinyl inside. I’d rather see the battle scars this car had on it when Grandma owned it. Or see it when it was painted black. Still, the first year for this body shell and nice not to see it all “SS’d” or “Z-28d” up!!!
the interior is as it was when it left the GM assembly line in 1970
She probably wasn’t a grant when she bought the car new 🤔
Nice write-up Adam! I looked at what must have been another Grandmother’s Camaro decades ago. It was about a ’75, dark blue with a light blue cloth interior that I swear had flowers in the upholstery pattern. Stock wheels and hub caps. Way to go Grandma! Let’s hope this one finds a new home, maybe with another Grandmother in mind! The last thing the world needs is another high-school poseur second-gen Camaro.
Would love to see the original color. However, the 2 bbl would have to go in favor of a Sniper or FiTech for weekly drive-in duties.
This brings back memories of my very first car in 1976. Had to remove the vinyl top and repair the rust underneath. Added polished chrome slotted mags with Road Hugger tires. Tossed the stock exhaust for a pair of Big Daddy glasspacks that exited at the rear axle. She was no match for Toronto’s snow and was soon rusted away.
OK , I’ll say it , LS swap .
Nooooooo!!! My ’72 Sport Coupe’s 350 could only be swapped out after I’m dead! :)
A 350 is a whole different story . A 307 is a boat anchor at best . This car would make an awesome sleeper . Wider rear rims keep the poverty caps and go embarrass some folks . Check this Nova out ……https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CzLedmgvWU
Column shift??
Yes, you wanted a Camaro and ordered autotragic transmission you got it on the column unless you ordered a console …
I like the body style as a gen II model.
I would rather seen gold paint and imagine a off white seat covers.
Its fun to see these cars with column shifts.
I say but it back original paint and interior please. Please keep the caps and carb as its just a cruiser and not a modified racer. Then drive it on weekends to car shows or just for a-nice drive.
My mom back in the day had a 72 Gran Torino Cleveland engine etc . It would punch pretty good when needed to pass or get on an expressway. I always got a kick of her having not the traditional four door family car. I was older with my own car before it left to another vehicle.
I have always thought the 70 1/2 -74 Camaro were some of the best looking Camaros ever built. If this was mine I would have a hard time deciding which way to go, on one hand I would want to take it back to it’s factory condition, that’s what it deserves. But, would I be happy driving around such a plane looking Camaro, nope I would want day two mods. So, this would drive me crazy.
Why do some people insist on throwing a huge engine in nice unmolested classics? Leave the damn engine alone!
I bought a 1970 Base Camaro new in 1971. Remember this was the 1969 1/2 Camaro. Mine was blue six cylinder, 3 speed manual. Black walls, dog dish hubcaps and no accessories except a radio. I added an 8 track and speakers and I was good to go.
I had sold my 390 Fastback Mustang because insurance, gas and speeding tickets were eating me a new one. I needed economical transportation to college.
I loved that car. Kept it until 1988. Mostly a daily driver. Even towed my small ski boat. Fixed the rust on it in the late 70’s and got a respray. But rust came back with a vengeance. Car ran great when I donated it to the local high school shop class. But the body was Swiss cheese.
Grandma’s car may not be the most desirable color but it appears rust free. Big plus IMO.
Great story and looks to be in very good original condition. Too bad though it is a 307 with the auto on the column. Based on that I think 22k is a little steep. Be hard to get that if resold later IMO.
the asking pricing is VERY fair for such a clean car IMHO
Nice car. Kind of a shame it will likely become a resto-mod. Too high a demand for a clean gen 2 Camaro to hot rod.
I would repaint in the original color Grama had it in and put back as mechanical perfect as delivered ,then send the family a nice framed picture for there memories to keep,to have a camaro like this with ac is a huge bonus and would be a pleasure to drive and show.
Greg
If anyone is seriously interest, let me know as this is practically in my back yard. Happy to give it a look over.
More than likely “grandma” didn’t order a 307, or even order the car .It was probably on the lot when she came in looking for a new car. Most car owners buy what’s on the lot ; the dealerships order certain cars, and at least back then, there were many different options so you could have many choices and prices for cars ; that way you could find the right car for what a person was looking to spend.
This is what most Camaros looked like , no mags, no stripes, no spoilers. Just a nice looking pony car . If I had the money, this car would be back to gold and have the correct seat upholstery done and that’s it – no clones for me !!
That is the correct seat upholstery for a 1970 base Camaro. That is the same thing that mine had.
People swoon over Z-28s, SSs and RSs, but this was the typical Camaro on dealer lots in 1970. It’s remarkable that it survived this long without chassis or drivetrain modifications. The color change is unfortunate – pale yellow/green does this car no favors.
Lotta compliments here but way away from my own tastes. A ’70 Camaro is on my bucketlist having already had a dozen other muscle car classics. But the condition is the only thing it’s got going for it IMO. Color combo is lousy, the engine is Chevy’s red headed step child. Auto on column rather than a 4 on the floor. But if a ’70 it MUST be a Z/28 w/ LT-1 & that SHORT rear spoiler only avail first 8 months. I LOVE that body style as already had a ’75 T/A & a ’79 Z/28, both NON stock engs, T/A w/ Fairbanks T400, Z had M21 w/ Hurst & were a ‘nice’ yellow & black int.
Talk about a perfect daily driver w/AC! BUT…repaint to original gold with black Z28 stripes and Z28 rims with either spoiler to complete the look….best of both worlds….a cold blast and the “Thumbs up”.
Ya know, some people don’t need these Camaros to be Z28s. I’d gladly take this one as is!
Apparently the kids or the grand kids never drove a super stock dodge
Apparently the kids or the grand kids never drove a shiny super stock dodge
This is my kind of car, but I would not pay anywhere near that price with what the car has gone through. If it was a real survivor, then maybe.
I’m calling BS on the color change from Camaro gold to black and then VW “mellow yellow.” No traces of any prior colors. It looks to be the original jacking instructions glued to the deck lid underside. Under hood rubber bumpers, weather-strips, inner fenders, etc, all show no sign of other colors. A complete paint job so thorough as to cover up ALL previous signs of paint (hinges, door jambs, etc) would require complete body disassembly likely exceeding 10K. I’m not sure why the seller would claim two previous color change paint jobs, but I ain’t buyn’ the story.
It does look like 1969 Butternut yellow , but that wasn’t available in 1970 . I’d like to look at the tag on the firewall to see the paint code .
I had an ’80 Camaro, with spoiler. Loved it!
Is sans D80 is the term you meant? You are correct and you are not alone. The Formula Firebird could be ordered without the rear spoiler all during it’s 2nd.gen run. to further de-Trans Am the model from the police and any street competitor that didn’t get that the model shared more than a great deal with the Trans Am. The early Camaro D80 was one piece and shorter
I just love that the column shift survived. I would love to own this one. I could probably deny myself the urge of depositing the 307, running, in the same spot in Galveston Bay that the moron that splashed his less than a month old Bugatti Veyron in. That guy should have been left in the drink to see how many Blue Crab his carcass could catch.
This car was advertised as a European style car. There is nothing European about this design. True, it could be called a Granny car, because some super good looking 20 year old “That Girl” could have bought it in 1970 and HEY we all grow old. These cars are unique. There is nothing like a 2nd. GEN F-body. GM would do god to realize this today. Maybe we would have a new Camaro that wasn’t so much of a rebodied Cutlass and would not be on the chopping block, yet again. @Carbob stated that he loved his daily driver until rust do us part. My dad bought an 1980 Camaro from Avis Rental in 1981. It came with the lowly 305. I bought him a Hurst Dual Gate shifter for it, then a set of 1978 Z28 turbine wheels. Then one Fathers Day I went to Knapp Chevrolet and ordered and 1980 Z28 hood scoop, fender vents and a rear spoiler. He bought a small block 400 from a machine shop and the father and son project was on. It wasn’t a Z28 and it wasn’t super fast but it was super fun. We had a blast and we loved that car until the salty Texas air took it. Chevrolet got it right, not only with the design but with the name, Camaro. Companion in French
Plain Jane. Driving me insane!