I can only imagine what the seller of this 1980 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 means when he says, “This isn’t Gas Monkey.” Does he mean that everyone he talks to think they’re the next Richard Rawlings, ready to pay next to nothing for a real-deal classic muscle car? Or is he tired of people throwing out low-ball offers with the word “Cash” attached, as if that makes a difference on a crummy offer? Who knows, but it sounds like the owner of this Camaro is living through the worst aspects of selling a car on the internet. The Camaro listed here on craigslist was parked in 1996, but comes with a rebuild 350 under the hood, and an asking price of $8,500.
Anyone who has spent time trying to sell a project car knows that the time-wasters and tire-kickers are as numerous as the listings on craigslist, if not more so. The seller has what looks like a project with good bones, and like everything from Washington State, it has no rust. Nada! That’s a surprise to me, but the seller is adamant. What’s interesting is that the 350 was rebuilt before it was parked in 1996, along with the 400 automatic transmission, which always makes you wonder why the owner was content to do that work and then leave the car parked for 25 years. Amazingly, even with the rebuild, all of the smog equipment remains intact.
The body has seen some work done to it in the past, with primer and other evidence of previous unfinished restoration attempts. The Z28 graphics still present are a good sign that at least some of the paint is original, and I hope the next owner finds a way to preserve those in their restoration efforts. Of note is the fact that the typically vulnerable nose panel remains in undamaged condition, along with all of the original spoilers that came as part of the Z28 kit. This sure seems like a car that was well on its way to being restored or at least preserved prior to being parked, and the seller even notes the interior has been reupholstered.
There are no pictures of the seats, but the door panels look tidy. The Camaro is well-equipped, featuring air conditioning, cruise control, a tilt steering column, and even an original radio. The Camaro appears to be a car that is just in need of a paint job at present to be a stunner, or at least a car you’d be proud to use at cruise nights. Why it was parked and allowed to go to pot is left unsaid, but the good news is that it resided in a climate that doesn’t punish parked cars like other regions. Would you drive it as-is with the rough paint, or finish what a previous owner has started?
Way overpriced. Good luck with the AC and air induction (cowl induction). Unless there are receipts for the engine I’d rather buy one with a blown up engine for significantly less money and have one rebuilt to my specs. He’s likely to be sitting on this car for a long time.
Steve R
Gas Monkey has ruined a lot of car buying with the low ball offer. I was selling my buddies old truck for him and the amount of people who would offer half of the asking price was almost comical, but mostly insulting.
This car is overpriced, but not a pile of rust sitting in a field VW bus overpriced.
I’ve had people make insultingly low offers well before the advent of Gas Monkey and other reality TV car shows. It’s nothing new, just more prevalent. Same thing goes with people asking stratospheric prices for cars, me and my buddy’s used to make fun of those sort of ads in the Auto Traded way back in the early-80’s. This sort of thing just comes with buying and selling anything where people haven’t done their research or are unrealistic. That’s the reason I try to only sell cars to people I know, you may get a little less money, but eliminate the headache.
Steve R
Gas Monkey and Barrett have ruined much of the car market with ridiculously high asking prices. Cheap skate buyers have always been there. Gas Monkey and Barrett Jackson as well as many others sell their $8k cars for 15 – 20k and everybody thinks they have a gold mine.
Located in Otis Orchards, WA (yes, that really is a place)
Located in Otis Orchards, WA
It’s sat for 25 years, it needs a lot more than a paint job to be a cruiser.