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Internet Famous: Vice Grip Garage 1979 Chevy Camaro

As vintage vehicles go, a plain-jane 1979 Camaro that has been sitting for two decades is not exactly the most desireable Malaise car ever found, but this one was featured on YouTube and is for sale here on eBay out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Check this thing out!

As you may know, the Camaro was conjured up in the mid-1960s by GM’s then-VP Ed Rollett and Chevrolet’s then-Merchandising Manager Bob Lund, and first shown at a press junket in Detroit in September of 1966. From then until 2002, Camaros graced driveways and parking spaces around the United States, and some parts of the rest of the world – including an infamous armored one that roamed Eastern Europe and provided humanitarian aid during the Bosnian War. After a brief hiatus from 2003 to 2009, they again rolled off the lines from 2010 to present-day, and are enjoyed by old and young alike.

This particular car is not nearly as interesting as its steel-and-kevlar-protected sibling, however it was featured in a three-part series on the YouTube channel Vice Grip Garage, which shows host Derek finding, reviving, and cleaning up the appearance of this blue bucket. I would point you to the eBay description, but a watch of the videos gives you a much better picture of how it was a year ago vs. how it is now. Long story short: It languished in a Quonset-style garage near the U.S. – Canada border for two decades but cranked on the first try and moved under its own power after an oil change, fresh gas and fresh battery.

Derek (we presume that it’s him writing the ad) tells us that it’s now got a freshly-rebuilt TH350 transmission behind a crate 305 that runs strong. It’s apparently got a block heater, air conditioning, and a sweet tape deck. It’s got rust, but we’re told that it is manageable. It’s had a few basic maintenances done to it, and could use a little bit of everything else done to it, but overall he asserts that it “…definitely is a project car that has a dozen small issues like broken lens, door handle, grill, etc.  Will give someone some “tinkering” to do! ”

I’ll admit, I’m a big fan of Vice Grip Garage, so when this listing came up, I was super stoked to tell you about it! The bid is at just under $5,000 with 6 days remaining at the time I write these words to you. If you like barn finds that didn’t need much to get awakened from slumber but are faaaaar from perfect, if you want to roll Roadkill style, or if you like VGG and want to own a piece of YouTube history, this car is for you! If neither of those apply to you, that’s okay, too. I’ll just be over here geeking out about it.

Derek: If you’re reading this, please Bleep Bloop at me down in the comments section.

That’s what I think, what do YOU think? Let us know in the comments!

Comments

  1. Avatar dirtyharry

    In case you didn’t notice, in picture #2 above, the carpet is rusting.

    Like 11
  2. Avatar JACKRBT

    I’ll be dipped!!

    Like 9
  3. Avatar Ed Hardt

    It’s about this time a guy starts to think he could park this in his backyard and the wife might not notice.

    Like 9
  4. Avatar Bmac777

    I hope it’s a typo and it has a crate 350, not a 305.

    Like 7
    • Avatar Tony Primo

      I wasn’t aware that GM made a crate 305 either. Why would anyone not spend a few more bucks and buy a 350 crate engine? But I have been following the YouTube series and it has 305 decals on the valve covers. BTW it does better burnouts than any 305 I have ever owned!!!

      Like 4
      • Avatar Eric

        Fac-tree 305. Crate is a mis-speak.

        Like 5
      • Avatar Cooter914 Member

        This makes me feel better about spending money to rebuild a 307. It did come in the truck. It might be the nicest 307 this side of the Mississippi.

        Like 2
  5. Avatar Skorzeny

    It needs a manual. The whole world is going automatic…

    Like 1
    • Avatar bone

      Nearly all of these Camaros were autos by the time this one was built ; performance was dead , luxury was taking over.

      Like 6
  6. Avatar Moparman Member

    Is “Vice Grip” some sort of law enforcement tool for policing vices? I have several pair of VISE grips in my tool box, it’s even stamped on them, LOL!!! :-)

    Like 5
  7. Avatar F Again

    “Kwansett”? Hunh.

    Try “Quonset”.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Russell Glantz Staff

      Duly noted, and fixed.

      Like 3
  8. Avatar Dallas

    >I hope it’s a typo and it has a crate 350, not a 305.

    @Bmac777 Nope… auction states “crate 305” :-(

    I don’t get the brag about this being a “barn find”… dude replaced the engine and trans, it’s rusty, interior looks beat, and it’s a 305/AT ’79 base Camaro. I think $5K is all the money and then some for this one.

    Like 8
  9. Avatar Troy s

    I couldn’t help but chuckle at the much reverred 305 crate engine, feared across the land. A ha ha!
    Like the color, and the big white lettered tires are kinda neat.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Ross

    5000 so far…… for a 79 camaro with a 305. 1979 camaro 5k. I should go to the beach….. set up shop and start selling socks filled with sand at $2 a pop! It can be done.in the 80’s a guy made a mint by selling rocks he got from the river bed. Anything is possible.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Miguel

    Does rebuilding a basic 3 speed transmission really cost $1800.00?

    Like 1
    • Avatar Sparky

      It can if you have to beef it up to handle the massive torque of the crate 305!

      Like 7
  12. Avatar PRA4SNW

    Watched the first episode. Not sure I would buy it after that, but that guy grows on you. I was going to crown him the new Red Green, but the duct tape doesn’t make an appearance until 35 minutes in.

    Like 5
  13. Avatar Todd Priest

    This thing is up to almost six grand. Why would anyone pay that? This thing is $1200 at the most.

    Like 4
  14. Avatar NovaTom

    There’s a typo – it doesn’t have “fresh battery” It has a fresh bat-tree.

    Like 5
  15. Avatar matthew B steele

    Is this a Museum piece….i dont know..but the paint job was buffed out and now its slicker than goose poop on a punp handle..FYI ..there 40 types of vise grips

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Derek

    Hey Russell, Thanks for the write-up, much appreciated. Shoot me an email vicegripgarage@gmail.com

    Like 0
  17. Avatar PRA4SNW

    SOLD for $4,100.

    Like 0

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