To see a once-prized classic car that has fallen on hard times is never easy for any enthusiast. To think that the vehicle in question might have befallen the same fate twice is a tragedy. So what does it mean if it happens a third time? Sadly, that is the story behind this 1971 Camaro RS. This once treasured classic is a sad shadow of its former self, but previous owners have already resurrected it in the past. It now suffers from some significant rust problems, and it will take a supreme act of dedication if it is to be revived again. If you think that you could be up for the challenge, you will find the Camaro located in East Greenbush, New York, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $8,089, and with the reserve now met, we have to hope that someone is about to give the Camaro another chance at life.

The life of this Placer Gold Camaro has been a long and sad one. Its first owner was a Vietnam veteran who sparingly drove the car until ill health put it beyond his capabilities. He parked the Camaro in a spot where it was exposed to the elements, and it spent many years falling into a state of disrepair. Things took a positive step forward around the mid-1980s. An unknown person (possibly the original owner or a relative) saw the potential that was there and began reviving the RS. They fitted new rear quarter panels and a new hood and then treated the car to a complete repaint. So once again, the Camaro would have been stunning. It had been given a second life, and things were looking up. That person then parked the vehicle in a barn that offered little protection, and this undid most of the hard work. The original owner’s son came into the Camaro’s life in the early 2000s, and he performed only the necessary work to get the car mechanically roadworthy. He drove the car for a single Summer before it was once again parked. This time its location was on a grassed area beside a barn, which offered no protection. It was sometime later that the current owner arrived on the scene. He coaxed the drivetrain back to life, but that’s as far as he has progressed. The level of decay that this classic has suffered is hard on the eyes. When you look beyond the faded paint, you can spot a severely shredded vinyl top. This has trapped moisture that has rotted away large sections of the roof. That’s just the beginning because there is rust in the trunk lid and almost every lower area of the exterior. All of this could be addressed, and we’ve seen Camaros that have looked worse revived in the past. Unfortunately, what we can see is the tip of the iceberg.

The owner says that the Camaro is nowhere near roadworthy and that its physical deterioration means that it could be driven around a yard for a test drive or on and off a trailer for transporting. The floors have significant problems, but the trunk pan is now non-existent. The rear frame rails have almost disappeared, and the rear springs are hanging on by a thread. The harsh reality is that the rails are one decent bump away from shearing off completely. It also appears that the lack of weather protection has resulted in rust beginning to develop in the cowl. None of this is good news, and it all spells dollars leaking from someone’s wallet at a great rate.

When the Camaro was treated to its mid-1980s refresh, the person who undertook the work replaced the seats with ones from a later model. These are showing significant deterioration, and if a restoration is in this car’s future, these would need new foam and covers. There are quite a few trim pieces that could be salvaged if the buyer plans on returning the car to its former glory. The new parts list will be extensive, so a trim kit may be the most cost-effective alternative. It appears that the original owner liked the occasional touch of comfort, which is why this Chevy comes equipped with air conditioning.

I know that you’ve been waiting for at least a shred of good news, and now is the moment that I can finally provide some. It seems that the Camaro is a numbers-matching car. The original owner ordered the Camaro equipped with the L48 version of the venerable 350ci V8 and a Hydramatic transmission. This delivered 270hp and would have launched the RS through the ¼ mile in 16 seconds. The vehicle didn’t run when the owner purchased it, but after replacing the plugs, distributor cap, and rotor, the 350 roared back into life. The owner then performed a basic tune-up, and the car runs and drives. If you have your doubts, take a peek at this YouTube video. The V8 sounds pretty decent, and the vehicle makes it to the end of the owner’s driveway okay. It also seems to verify the owner’s claim that the Camaro starts with the first turn of the key. Interestingly, the odometer shows 26,000 miles. The current owner has no proof that these miles are original, but chasing back through the ownership history reveals no point where anyone has indicated it has rolled over. While I wouldn’t take it as concrete evidence, the fact that the Camaro has spent so much time parked in various locations makes the claim at least remotely plausible. I’ll leave you to decide on that one.

As you’ve seen, this Camaro has led a sad existence, and it will take a dedicated individual if it is ever going to terrorize the tarmac once again. It has potential, and it must have been quite a sight in its prime. So, what do you think? Is there a chance that someone could return the car to its former glory, or is this a case of “three strikes and you’re out?”