One Owner Survivor: 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

This 1968 Camaro might not be a fire-breathing, big-block equipped classic. However, for serious enthusiasts, it still has to tick a lot of the right boxes. This is a one-owner classic that is completely original, unmolested, and rust-free. It also appears that the owner knew exactly what he wanted from his Camaro because it was ordered with some interesting optional equipment. After 52-years of ownership, the time has come for the Camaro to move on to a new home. It is located in Glendale, Arizona, and has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. You can drive this survivor home by handing the owner $37,000. I have to say thank you to Barn Finder Ikey H for spotting this classic for us.

It appears that the seller of this Camaro is offering it for sale on behalf of his grandfather. He refers to the paint color as being Marina Blue, but I’m not sure that this is correct. I tend to think that it is finished in Tripoli Turquoise, but I’m happy to be corrected on that. The important fact here is that the Camaro is said to be completely rust-free. It has been garage-kept for its entire life, and there are no external rust issues visible. All of the regular spots like the rockers and lower rear quarter panels appear to be clean, which augers well for the next owner. The panels are laser-straight, and while the paint is beginning to show some minor patchiness in areas like the deck lid, it still holds an impressive shine. The rear bumper has a slight bend in it, but I suspect that a good panel shop might be able to tweak this back into shape. The remaining trim appears to be in good condition, while there are no obvious issues with the glass.

The original owner obviously wanted his Camaro to deliver some performance, but to still remain civilized. To that end, we find that it comes equipped with the base-spec 327ci V8, backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. This V8 would pack 210hp, which is enough to allow the vehicle to gallop through the ¼ mile in 16.1 seconds. It might not be muscle car territory, but that remains a respectable figure. This is a numbers-matching car, and the drivetrain has remained untouched since new. The presentation of the engine bay is extremely impressive for an original classic of this vintage. However, it isn’t all about the appearance in this case. The seller says that this is a car that is turn-key, and is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately.

If one area of the Camaro could be described as faultless, then it would have to be the interior. There is a lot to like inside this classic, and that starts with its overall condition. The upholstered surfaces look to be in fantastic condition, with no obvious signs of wear, fading, cracking, or significant wrinkling. The dash is unmolested, and the pad shows no signs of cracks. Even the carpet appears to be free from wear and fading, which is impressive in a vehicle of this age. Once again, the original owner appears to have known what he wanted from his Camaro. As well as the custom interior trim, we find a console with a full complement of factory gauges. The dash cluster includes a Tic-Toc-Tach, while a tilt wheel allows the driver to get truly comfortable. In addition, the Camaro is equipped with its factory AM radio, but the icing on the cake is the factory air conditioning.

When I look at this 1968 Camaro, what I see is an original classic that can be driven and enjoyed immediately. It does have a few flaws, but these are minor. Some people might be tempted to undertake a light cosmetic restoration, but apart from tweaking the rear bumper, I would leave it untouched. Finding original Camaros in this sort of condition is not unprecedented. It just isn’t as common as finding nicely restored examples. I like the fact that the owner appears to have known exactly what he wanted when he ordered the car, and I admit that I will envy the new owner. The question is, am I going to be envying you?