Despite that the car was in its 10th year of the current configuration and that the price of gas was at record highs, 1979 was a banner year for the Chevy Camaro. The cars were little changed and 92% of deliveries had V8 engines, like the seller’s nice survivor. We’re told that it runs well at 134,000 miles after having been stored indoors for 29 years. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this Chevy seems reasonably priced at $7,700 here on craigslist. Another great tip was brought to us by local_sheriff!
Pony cars were still hot commodities in the late 1970s. Not only did Chevy sell more Camaro’s than ever in 1979 (283,000), but Ford also unloaded 370,000 Mustangs which were newly redesigned using the Fox-body platform. One of the few changes made with the Camaro year-over-year was that the wraparound dashboard was replaced with more of a square-style arrangement for the gauges and accessories. And the high-end LT model was dropped in favor of one called the Berlinetta.
The seller’s Camaro looks to be a “regular” model, i.e., not a Rally Sport, Z28, or Berlinetta. The paint, which is not original, may have held up well with only a minor scrape in the finish on the front snoot. For reasons unknown, this Chevy was in hibernation for three decades and that has helped keep the automotive Grim Reaper at bay. The grey interior is also nice but might need detailing.
Under the hood resides a 350 cubic inch V8, which was coded LM1 on the option sheet and 43% of buyers forked over the extra $360 to get the 170 hp powerplant (160 in California). We’re told the automobile runs and drives as it should and the factory A/C blows cold. The tires are older, so you might want to spring for four new donuts, and the gas gauge has quit working (I wouldn’t worry about it and keep track by odometer). Considering the price of used cars these days, this Camaro could be a great way to get into the Cars & Coffee scene without dropping a bundle.
I hope this car gets to stay as is, and not made into some phony Z28 clone. For some reason I suspect that’s precisely it’s fate.
Yes, I agree. This one is simple and understated, but with a decent engine under the hood. Sometimes, less is more.
It’s funny to look back but GM was still raking in the money on the F body. It was in it’s 9th year with minimal changes. It would stay the for a few more years. It’s true GM at one time could make and sell anything and droves of pack animals would buy it. I can still hear the stressed and squeeky door hinges with a door that felt heavy like you were opening a two ton safe and clunking shut not a good way. Nothing like a precision sounding door from anything made by them in the 50’s and 60’s.
At the time Ford just dumped the Mustang II and came out with the Fox and was back into performance. Chryslers fastest performance offering happened to be a truck and Lee was begging for money. 79 was a rotten time.
I do seem to remember many women this base Camaro was the go to. Many girls had them in school. Middle age women too. Women were buying Vettes too. My aunt in her 40’s bought an 80 brand new. She was a looker. Not the car.
” could make and sell anything and droves of pack animals would buy it”. I had a white 1974 Trans Am. It was just like the one on the cover of Motor Trend magazine with the article titled “Best handling car built in America”. :-) Terry J
Terry, That is too funny. It’s widely known that GM was in bed with Peterson publishing. Of coarse GM always got good press. Their cars were doctored and if they broke during testing were fixed. Motor trend gave Vega got car of the year. Think of all the poor saps that dropped the magazine ran out and bought one. Now that is funny.
Nice Chevrolet Camaro. Turn on the yacht rock station, and head for the hwy.
With that mileage it’s going to need an overhaul of the engine. I had a 78 Rally Sport was well taken care of and the cam lobes were very rounded at 85k. Nice looking car look very closely for rust!
AMCfan, I did say that I actually owned one. Have you? My Trans Am handled like it was on rails . On the way home from work everyday I followed a road that dropped down a hill in a an S, crossed a bridge and then up the other side in another S. I looked forward to driving to work and driving home. What a blast! I’ve had 2 British sports cars known for competition successes and neither one would match that T/A. Not to mention the 400 engine and beautiful interior. :-) Terry J
Me personally didn’t own. But several friends did, a 71 400 Formula (1) 76 T/A 400. 81 T/A 403 Oldsmobubble. I put time behind the wheel. Especially the 81. A girl I was dating at the time had it. They felt typical to each other. All all felt heavy. Another common item is they all rusted like no ones business.In fact the a 76 T/A ran off the road and when it was recovered it it was in two pieces.
Russ, the base model Camaro was known as “Sport Coupe”.
It was funny that most of these stripper models had the body side moldings and roof drip rails option while not a single Z/28 had them. Door dings and wet interiors, all in the name of style.
Oh, and this one is GONE, no surprise. Not many non-Z’s left.
Always preferred the Firebird, just had better selection of engines, between the Formula and the Trans Am, though 79 wasn’t a great year anywhere , you could still get a Pontiac 400 in the Trans Am, but you had to choose the 4 speed,
The 70s F bodies actually WERE the Best handling American cars of the 70s.
I knew a couple guys in So Cal that used to track race them for that reason.