It is a simple fact that some barn finds are better than others. Finding a 1969 Camaro hidden away in a barn should be enough to have any enthusiast turning cartwheels. However, this rather sad looking pony car is going to need a lot of work if it is ever to gallop free again. Having said that, it has generated a reasonable amount of interest since it was listed for sale here on eBay. The Camaro is located in Miami, Florida, and bidding has reached $2,225. The reserve has been met, so a new owner, and possibly a second chance at life, is just over the horizon for this classic.

Man, this is one barn find where it is hard to know where to start. It originally rolled off the line wearing stunning Hugger Orange paint and a Black vinyl top. It has undergone a color change or two since then, and it appears that the car might have led an “interesting” life. The owner states that the frame is structurally sound. However, from there, things head downhill in a big hurry. There is rust…and a lot of it. All of the lower body extremities have been impacted, as has the hood, nose, and the trunk lid. Unsurprisingly, there is also rust evident in the cowl. So, this is going to require some significant work with the grinder and welder. There is also Bondo in evidence. We’re not talking about a few spots here and there. It looks like it has been applied with a trowel because there are acres of it. You have to wonder what is hiding beneath that stuff. The roof is heavily dented and riddled with it as well. You have to wonder whether this Camaro has finished up shiny-side down at some point, and then been the recipient of some amateur crash repairs as a result. Beyond all of that, the majority of the glass appears to be okay. Unfortunately, the windshield is cracked and will require replacement. However, that little job is a long way down the track on this restoration.

The more that I look at this Camaro, the more that I wonder whether the barn in question was located somewhere near the bottom of Biscayne Bay. There is so much rust and corrosion that you have to assume that the storage environment was less than ideal. As you can see, the numbers-matching 327ci V8 is covered in the stuff, as are all of the ancillaries. The owner states that the engine hasn’t run for at least 10-years. There is one crumb of hope here because the engine does turn freely. Backing the 327 is a 2-speed Powerglide transmission, while the vehicle also features power steering. This combination brought 210hp to the table and would have allowed the Camaro to cover the ¼ mile in 17.6 seconds. However, the Camaro has been fitted with headers and a replacement carburetor. Therefore, it should have been capable of bettering that figure when it was in better health than it is today.

The Camaro’s interior continues the sad-and-sorry theme, but it does appear to be complete. Despite the advanced levels of decay that can be seen, the dash and pad appear to be in good condition. I believe that the seat frames and the console are salvageable, but all of the upholstery will be destined for the nearest rubbish skip. That’s a shame because the Hugger Orange paint and white interior trim would have made this a stunning car when it was new. Trim kits are readily available, so it could be returned to that state if the buyer chooses to undertake a faithful restoration. The Camaro’s interior isn’t loaded with optional extras, but the inclusion of factory air conditioning would have made it a comfortable place on those warm Florida days.

I think that if we could delve into its past, this 1969 Camaro would probably have quite a story to tell. I can’t shake the belief that it has been over on its roof at some point. Leaving that possibility aside, this is a car that has been afflicted with an enormous amount of rust. The fact is that it would be a shorter list if you were to compile the sheet-metal items that don’t need to be replaced, rather than those that will. Virtually any car can potentially be salvaged, no matter how far it has deteriorated. This one has gone a long way towards being unviable. Has it crossed the line, or would you take it on?