There are many reasons why a classic can garner attention, from inherent desirability to jaw-dropping presentation. This 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Sport Coupe may not be a Z28, but it is a car that appears to need nothing. Its panels and paint are stunning, its interior is spotless, and its engine bay houses a healthy V8. The reality is that the only thing it needs is a new home. If you are sorely tempted, you will find the Camaro listed here on Craigslist in El Cajon, California. The seller set their price at $25,000, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting this beauty.
The Second Generation Camaro may have been long in the tooth by 1979, but that fact didn’t deter potential buyers. Chevrolet sold 282,571 cars across all variants that year, with 111,357 people selecting the Sport Coupe. The seller is this car’s third owner, and it carries the hallmarks of a classic that has been treated respectfully throughout its life. The Light Blue Metallic paint holds a mirror shine with no appreciable flaws or defects. It is unclear whether the Camaro has undergone repairs or a repaint, but the lack of chips and marks and the seller’s reference to clear-over-base paint suggests it may have. The panels are laser straight, with tight and consistent gaps. There is no evidence of rust, and the car’s location is favorable for steel preservation. I always recommend an in-person inspection for what is essentially a luxury purchase, but I suspect that process won’t unearth any nasty surprises. The trim and plastic are as impressive as the rest of the exterior, and the tinted glass is crystal clear. The Camaro rolls on a set of color-matched Rally wheels wrapped in new BF Goodrich tires.
When I examined the Camaro’s interior shots, my first thought was that I wish I had been so well-preserved when I was forty-five years old! It may not be the most luxuriously equipped car on the planet, but its condition more than compensates for that. The Blue vinyl and cloth trim is free from wear and other issues beyond slight foam compression on the outer edge of the driver’s seat. The back seat looks like it has rarely seen occupants, while the dash, pad, and carpet are excellent. The listing suggests an odometer reading of 48,000 miles, and the lack of wear on the wheel makes that idea plausible. It may lack features like a factory tach and power windows, but the ice-cold air conditioning and radio/CD player compensate for that.
Documentation often separates a good car from a great one, and this Camaro ticks that box. The seller includes an enormous collection of paperwork, from comprehensive maintenance records to the original Build Sheet. That should help confirm the odometer reading and support other claims made in the listing. They state that every mechanical component has been refreshed, which is excellent news for potential buyers. Its engine bay houses a V8, and while the seller doesn’t specify which it is, the odds are that it is the 305ci powerplant, producing 125hp and 235 ft/lbs of torque. Although some buyers splashed the extra cash on the 350, it was the most popular choice. Shifting duties fall to a three-speed automatic transmission, and it appears the original owner selected power assistance for the steering and brakes. The power and torque figures don’t promise neck-snapping performance, but the low-end delivery should ensure the Camaro can hold its own in city traffic and cruise effortlessly at 70 on the open road. The money spent on the mechanical refresh was worthwhile, with the seller stating this classic drives like a new car. Fancy a Californian vacation where you can fly in and drive home? That is a viable option with this beauty.
This 1979 Camaro may not be a desirable Z28, but that doesn’t mean it is a lesser vehicle. The sticking point could be the price, which is right at the top end of the market. However, the car’s overall condition is almost impossible to fault, and the recent mechanical work means it should offer a new owner years of reliable motoring pleasure. Will it find a new home at that price? That’s a hard call to make. The seller may need to compromise, although they may score an immediate home run. After all, this is the classic market, and anything can happen.
A real blue beauty.
Very nice. Low option. Aggressive price, lots of other choices, most more enjoyable to drive for the same money.
Steve R
305 is extremely gutless. Not many people actually chose this motor it was what was on the dealer lot. Camaro overpriced better options for the money out there. Had a couple in my day 74 350/4 speed was hoot to drive. 305 not so much.
21,913 250 cube straight six cylinder ’79 camaros were sold!
115 hp, but only 90 hp for Calif.
As usual the comment section on the post itself frustrates me with keyboard dreamers talking of LS swaps and low power. Not everyone buys a Camaro to race light to light. Most potential buyers of a low mile original like this will buy it and get 90% of what they hoped for the second they sit down in the drivers seat. Time travel back to their younger days. That being said, it still strikes me as odd that the Camaro’s 305 in 1979 only managed 125 hp while GM was selling a 160hp 305 in the Malibu and Cutlass. Either way, beautiful F body and solid write-up
To me, an underpowered car is a dangerous car, and 125 HP in a car of this weight is a joke. So no, it doesn’t need an LS, but it needs something…
Maybe an intake and carb upgrade. Ps to be clear i was referring to the comments on the FB section, not those here.
I don’t like patina and I HATE restomods. That being said, the 305 is a real dog (had a ’76 MC with a 305, great looking car but an absolute turd at the stoplight or on an onramp) and while I don’t want to race anyone, I wouldn’t want to own something nice like this that couldn’t get out of its own way fast enough to keep from getting whacked. I would limit my upgrades to a nice 350 with a mild cam, 4V carb and decent (read: nice low rumble/not trashy loud) duals. That would suit me just fine.
I owned a Malibu Estate wagon (81) that had the 305 4bbl, and it wasn’t hard to lay rubber in that unit; it also strikes me as odd that Chevy would equip a Camaro with a 125 HP power plant.
In some of the pics on the Craigslist ad it appears the windshield may be cracked. Nice basic Camaro, otherwise.
It’s not cracked.
A 305 can be built. I’ve already pushed the one in my Firebird to roughly 275hp without a cylinder head swap. There is a bolt on build article out there where a 305 can make close to 400hp
Nice to see a car like this that hasn’t been detailed to the Nth degree. Sweet!
Right out of college, my ex-roomate bought a ’79 Z28 in this exact color (or very close to it)… he stopped over and wanted me to take it for a drive to see what I thought… just a few hundred on the odo… It was raining. At the time I had a VW Sirocco and was accustomed to its fwd, low hp/torque character… no so much an oxcart sprung, torquey, traditional muscle car. Coming out of an on-ramp I punched it… things immediately went sideways… literally. I did have the presence of mind to stay on the gas and after a couple back and forth fish-tails I recovered… luckily without modifying the sheet metal. He never asked me to drive it again…
I love the blue color and the cosmetic appearance of the car. Floor shifted automatic, bucket seats, air conditioning that works, power steering, power brakes, dual sport mirrors and the 1970s Camaro body style check enough boxes to be desirable. The 305 w makes merging on the Interstate more stressful and gives pause to whether it is safe to pass on a 2 lane highway but power to weight ratios were not as important as MPG in 1979 advertising so a buyer gets a true experience of that era. All in all, a great looking car for its age.
. Will it find a new home at that price?
NO!
The MSRP for this spec of Camaro in 1979 was around $5000… In 2024 dollars that is about $23000… Seller is simply trying to get all his money back ;-)
Beautiful car but the 305 is junk in my opinion.. why gm didn’t drop in a 350 who knows..
I won’t call the 305 junk, but it was a slug and if you pushed it at all the piston rings would warp and you got the blue smoke blues and spark plugs that needed cleaned every 1000 miles.
For all original, it’s way high on price. Why? Because it’s just not desirable. It’s almost grandma’s car.
I’d glam it up a bit. It needs something to make it pop. And then it might bring close to 20k
305 blocks also had a tendency to crack in the lifter valley.
Nice car. Priced to high though. It’s probably not going to escalate in value like a 1st gen or the first three years of second Camaros so they are a good base for modification, because you wouldn’t be devaluing a desirable classic.
Nice Camaro. Had the 1979 Z-28 bought new. That was the variant to have. Put over 125,000 miles on it. Only problem ever had was the a/c compressor. Replaced it twice.
This car is nice but its no Z-28 or Type LT. For 25g, other sports car available for less money & more power than the 305 probably in this one.
I know the seller personaly. And when comes to his cars. He never settles for second best. This Camero look as good in person as in photos. It is a wondereful car.
In this trim it was a girl’s car. But you always took a long glance at the girl driving it. Worth the glance way more often than not.
Had an 82 Z28 with a 305 and it had plenty of power, although I can’t remember the posted H.P. I would prefer a 350 of course. Still have the 82 Z 28 my wife bought new
Looks nice, but unrealistic asking price. Seller wants Z28 money for a base Camaro coupe. But, hey, doesn’t hurt to ask I guess…
A really clean Camaro in amazing condition.A 350 upgrade should really be done,as a 305 is a smoker,they always do eventually and i bet this one does a little at startup or it will at some point then progress to all the time.A 350 swap could be done in a way that you could maintain a stock appearance under the hood and BS people and tell them it’s a 305….
If that’s the original engine, it is ANYTHING but healthy, even if it is in “as new” condition. The best engine Chevrolet put in a Camaro in 1979 was a boat anchor. I loved my ’79 Z28, but I loved it a LOT more when I put the built 327 in it.
Y’all realize that the only person who actually said this car had a 305 in it was Adam Clark. We don’t actually know that’s what motors in the car. And yes the 305 was definitely a boat anchor. This car would need at least to pull that motor and ad some speed goodies inside of it to try and get some kind of power out of it if you want to keep the numbers matching engine block. Is a sweet ride but nowhere near where is the asking price. There are enough LS’s out there and other types that this one should stay as close to original as possible. Go ahead and offer him a fair amount. Buy the car for your wife and let’s move on with life.
This one is very much like my first new car, ordered in ’81 by a kid on a limited income, which meant low option count and a V6.
There is a lot of nostalgia here for me with this one, but at that price, I am looking the other way.