Stalled Project? 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Drop-Top

Chevrolet execs didn’t see the Ford Mustang as a serious threat when it first hit the market, but they soon realized they had erred when sales of the new “pony car” went through the roof. So, a crash program was initiated to get the Camaro ready for a 1967 launch, which they were able to do since work was already underway on the 1968 Nova from which they would borrow. This first-year convertible looks like a project that stalled once the car was painted as none of the chrome trim has been added back. Also, it doesn’t run and there is rust in the trunk and floorboards. Located in Tampa, Florida, this Chevy is available here on eBay where the bidding is hovering at $8,100.

The Camaro quickly became a thorn in the Mustang’s side, selling 221,000 units in the first year (yet half of the Mustang output). The drop-top accounted for more than 25,000 copies, which would include the seller’s car. We’re told it has been sitting for a “little while” but is he/she talking in terms of months or years? It looks as though the exterior of the car received attention before the metal parts on the inside did. The shiny paint looks new, although some is flaking off on the driver’s side rear quarter panel.

Most people undertaking a restoration would start with the chassis and work their way out. In this case, taking care of the driver’s floor pan which, the seller says needs to be redone and the trunk floor which has a lot of surface rust, at a minimum. We don’t get to see what the car looks like underneath, and we must wonder what issues may have been present with the body before the respray occurred in a color the seller calls black but looks more like a cross between dark grey and green. The wheels don’t match and they’re rusty.

The upholstery looks good, but the carpeting is shot and there is no dash pad on the dashboard which has several missing items. The back glass in the convertible top needs replacing and we’re not sure if the whole top will have to go. We’re told the car has a 350 cubic-inch V8, which debuted as an exclusive to the Camaro in ’67 before the rest of the fleet got it in ’68. Most of the time, you find a 327 under the hoods of these cars. We’re told the motor turns over but does not run, there is no photo of the engine compartment, but the transmission is a desirable 3-speed manual.

A super nice ’67 Camaro can be a $40,000 car according to Hagerty and this one is probably going to need a lot to get into that territory. You might have to redo the paint if it turns out to have been hastily applied by the prior owner. But this car is a convertible, which makes it more desirable than a standard Camaro coupe, but less so than any version of a Super Sport.