Stored 20 Years: 1978 Chevrolet Camaro

The second-generation Chevy Camaro enjoyed a 12-year run from 1970 to 1981. Some of the more noticeable changes came in 1978 when rubberized bumper covers were added fore and aft. That would also be a record (or near record) sales year for the 2^nd gen at more than a quarter million copies. The seller’s ’78 base Camaro has been idle for 20 years and will need a complete restoration if you plan to use it a lot. Located in Oakdale, California, this cheap wheels project is available here on craigslist for no more than $1,750. A nod goes to Tony Primo for the Bow-Tie tip.

After playing second fiddle to the Ford Mustang for more than a decade, the 1978 Camaro would outsell the Mustang by more than a third. But that was likely because the Mustang was still the subcompact it had been since 1974 with a 4-cylinder engine as standard fare. The restyle, which eliminated the cow-catcher bumpers of the past few years, probably helped sell the Camaro, too. While the LT, Rally Sport, and Z28 were all still on the menu, the seller’s ’78 Camaro looks like none of them.

The seller provides a lengthy listing but really doesn’t say much about the car itself. It may be a one-owner vehicle with 134,000 miles. Stating that it’s in fair condition might be an overstatement. We don’t know which engine choice lies under the hood, but since it seems lost in there, we’re guessing it’s a 305 cubic inch V8 with an automatic transmission. We’re told the car is complete (check out the interior) and the engine turns by hand.

This Chevy hasn’t run since around 2006, so it may need everything. The passenger side floorboards have some rust, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you found more elsewhere. The paint is rough, and the interior is worse (it looks like a lot of stuff is piled in there that may or may not come with the car). At the seller’s price point, you’re not taking a huge gamble in deciding whether to restore the machine or use it for parts for another project.