Some classics lead a sheltered existence safely tucked away in a warm and dry garage, only emerging when Mother Nature is on her best behavior. Cars like this 1968 Camaro sit at the opposite end of the spectrum. It has been left to fend for itself, exposed to the elements and Mother Nature’s fury. It has exacted a high toll on its steel, begging the question of whether anyone is willing to give it more than a passing glance. It seems someone is, with the Camaro attracting a single bid of $2,000 since the seller listed it here on eBay in West Monroe, Louisiana. The No Reserve factor means someone will take home a classic pony car that deserves better treatment than it has received recently.
General Motors initially hesitated to enter the pony car market, with some within the company’s hierarchy believing it represented a passing trend. However, the lines of eager buyers with a Mustang in their sights snaking from Ford dealerships soon changed that attitude. The Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird cousins resulted, with the Camaro, in particular, stealing sales from the Blue-Oval brigade. This Camaro emerged from the factory in 1968, and it takes little more than a single glimpse to reveal it needs work. The multi-hued paint is the least of its problems because it suffers the typical rust that plagues these classics. I initially thought it might be easier to list the areas not requiring repair, but I have decided to take a deep breath and plow onward. The rear quarter panels, floors, drip rails, and rear window frame are all rotten, and the jury is out on the trunk floor and cowl. The former is covered in debris that blocks a decent view, while the latter is barely visible in the solitary engine bay shot. The rails have a question hanging over them, but the inner rockers are okay. The windshield looks serviceable, but the remaining glass and some trim pieces are missing or beyond salvation.
The interior images reveal a further tale of woe. The floor rust is visible, and most of the interior trim and hardware is a distant memory. Trim kits are readily available in many forms, but they are the thin edge of the wedge. The buyer will undoubtedly need to source seat frames, dash hardware, gauges, switches, a wiring harness, and those little brackets and screws that most never knew existed until they tackled their first project build. It is a similar story below the surface. The original owner ordered this Camaro with the 250ci six under the hood. It sent 155hp and 235 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a two-speed Powerglide transmission. That combination doesn’t make this the fastest First Generation Camaro on the planet, but it was far from the slowest. I speak in the past tense because this classic is a roller. The engine is long gone, but the Powerglide is present. That isn’t necessarily bad news because it makes this a blank canvas project for the person brave enough to accept the challenge.
It will be fascinating to gauge reader feedback on this 1968 Camaro and see what percentage of you consider it a viable project candidate. I am under no illusions, though, because it needs deep dedication and a large bucket of money to ultimately return to its rightful place on our roads. Do you think that will happen, or will someone take it home purely as a parts car?
What is unfortunate is this needs someone truly dedicated to bring it back since it needs everything and the price to restore one is way more than it costs to buy one already done.
Only a dedicated camaro enthusiast will tackle such an undertaking as this would be. Sense probably will be a parts car given it state in 2024.
Not even a parts car
YBlocker, agree 100%. I don’t think there’s $2000.00 worth of parts on it
Parts? Shake it little, sift through the dust and see if you can find anything useable.
Who would special order a six cyl Camaro ? Nobody – this was an off the lot purchase , an economy car with a sporty look, just like all the Mustangs and Barracudas sold that had six cyls. in them
The original owner of my Grotto Blue ’68 Camaro Coupe ordered it with the BASE six cylinder engine ( 140 HP ) along with TWENTY-NINE options, including Rally Sport trim, front accent stripe, factory A/C, power steering, power front disc brakes, POSITRACTION rear end, power windows, tinted glass, blue custom interior, custom seatbelts, center console, tilt wheel, folding rear seat, rear window defogger, auxiliary lighting, speed warning needle in speedometer, AM/FM radio with rear speaker, head rest seats, white wall tires, rally wheels, and an automatic transmission – most of these options are on the Protect-O-Plate that came with the car. The car remained in the same family for forty years – 1967 – 2007.
Steve, you have got to have the highest option 6 cylinder car I have ever heard of. 6 cylinder cars I saw were just plain jane cars. My brother had one in 1976. Paid $100 for it. Put a battery in it and drove it home. The only option on it was the AM radio. He was getting 20 mpg till he cleaned out a fence row on the passenger side.
I wish you would have waited a year & got a ’69 RS with either 6 cyl. I bet you never seen one – with few options, let alone loaded. I haven’t in the flesh – tho i seen one online. & ONLY one.
Oddly on any 6 cyl 1st gen camaro, you could not get a tach or aux gages – not even a temp gage! Or cruise control.
Did your RS have optional quicker steering?
With RS, even a 6 cyl got a more spirited 3:07 rear axle ratio.
My dad did. He ordered a 250 straight six with the Saginaw four-on-the-floor transmission. It was our main family car for years. After he retired he restored it, including rebuilding the original powertrain. Not everyone who ordered a first generation Camaro was looking to win drag races. Tons of base 327 and straight six Sport Coupes were sold and used as dependable, everyday transportation. They weren’t seen as potential collectors items back then.
There were plenty of six cyl. Pony cars , Camaro included, but there would be plenty of them sitting at the dealerships , many as loss leaders, so for the majority of buyers you’d just buy what was on the lot. Few would have been a special order, especially one as basic as this one
That’s very true . . there were over 50,000 six cylinder ’68 Camaros ( about 20% of production ) that came off the assembly lines – there just aren’t many left with the six still “attached” !!!
“The rockers look good” so states the Ebay ad. It took more time and energy to take pictures and then post the ad on Ebay than the Camaro is worth.
Starting bid is $2000 , seriously ?
The floor rust is visible? More like, “the other side of the floor is visible”. There isn’t much here to work with, other than a few pieces that may go on someone else’s project.
Yard Art!
Don’t move it or it’ll crumble.
Some people opt to put pink flamingos in their yard, too bad they chose this Camaro. Yeah, hopefully someone with a brain will dig this out, not try and pull it out. I believe it’s worth saving, cause once it’s gone it’s gone for good and these old cars are becoming fewer each year.
First gen Camaro’s (and Mustangs)have been bitten by the Mopar bug. Every guy that owns one, thinks that he can get 5 figures for a rusted out hulk. We’ll see what happens with this one.
Is this write up an attempt at parody Clarke ? Lol
Sweet a 230 six banger 150 ponies car originally.
I bet with the weight rusted off plus spraying mud off the horsepower is 180 .
It was a 250 cubic inch six ( the “larger” one ) with 155 horsepower. If it was the 230 – 140 it would not have any numbers in the nose stripe.
Be cheaper to buy a reproduction body and use all the components off of this car than to try and restore this body
Another sardine can of rust.. people saying bring it back to life has mental problems
all i have to say would be more than personal attacks-appears as several people has missed the boat in life-however if we look around the flood of education is at its best today-we’re not lacking everyday circus-and it continues
Auction ends in 10 hours and its at $2k someone sees something I don’t or the seller has their friends bidding trying to drive up interest in this scrap metal
Watch what you say Dennys the barn find police is going through posts writing fines. But I agree with you on some family member placing a bid..
That one is to far gone.If the seller got a 2000.00 bid ,Take the money and run
Put it back in the chicken coop!
why bother. yard art at this point. good luck.
Hey Pa lets trade that old Camaro for some moon shine
Moon shine?im in!
Your buying a cowl with maybe a vin tag… what a joke
You’re exactly right, the minute I saw this my first thought was this is nothing more than a VIN tag looking for a Dynacorn body.
Big ole pile of junk…
What parts?!!!
Yes Sir, looks to be in great shape, should be a easy restoration. SMH
That 2k bid is probably the seller. There’s nothing there. Nothing. It’s not even a parts car.
Where is the title and VIN tags because the rest of it is trash imo
Sold $2150 that’s a steal………….
For the selling LOL 😂
Not much “steel” left . . .
It’s sad that it’s so deteriorated. A co-worker of mine in the mid-1970’s had a ’69 Camaro with the 250-6 and a three speed manual in the floor. She had a fairly long commute, and was happy with the car. It wouldn’t win any races, but it got good gas mileage. It had power steering, an AM radio and a few other goodies.
Gotta love those custom front turn signals