'.. You can't lose restoring one.. 32 Ford of today...'

[69Z28-RS]

Today's Hemmings email referenced an article they first published in June 2010, entitled "32 Best Cars to Restore", and of course our favorite '67-69 Camaros were on that list...
 
http://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hcc/2010/06/32-Best-Cars-to-Restore/3396351.html

This is what they said about the Camaros at that time...

"Chevrolet Camaro -- 1967-'69
 Same as the Mustang: Everything you need to rebuild one, no matter how rusty it may be, is available brand new. As Terry McGean, editor of Hemmings Muscle Machines, put it, "The '69 Camaro is the '32 Ford of today," which means there will always be a huge demand for these cars. You just can't lose restoring one. Best of all, they are fun to drive, reliable, and can be made very powerful thanks to a huge aftermarket for performance parts. The only downside is that even rustbuckets and rollers can no longer be had for $2,500. "

I think what they wrote is even more true today... 

[Mike S]

Man, us '67 owners are the always forgotten crowd 
 

Mike

[cook_dw]

At least they picked the correct to show.  Although I dont completely agree with their assessment.

[HawkX66]

Seriously? 78-82 Vette? I love Vettes, but to call the 78-82 one of the best styled? Sorry, their credibility is shot with this one... And several others. 84 Buick Riviera! HA!!
Chevrolet Corvette -- 1978-'82
 One of the best-styled Corvettes is the late Seventies fastback: Its forceful, aggressive lines never fail to make a splash, and you can buy one in good running condition for less than $10,000. Plenty were built, so finding a decent example is easy. With dozens of Corvette specialists selling just about every part needed, including new reproduction parts and high-performance speed parts, restoring one is a relatively simple process. Backed by excellent club support and specialists, it's no wonder demand is on the rise for these models--but only those cars that are restored to original specs will bring top dollar.

[69Z28-RS]

Actually, Dave even most Corvette people agree that the '78 to '82 Corvettes were the 'sexiest, shapeliest body of any..  the thing that 'killed' those cars with corvette people were the LOWLY performance, and that is why they are *cheap* today.   

I think what the Hemmings article is saying with all those cars, is that those cars are fairly plentiful, the market is 'on the rise', so you can't go wrong by buying one right and restoring it..  I think they are right on the '78 to 82 Corvettes, although beyond the Camaros, I didn't really look at their other suggestions..

[BSMIT59]

Just remember Mike S., the 67's are the only 'original Camaro" . Everything after that is a copy.

[HawkX66]

Actually, Dave even most Corvette people agree that the '78 to '82 Corvettes were the 'sexiest, shapeliest body of any..  the thing that 'killed' those cars with corvette people were the LOWLY performance, and that is why they are *cheap* today.   

I think what the Hemmings article is saying with all those cars, is that those cars are fairly plentiful, the market is 'on the rise', so you can't go wrong by buying one right and restoring it..  I think they are right on the '78 to 82 Corvettes, although beyond the Camaros, I didn't really look at their other suggestions..

I'm sure you're right Gary, but IMO that is the least desirable body style. I'll take a 63 split window or my Dads 69 tripower all day long over those. Values aside...

[Stingr69]

The 78-82 Corvette isn't worth very much even when it is fully restored.  Cost to finish the car will easily exceed the value of the finished vehicle.  Good values? - YES!  Good to restore from a financial standpoint? -  No way. The value of those years of Corvette have been flat or decreasing for a long time.  Nice ones are out there just waiting for buyers and nobody is even kicking the tires.

[X33RS]

I'd own one only if it had the L-82 engine and 4 speed behind it.   The L-82 really wasn't that bad of a performer given the restrictions of the time period.
   They still used the L-46 350hp camshaft (.450-.460 lift and 222 @ .050)  and had large valve heads, forged steel cranks etc...  It's only big downfall was 9:1 compression.   With a sharp tune they actually ran decent for what they were.  Considering todays crap pump gas these engines wouldn't fuss.
  However these year vettes are not my first choice.  I much rather prefer anything 1972 or older.  I think the only thing driving prices up on 73 and up vettes, if at all, is because the 72 and older prices are climbing out of reach for most people.

[BULLITT65]

My first time behind the wheel of a veto was when I was 15 and my uncle took me out in his '80 Corvette. It was red with a white interior, was not an L82, but was a 4 speed car. I thought the car moved really good with the 4 speed, only downfall was when you got up to about 120mph the front nose wanted to lift. Probably because I grew up around the car I grew more fond of it over the years. With the radical design of the body and the front fenders you couldn't see over I thought it was very cool. It was all original and was starting to need a paint job around 2010, and he decided to sell it. It only had 48k miles on it, and I seriously debated on giving him the 7k he was asking for it. If I would have had a spot to park it I would have paid him the 7k. Wish I would have now, the color combo with the 4 spd and originality would probably be hard to come across now.

[jdv69z]

I've often thought that these vettes would be ideal for someone looking to start with inexpensively, and then re-work the performance level of the engine to what they were after. Many of them have low miles as well, and might even be a car that could go many miles as a daily driver without much of an initial investment.

[69Z28-RS]

I've often thought that these vettes would be ideal for someone looking to start with inexpensively, and then re-work the performance level of the engine to what they were after. Many of them have low miles as well, and might even be a car that could go many miles as a daily driver without much of an initial investment.

I think that is *exactly* what the authors of the article intended with the Corvette inclusion...

[BULLITT65]

I guess some of us missed out, if we got a 1st gen that didn't need to be restored?

Gary you blew it, you got a car that doesn't need to be restored....

[69Z28-RS]

I guess some of us missed out, if we got a 1st gen that didn't need to be restored?

Gary you blew it, you got a car that doesn't need to be restored....

Whether it 'needs' to be restored is a matter of opinion I suppose..     In fact, I collected NOS parts for years with intention of 'one day restoring the car'...  It wasn't until the multitude of 'repro parts reproduction camaros' began to flood the car shows, that I changed my mind, and decided that my car was 'too original' to restore and was much more unique as an unrestored car than 'just another restored vehicle'...

[Charley]

I have owned several 32 Fords and lost money on all of them. I don't think you can properly restore any plain 67-9 Camaro and not lose money. I think only the top tier cars are worth more than resto cost.