I have a 69 Pace Car that I would love to drive everyday. This is my 4h of five first gen Camaros. I am currently building a completely non-original coupe. My first 69 I bought in 1986 for when I was 18 and it was my daily driver. It cost $90 and belonged to a friend of mine who got in an accident and bent the rear axle. I replace the 2:73 with a 3:08 rear. Back then I really didn't know what AC was and didn't need it as today I am spoiled. The irony of it was that my first 69 was the only one that actually had AC. It would charge up and last a month then leak out. Since I didn't really use it and was a window down guy, I never bothered to repair it. Anyway, I drove it everywhere, school, work etc. and put at least 8 to 10 thousand miles on it a year. It got looks even back then as it was bright red with black Z/28 stripes. It was a 307 motor and had a powerglide that I converted to a TH350. I even took it to the track and it ran a 15.1 with the powerglide and a 14.7 with the TH350. The only mods I had were a Torker II intake and a holley ( I think 750cfm, which were chosen based solely on what a friend of mine had lying around not being used.) It still had factory exhaust manifolds. It was impressive for a 307. Later it got sold for a 79 Trans Am. I got my second 69 in 1992 which was also a base coupe but I converted to look like and SS. It had a 350 built nicely, a 4 speed tranny from a donor Nova, 5 leaf rear springs and a front disc brake setup I got from a 69 Camaro in a junkyard (Try finding that today). I too was bright red but with the hockey stick stripes. Since I used a pickup truck for work, it was not my daily driver, but it was driven everywhere. Now I have my Pace Car and I love driving it as much as I can. I have driven it all over Florida for car shows hundreds of miles away. It's been to Daytona for Turkey Rod Run, to Orlando for Chevy Nationals as well. And the stare, honking and thumbs up are cool. How can you not get noticed in a 69 Camaro, especially a white and BRIGHT orange one complete lettering on the door. My biggest concern is is not getting into a wreck or the less than comfortable features of today's cars, but theft. I have specialty insurance as well, which does limit the miles driven, but more importantly, will more than likely not pay me if the car is stolen as there is a clause in the policy which specifically states the car has to be attended (try defining that when explaining to the insurance adjuster, as unless it is a carjacking, all vehicle thefts were to unattended cars). I am sure the insurance company will not pay. I have driven to the malls and run errands with my wife and the entire time I was so uptight about the car being alone it was not worth the driving of it. With these cars getting into astronomical values, even the best alarm and anti-theft device will not stop a determined thief. I even have a secret kill switch and a steering wheel club and they do nothing to alleviate my nerves. Years ago no one stole these things as they were just old Chevys. Today, things are different. As stated above, I am currently building a 69 Coupe with a 502 big block, a 5 speed tremec and a ford rear. It has all the comforts of a modern car, AC, 4-wheel disc brakes, rack & pinion steering, complete new suspension, 4-link rear, coil over shocks in all corners etc. The interior is from a 2000 Camaro with leather power seats with seat heaters, the matching console, big cushy steering wheel, and again, ICE COLD AC. This car was a base X44 car with no engine or tranny, so the world won't miss another all origina Camaro. I am hoping to drive this car more often as it will hopefully not be a big target as the Pace Car. I will try to add some hi-tech anti-theft stuff to hopefully keep it from being stolen.
Anyway, I guess my point is that we (or at least myself) don't drive our first gens as much due to many reasons. I really feel theft is my number one deterent. Comfort is no big deal to me and a wreck can be fixed. By many of us not driving our first gens as much does help make them special because you don't see them everywhere anymore and when you do, it's cool.
Sorry for the long response, but I enjoyed the stories above and wanted to ad mine as well.
Please add your stories as well, as at least one person (me) will read them as they are enjoyable to read.
Steve
