hey guys. i recently sold my 1997 camaro SS and decided to get a 1st gen camaro. it will be a daily driver, so reliablility and wear are an issue i am aware of. the specs that i am looking for are around 350-450 rwhp a clean, clean car with no rust..... but not SHOW quality. basically equal to that of a 1999/2000 daily driver that was nicely taken care of. i want it to be a manual and cost less than $15,000 so obviously a non numbers matching car.
do you think it is possible???? click the link for an example of what i would like. i also live in florida if that has any effect.

http://my.fit.edu/~jfrederi/camaro

thank you,
Jake

 

Good luck. All the ones I've seen in good shape (body, interior and drivetrain) are close to if not over $20K.

I've seen really nice 70-72 models in that price range though. Not a 1st gen but they sure handle better.

 

it is "possible" just gotta find a really sweet deal. If I were you I wouldn't be afraid to look at ones needing a motor or tranny swap to get the HP you want. You could also save money if you were to say, get a stock motored one and put like an edelbrock kit on it to achieve good HP/reliability numbers

 

You need to find a modified BBC car. They don't for as much as the unmolested cars do.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6161

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6161

 

There are lots of 1st gens (around here anyways) that are in pretty good shape, but aren't putting out that much power...
I'd just look for a car that has a very good body, things like interior and drive train are really easy to fix, especially if you're not looking at an exact resto'.

 

alright how about if the camaro had a freshly rebuilt 350 or somthing like that? the hp numbers arnt as important as the shape of the car

 

Yes its possible.....

http://home.comcast.net/~blackwoodga...gold67ext4.jpg
I purchased a year ago for $13,900 plus t&l

http://home.comcast.net/~blackwoodga...n/chris67c.jpg
I purchased about four months ago for $10K... painted, but unfinished. After its done, I should have close to $15K into it. (Those Boyd's were pricey! )

Both V8's... but only the 210HP 327 c.i.d.... but that can be changed easily.

Keep dreamin' and look until you find the right car. FWIW - the first car took me almost a year to find... and it wasn't my first choice.

 

get a cheap daliy driver and keep it when you find the 1st gen you want i sold my 97 anniversary edition to get a 69 also im currently driving a 90 beretta gets good mpg i have the title in hand and dont have to worry about it getting stolen or damaged

 

It's possible. I bought a 68 Camaro with new paint, no rust at all, with a 94 Impala SS Lt1/4L60E and was converted to 4 wheel disc brakes. It still needs some tweaking, but I will be around $14K when I start driving it. It's not a perfect show car, but it's a rock solid car with modern drivetrain. I may need to sell it if I need the money to keep the restoration moving on my 69 Z28.

 

I just picked up my 2nd Gen. for 500$ off of someone... it was a complete steal too... everything is stock cept for the tranny which is a 700-r4 with manual OD switch... the body has very litl rust and only 2 dents... everyone thats looked at it asks how long i've had it or how much i bought it for... when they find out they flip out...