I remember in the Ford forums how Cobra clones were looked negatively upon. Maybe that was more for late model cars and not classics.

How do you folks feel about SS/RS clones?

Also is there such as thing as an SS/RS?

 

Yes there such a thing... Although you typically see it written as RS/SS... which is odd because when the RS trim package comes on a Z/28 its typically referred to as a Z/28-RS.

The RS trim package (which includes hidden head lamps, alternate front turn signals, rear tail lamps and backup lamps) was available in 67-69 on any Camaro, be it a 6 cylinder base coupe, a Super Sport, a Z/28, or a convertible.

Clones are acceptable and fashionable as long as people don't try to pass them off as the real thing. (Hense the huge price difference for numbers matching cars with documentation that are "real" SS, RS or Z/28.)

My personal favorite Camaro is the 1967 Indy Pace Car. They were RS/SS convertibles with either a 350 or 396. I believe only 104 were built.

I thought of making my 67 RS into an RS/SS "clone"... however since its a numbers matching original car, it's value would be decreased substancially.

Just like the Cobras though, modern 4th gen Camaros dressed up to look like SS's are sometimes frowned upon. That typically isn't the case with 1st gen Camaros, because for the most part all the options are added in the process down to swapping in a 350 for the std six or 210-HP 327. About the only thing I bitch about are the idiots that slap SS badges on and call it a "real" SS when it still has a 327.

 

Thanks for all that info - that helps me a lot - and thanks for all your word of advise. I am looking at three cars today:

All 68s -

1) A Black SS - 350


2) A Red 327


3) A RS/SS with a 396

 

Just to let you know... all three are most likely clones. (Should help in pricing.)

1) While it looks real, the grills on the hood only came on the 396's. The 350's had the slotted grills that also came on the 1967 SS. (In 1967 both the 350 and 396 had the same grills.)

2) Has SS emblems under the front Quarter "Camaro" emblem, however as you said its a 327 and the SS RPO meant you get a 350 (two versions) or the 396.

3) Has been modded so much that who knows what it is.

I used to be a huge fan of the '68s, but now I prefer the '67's. Why? Because '68's are the easiest to fake. That's because unlike 67's and 69's, the 68's don't have the any trim codes on the cowl tag other than paint color and interior trim. In contrast the 1967's have trim codes for Engine, Transmission etc, and the 69's from Norwood have X-codes which tell you if it was a Z/28 or SS. (Camaros were built in either Norwood, Ohio or Van Nuys, California.) Unfortunately for us on the west coast, most of the Camaros we see are from Van Nuys. That's good in a sense that Camaros which have stayed in California their whole life tend to be a little less rusty. Unfortunately the rear windows leaked on all first gen Camaros, so even the most pristine ones have a little rust. About the only way to verify a '68 is if the original protect-o-plate is still with the car. (However even cowl tags and protect-o-plates can be forged.)

You said you're looking for one in the $11k or under range. Just take your time and you may find a jewel. Check out the 67 RS in my signature. I found it in March for $13,500 in Pleasanton, CA. I had been looking since September 2002. (I was primarily looking for a 68 RS/SS.) I actually called the guy on a 68 RS... however that had already been sold and he had this one instead. I also just missed an original 68 RS/SS 396 convertible he had for $14K by just a month. Oh well.

Good luck, and if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. 67-68 Camaros are my hobby.

Here's a great website for trim code and part number information.

http://www.chevy-camaro.com

 

All three cars are from the same seller. He also had a 65 Fastback Mustang, a 72 Chevelle, a real Roadrunner, an 60s TBird and a 442. FUN!

The red one is a clone - he states it as such and explained that the 68s are cloned alot - it has a 350 in it. I think I like the horseshoe center console shifter so if I get it, I would like to convert it. Nice body panels and no rust. The car looks like its been sitting for a while - lots of dust but it started up instantly. Motor sounds good but NO AC. I need AC. He said - parts - $100-200 plus install - maybe about a grand total if I pay someone.

QUESTION - how hard is it to install AC? Will it affect engine performance as far as driveability? I will probably drive it 50% of the time to work.

The Black SS is too much - $17k +. Nice though. Has dual carbs and 4 wheel discs.

The SS 396 is a project - needs new interior and the glass moonroof is out and must be replaced or sealed over with new sheetmetal. The motor sounds awesome.

I am going to do a little more research. But if I am confident in the red one and adding AC, I may do it.

 

Red car:




Black SS 350:





But I cant afford the black SS.

 

If its a non-AC car then installing the factory AC will be expensive. There are several differences between the non-AC and AC cars in the dash area in particular. I wouldn't even attempt it myself.

You could go with an aftermarket under the dash AC unit. It would require fewer modifications.

 

The seller said it had all the vent systems and dash controls in. I will verify today wether it was an original AC car. Someone reccomended this place to me: http://www.vintageair.com/

 

This is true only for 67 & 68. In 69 the 350ci came with the ones shown (stacks).

 

What other differences in body do the 67s adn 68s have besides the flow through window vents on the 67?

If I was in the market for a "real" SS or RS, I guess that is when a 67 may be more attractive but I see this as a start in something that will hopefully grow.

 

The 67's don't have sidemarkers on the front and rear quarter panels.

The 67 RS's use electrical motors to operate the hidden headlamp doors, the 68-69's use a vaccum system. (There's a huge storage can located on the driver's side front fender.)

The 67's also have a different floor counsole and automatic shifter. The 67s center dash and counsole are trimmed in black, while the 68-69's use a fake woodgrain.

The 67's have non staggered rear shocks, the 68-69's were staggered to prevent the wheel hop the 67s had.

There's a bunch more, but that was off the top of my head.

 

Hood ornamentation for the 68 SS had two styles "smoke stack"
and the "grill". The smoke stack style was used on 396 equipped SS models, the grill style for 350 equipped cars. This was at the beginning of the model year. Towards the end of the 68 model year ALL SS models came with the smoke stack style hood ornaments. I'm not sure at what point of the model year they were standardized. I believe Camaros.org has a guesstimate as to when this happened. I happen to own a 07D RS/SS 350 car with the "smoke stack" style hood ornaments.

 

I'm partial to my SS clone. My car is originally a 6 cylinder Camaro, which makes it worthless, so any mod I do to the car helps the price. Right now, my 6 cylinder base Camaro with a 327, M20 transmission, and new 10 bolt rear-end goes for about $16,600 according to the appraiser. Try to get $16,600 for a base 6 cylinder model

 

SS 327??? At least replace the 327 with a 350.

 

Why would I want to downgrade my engine?