I am going to have a 68 RS camaro as a daily driver soon and I am a little worried about it getting stolen. I was never worried about my 2002 z28 getting stolen but my main worry is that the insurance is going to screw me if it does get stolen, so I want to do whatever I can to help. A good friend of mine just lost his *** when his highly customized truck was totalled and that got me worried.

I want to go with an alarm but don't want to spend a fortune on it either. I know you get what you pay for but, any suggestions?

I saw a product that locks on your brake pedal when you park the car and makes it impossible to drive. It was only $40.00. Has anyone tried this or anything like it (ie the "club")?

Also, does anyone have a hidden push button that must be pressed while starting the car, or a hidden kill switch? I think something like that would be cool and effective. Is there any kind of write up on how to do it?

Thanks in advance for the help.
Dustin

 

I've a hidden kill switch and a 'club'.

A friend of mine has a removable steering wheel on both of his rides. It's tough to steal a car that you can't steer

 

I just use a few kill switches (starter, and 2 ignition) that are very hidden and very easy to use. The trick is to annoy them into leaving your car by slowing them down so much. If I go for an alarm it will be set to ONLY operate when the door is opened or glass broken (and its gonna be LOUD and in the passenger compartment ). I also use the club when I park in questionale places. Get creative with the kill switches. You can have them so your turn signal lever activates it or something.
CoryM

 

Great ideas! I've got two on the 95 but I'm also looking for something for the 69. On the other extreme... anyone have success with Lo-Jack? For an effective budget.. kill switches are effective.

 

The brake club really doesn't really make to much sense on a first gen. The idea behind it is because on a modern day automatic car, you need to depress the brake to engage the gear. On a first gen Camaro, that is not required, so anyone can jump in and drop it into neutral and although they wont have brakes, they're still going to be able to easily steal your car. The same thing with the steering wheel since it doesn't lock-out like newer cars.

There are stand alone alarm systems that basically connect a motion detector/alarm without having to wire the entire car for a modern day alarm system, however with classic cars like these multiple alarms and devices also help make your car less of a target. For instance I've always had both the alarm set and used The Club on my '95 Z/28.

As for my 67 RS, I have it insured for more than I paid for it and basically more than it’s actually worth. If someone steals it, I know it’s going to end up stripped for parts or shipped overseas... so having the extra insurance helps me sleep easier at night. Also having a 140-LB Rottweiler sleeping next to it helps as well.

 

Just pull the ignition coil wire, thats what i do. Even if they get it hot wired inside the car, who really carries an extra coil wire around huh? Plus, fits easily in your pocket.

 

Thanks for the ideas, I think I will go with some creative kill switches and possibly a club or removeable steering wheel. I really need to talk to my insurance agent to see what I can do about making sure I will always be covered.

Dustin

 

have your car appraised and insured for the aprraised value

 

Many professional thieves will already know this trick.

VERY expensive compared to regular insurance - plus many insurance companies will place a mileage limit on the policy. ( I know USAA does).

Best bet is a good alarm system with pager, lojack, or a kill switch in a remote location that is difficult to get to. There are drawbacks to each of these systems:

Pager - better be nearby (and armed) or the car will be long gone by the time you get there.

Lojack - not sure if it's available nationwide. It's possible you can't take your car to certain places.

Kill switch - if it's anywhere in the passenger cabin a determined thief will eventually find it...if given time to look. If it's outside the cabin, then you have to deal with activating it. (ie. if you have it in a location under the car, you will always come away dirty...) If it's in the engine bay an experienced thief will look there too given time to work)

When I used to work in the insurance industry as a policy service/claims rep for the northeast region of the US, i used to tell customers..."If a thief REALLY wants your car - he/she WILL get it. Many areas of Philadelphia and New Jersey are just miles from the docks. Not even lojack can help you if the car is already on a ship headed out to sea!

 

In So Cal, LoJack has some good coverage. Plus, if you have the feature that automatically detects when the car is moved, you will receive a phone call at 5 sources simultaneously (email, cell, home phone, work, etc)... You have to act quick or they can move out of range.

 

I have to agree with kacy. There are companies that will do unlimited insurance for reasonable prices. The main question I have is, if you are going to use a 68 camaro as a daily driver how much can it be worth? Daily drivers are a dime a dozen compared to first gens.
Just a thought.

 

while appraised insurance is higher your car is onsured for its value at appraisal not what kbb or nada says which is what the cheaper insurance will be using .....if you do get regular insurance be prepared for the first accident your insurance company to tell you it aint worth much and total it out

 

Even all the kill switches, alarm, clubs and taking parts off the car will not work if they roll up in a truck and take it.

If someone wants the car badly enough there is no stopping them.

Is there a way to stop a thief from taking your car?
I submit that there is not.







Thieves everywhere agree, they can get it if they want it.

 

thats not true... + i believe they would rather go for the easy kill instead of trying to get steal a car thats going to take awhile.

if they saw ur car and wanted it enough, and they saw all the crap u have to protect it, they would probably find the exact car somewhere else, and its not like they keep the car eather.

i have an autolock of the clutch, so u can't steer the car nor do the wheels turn.

also have a compustar, which is a pager alarm, that pages me with w/e the car is doing, being moves, turned on, doors opened, hood w/e, + it can be upgraded with GPS. but im to poor

 

For classic or modified cars there are 3 guys who are gonna steal it. The joyrider, the sleazy car guy who wants parts, or the pro who wants to strip it for parts. Theft protection definatly reduces the chances of the first two goofs getting the car. The latter if they want your car bad enough they will have it GIVEN ENOUGH TIME. Make him spend several minutes trying to get the car rolling and hes going to give up and move onto the next car. Anyone could learn enough to get around the best antithefts. From being a mechanic and working on so many different cars you learn how to hotwire them just because youve seen how they are wired. Same with the antithefts/alarms. If you see where they tap into the car its just a matter of bypassing/disabling them.
CoryM