No Reserve: 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS
This 1967 Camaro RS/SS is an intriguing car. It was parked in 1983 after some minor cosmetic damage, and it has only just seen the light of day. It has belonged to the same family since new, and it comes with the documentation that confirms this. The time has come for someone to return this amazingly solid classic to active duty, so the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in Eads, Tennessee, and the bidding is sitting at $25,200 in a No Reserve auction. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Ikey H for referring the Camaro to us.
When the Camaro emerged into the sunlight, it was a car that provided some pleasant surprises. It is finished in Bolero Red and was ordered by the original owner with a Black vinyl top. It saw regular service until 1983 when the owner had an unfortunate argument with a mailbox. The damage is visible in this photo, and I always find it amazing to think that someone would be motivated to park a classic like this for decades due to such minor damage. Still, those things happen. Beyond that repairable damage, the news seems quite positive. The remaining panels are straight, although both the paint and the vinyl have seen better days. A small spot of rust has developed near the bottom corner of the rear window o the driver’s side, along with a similar-sized spot behind the rear wheel opening on the same side. The rest of the panels look great, while the glass is perfect. Some chrome pieces show deterioration, but I would be attacking them with a high-quality polish before I considered replacements. The driver’s side headlight cover is also out of alignment, but it isn’t clear whether this can be repaired.
This photo graphically displays just how sound the Camaro is. There isn’t a spot of rust to be seen anywhere, and the Bolero Red overspray from when the car was new is clearly visible. The good news continues with the prone cowl region, which also shows no signs of problems. The only issue of any note is some small spots in the trunk. The seller states that repairing these should be an easy task.
The Camaro’s interior definitely shows the passage of time, and while it appears to be complete, it will need some work. With damaged seat covers and a cracked dash pad, quite a few soft parts will require replacement. The dash itself looks good, as does the console. I’m not 100% sure about the door trims, and we don’t get a good look at the carpet, rear trims, or the headliner. If I were to buy this car, I would be very tempted to plump for a full trim kit. These can cost between $2,000 and $2,500, but given how good the rest of the car has the potential to be, I believe that the Camaro deserves to have an interior that presents perfectly.
Sometime after the Camaro was parked, the original owner passed away. Another family member inherited it, and he intended to return the car to the road. In preparation for this, he had the numbers-matching 350ci V8 pulled and rebuilt. It was slotted back into place, but that’s as far as work progressed. It will now fall to the buyer to coax it back into life. Behind the 350 are the original 4-speed manual transmission and 3.36 Posi rear end. When it’s returned to the road, it would be fair to expect that V8 to pump out at least 295hp. Give this classic a free rein, and it should demolish the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds. There will be a few parts for the buyer to source. For example, there is no carburetor hiding under that air cleaner, and it also looks like the thermostat housing is missing. Those are parts that are easy to source, so it might be a case of fitting these and flushing the fuel system, and that glorious 350 could fire up once again.
What a great car! I can’t begin to imagine parking a classic car like this because of such minor cosmetic damage. However, there are times when our everyday life can create obstacles that force us to put our plans on hold. That could be the case here, and I find it sad that the original owner never had the chance to see his pride and joy back on the road. Every cloud has a silver lining, and those circumstances mean that someone is mere days away from parking a great car in their workshop. Given its overall condition, is this a classic that you would be tempted to bid on?
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Comments
Sure looks good in the pics. the biggest thing I’d be worried about is the roof- got some vinyl still on it that could be hiding rust, and the description says something about a hole near one of the windows. If I could stand the color i’d fix it up as is and drive. also question of the rebuild, who did it and was it done correctly. Need answers to all these. Sure beats the rust buckets we have seen on here! good luck and stay safe!
Cheers
GPC
If I wanted a Camaro, this is how I’d like it to look. Would just like to fix it the mechanicals and drive as is. Too many restored camaros out there. I also like it without the rear spoiler. I always thought those spoilers were standard? Was it an option or is it likely seller just took it off?
Rear spoilers were never standard, other than 69 Pace Car convertibles, I believe they were even optional on 68-69 Z28’s.
Steve R
Beginning in April of 1969, front/rear spoilers were part of the Z/28 package; others yes, you are correct. Spoilers were not available on any ’67; optional in ’68, and only standard on ’69 Pace Cars and April+ build Z/28’s.
Another ‘I have more money than brains’ bidder with auction fever.
Just because you are out of touch with prices when condition and desirability intersect, especially with this car in particular. Don’t assume every expensive car has a bunch of fools chasing after it.
Steve R
I’m not assuming anything, but apparently you are.
Theres no denying that there a bunch of fools with more money than brains driving up the price of some vintage tin. Of course some, such as you, would say its the market. True. Still doesnt mean the fools aren’t about!
An oriignal car in rough shape this Camaro is. A common original car in rough shape. Its worth what you would pay for it.
Must have looked sharp in that color, black and white interior was sure to please, before it got left to deteriorate. Solid choice on the mechanicals when new, a real solid mid fifteen second ride but it’s a daily driver not a street/strip racer. That’s just fine too.
For whatever reason I keep picturing this Camaro in slightly better shape with black Torque Thrusts, and noisy mufflers with dumps……and of course a Holley carburetor.
Had one back in the mid-late 80’s. $5500 near perfect. No vinyl top. Automatic small block black interior, same red exterior with options.
Great car but the current owner should restore it themselves if they have the skills. Given that they will STILL have a difficult time breaking even.
Agree with the comments so far. More money than brains. You have a great RS SS Manual, BUT….. small block NO OPTIONS car.
$80K plus restoration, buy the car now you are over $100K for a car MAYBE worth half of that. 2006 is gone folks. The industry is now in a decline that will increase at an increasing rate in the coming years. Collections of great cars are going to auction because the collectors are getting older and frankly dying. Sad but true. Families don’t want the cars. Most young people today have ZERO interest and kids like mine who DO have the interest don’t have the money. Classic cars are no longer an appreciating investment except for the top 1% of rare cars like a 1967 Z28 or a 1969 Trans Am. I have studied this market now for 35+ years. Increasing supply with decreasing demand drives prices down and eliminates most cars that need to be restored like this one from contention. Except for the people with less brains and deep pockets. Owned a lot of great classics. You can buy this car DONE, maybe not exactly everything on your list but close…for half the money this one will take to restore it to a #1.5….lot’s more to get to #1.
Why is or should every “restoration” assumed to be shooting for the mythical #1, concourse grade? A quality repaint and refurbishment will cost nowhere near the numbers you suggest and would still turn heads wherever it went. This car is a great starting point for someone that want to both enjoy driving the car and take it to local shows. It’s not cheap, yet based on what it is and it’s current condition, paying a premium now will be far cheaper than starting with the typical generic rusty first generation Camaro that turns up for sale.
Steve R
Barnfinds……I just put in a nice but long comment as a reply to Steve R…..where did it go?
HI Steve, I wrote a nice long reply and it vanished. Oh well. The gist of it was first, I appreciate your comment and ALL your commentary as I feel you VERY knowledgeable. Always enjoy your comments and agree with most of them…LOL !!
I am a “Do it right or don’t do it” kind of guy. I feel if the compromised price is $10K, spend the $12-15K that gets it done right. I am a perfectionist which is even worse! I also understand reality and budgets. I also know the muscle and collectable car market very well and it is unfortunately in a decline now and (in my opinion) forevermore that will continue declining at an increasing rate.
I have been around owning, detailing, restoring and in the industry involving muscle cars & regular vehicles for almost 40 years.
I did not refer to this Camaro as in need of a #1 resto which are always 6 figures. I believe it deserves it. I agree, this is a way better car to start with, for sure. Being a 1st gen camaro, solid, RS/SS and a manual trans, albeit small block low option car, deserves a very good restoration. This car suffers, in my opinion from the “it has everything” which loosely translated means “it still NEEDS everything”. Everything on this car needs to be RE-something-ed. Rebuilt, repainted, reconditioned, replaced, re-chromed, repaired etc.
I live outside of Chicago. There are great guys in other more rural parts of the country doing work for far less than they are worth due to their great quality. Great quality body work on a solid body and great paint around here is $30K +/-. WHY would you put a half baked paint job on good body work or a good paint job on half baked body work? Pay thousands for it and had a hard time enjoying or reselling. THEN you still have “everything else”. Electrical, drivetrain, wheels & tires, suspension, brakes, trim, interior, chrome, emblesm, gaskets……The interior of this car looks good but upon close inspection its is rough. Seats, carpet, dash pad, A pillars, window gasket, carpet….and that’s all I see…from the photo above.
By the time you get through the paint and body, drivetrain, wheels tires & brakes. Moldings, chrome, emblems, gaskets electrical, paint and body, and, and, and…you are going to have twice the money invested in a car that will sell for half. You can pick up a nice RS SS Camaro small block for way less than half the budget to restore this one to a #1.5-2 condition.
I understand your comment. Save this car but why put $20K into a half baked resto when you spent $25-30K to buy the car…now you are in at $50K with a crappy resto.
I just had a customer of mine today tell me he is finishing is labor of love, doing most all the work himself, gor the last 12 years on a 60 Ventura. Cool car. $3K to buy. $45K in parts, materials and some outsource. Probably more. Admits its not perfect and would not sell for what he has invested much less his time. Just sayin.
I agree with your comments about the muscle car market. The younger generation just isn’t interested in classic muscle cars. Especially when you can get more horsepower and better handling with modern cars. Most people are pining over the cars from their youth. Most of the folks who had these in high school are well into their 60’s and 70’s. I do think that you could restore this for a lot less than $80K, but you’d still be in it for more than what you could sell it for. But some people just don’t consider that and just want to enjoy the car the way GM intended us to do. I guess I timed the sale of my 67 RS/SS convertible in 2019. The restoration was featured her on BF in Sept. 2015.
Not a Camaro fan (Firebird) but the 67 and 68 were the best looking. This would be a nice project for a great driver.
you are right these are the best that GM put out In my mind) yet I agree with the comments above, even doing the work myself (I was a certified collision repair) it would be difficult for me to cut corners on this beauty, still looking.
Heater core needed unless u live in a hot zone.
Gotta be new interior door panels.
Astounding condition underneath.
Surprised the car did not get a new trunk rubber gasket after all this time.
Not sure if it has PS.
The economics of “restoring” these low dollar cars is never worth it. A acid dipped, replace every nut and bolt restoration is very expensive. Everyone knows that to do it properly takes labor, parts, craftsmen, research, money and time. If a person has the knowledge that after restoring a vehicle he may not recoup his investment it’s his decision whether or not to proceed. Life if short and if you want to restore a Ford Pinto go for it and make it the best Pinto you can. Personally unless it’s a CCCA Full Senior Classic like a Duesenberg or similar heritage 95% of these Chevys and Mopars are just fine with new paint, mechanicals and interior updates. Unless your taking about dropping world record pricing on Clark Gables Duesy ($22 million). The rest is just noise.
No indication via emblem that this is an rs. I presumed and seem to recall an emblam from 1st gen Camaros that was an rs/ss emblem.
My friend had one of these that had fender emblems on it that read RS/SS and 396 . Don’t think this one is anything other than an SS . Wouldn’t waste the dollars on a 350 Camaro . Gotta be a big block for this kind of money .
There never was any emblem for 67-69 that displayed RS/SS together, they are seperate on the car . Everything you need to know how the Camaro left the factory is in 2 areas and that is the COWL TAG and the Pre-TECH-O-PLATE for warranty issues and Identifications (options) .Real Camaro owners /sellers know this and it’s the first thing to look for (cowl tag) which is on the firewall of all Camaros . It’s the only way to see exactly what the car had from the factory . If sellers don’t show the cowl tag in photos they are trying to avoid info or trying to pass it off on on unknown buyers . Don’t get fooled know your cowl tags . Usually these cars can have mixed matched items in the car for the year of car for sale . And jack the price of the way up when in all actuality it lowers the price because you don’t have the correct year items, options. So you have a Heinz 57 and need to pay for it to be corrected . Very common This Camaro seems to be very restorable , but need more info and big blocks command more money. 25k is a bit high but need to do your due diligence.(more info ) .
Sad to say, I’m not in the “more money than brains” category, but I know from my personal experience, if I had enough extra laying around I’d have a 1970 Superbird in my garage. Itd be yellow, black vynil top, black interior with bench seat and column shift. I remember looking at one of these when new sitting in front of our local Chrysler dealer and wanting one. Tried to talk my dad into it, but what did a 13 year old kid know.
I’ll stick with my old Pontiac GTOs, maybe another1st gen Camaro or so before I’m gone. That superbird, well, might have to drive another Ferarri before plopping down that much for a car. Both do seem good investments though.