1968 Chevrolet Camaro 4-Speed Convertible Project
And now for something from the “What in the Sam Hill happened here?” department. What you are looking at is a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro convertible, that’s the easy part, what happened to it is another matter entirely. Normally, a four-speed manual transmission-equipped, ’68 convertible would be a money maker but that may not be the case here. This forlorn Chevy is located in Hollywood, Florida and is available, here on craigslist for $8,500.
Claimed to possess a 350 CI V8 engine would put this drop-top in Super Sport (SS) territory as that was the only way to snare the 295 gross HP engine that year. This example is not advertised as an SS-equipped car, there is no visual external badging, and the VIN is no help in that determination. Of course, the deplorable condition, led by extreme rust and flaking paint makes any discernment difficult at best. The trim tag is not displayed but a wild guess says that this is a black over white respray. The seller mentions, “Doors open and close nice” which I guess is a good sign but I’d really want to get a good look at the underside. Interesting to discover are the wheels, they are American Racing Vectors that are normally drilled for a Mopar bolt pattern but I know that they are also offered as blanks so that they can be machined to fit whatever – they’re one of my favorites!
The engine images aren’t too good with the only notable thing being an aftermarket open-element air cleaner. It’s a safe bet that this one’s a non-runner and if it were, I might be worried about having the front end separate itself from the rear half. A four-speed manual transmission is always a great inclusion and usually a revenue enhancer.
The interior is unfortunately trashed. The convertible top frame is in place but the top fabric is gone which makes one think that this Chevy has been left, topless, to the elements – it certainly looks like it, and thus my comment about the underside (floors). I’m trying to figure out what the dreck is that appears on the edge of the rear seat bottom rest, it looks like vinyl that has been melted. And I have to admit, I’ve seen some interesting speaker installments but being placed into the seatbacks is a first for me. This is a factory A/C equipped car which seems like a superfluous point at this stage but it won’t be if this car is capable of undergoing a full restoration – it too would be a valuable feature.
The seller adds, “good title and VIN” which makes me think that’s all that one will end up with, a good VIN for use on a Dynacorn body. So, what do you think (besides what happened to it), a good restoration candidate or maybe not?
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Comments
Sorry, but this is no longer a project, it’s a parts car, Imo.
Looks like it was stored upside-down in a salt mine.
Project??? A science project on corrosion or a social project on how to neglect a car !
How cute, someone crocheted a camero
While looking at the pictures I think I heard Creedence playing swamp rock in my head…
Are you sure it wasn’t coming through the pseudo Quadriphonic custom seat cabinet thingies?
I imagine every time the car hit a bump, both driver and passenger were capable of cutting off the music based on that stupid location for the speakers. Probably painful, too, if the speaker cones were normal size!
I take it the hood has rotted into dust.
Pretty much everything has rotted to dust on this turd :)
Holy crap someone has neglected this one for way too long. Unfortunately at this point she’s a parts car at best. If the hood and truck lid look like that, just imagine how crusty the frame is.
The frame is probably fine. That’s just good old Florida, where the repeated salt air condensation eats away the horizontal surfaces.
If it were anything but an early Camaro, it would have already been crushed.
I have one that has all parts must put back together
In case someone is interested, I live only an hour from Hollywood, FL and I could take a look. My question is however, why spend $8500 for this heap when you can buy a driver for twice that amount. Talk about Car Crazy!
I think the wheels are from ’80’s Buick T Type and Turbo T Regals.
I think it sat in the ocean too long and the salt water got it. It might make a good boat anchor now,that’s about it.
1967 was the 1st year of the 350 engine, offered only in the Camaro SS, 1968 saw it in most any Chevy. The top down rust is common in salt water areas, the floors may not be so bad.
Actually, ’68 saw the 350 engine expand its coverage to only include the Nova SS. It was ’69 before it ended up in full-size (Impala etc.), mid-size (Chevelle, etc.), Corvettes, and light trucks.
JO
I don’t remember there being a jetty in Hollywood FL….or a parking lot on said jetty….but I could be wrong. It’s been a while since I’ve been there… I’ll bet the doors work good….the hinges are only carrying half the normal weight….
Totally agree! VIN plate + Title/Pink Slip + Dynacorn panels are the only route that this baby will ever see the road again. And I’m sure it will…
The icing on the cake would be finding a Saginaw transmission under that shifter.
Run, Forrest, RUN!
The epitome of a rust bucket. Sad to see what once was a very nice vehicle reduced to this condition. RIP.
I’m 45 minutes away from Hollywood Fl. and at gas at around 5 dollars a gal. it not worth the drive to look at it.
A salvage yard wouldn’t pay a dime for this rotting piece of…iron.
Pull the motor, trans and scrap the rest. All the sheet metal will need replaced making it a Chinaro in the end. There are a whole lot of better cars out there
Sure wouldn’t mind knowing where the seller buys his weed…..that has to be the killer.
“Doors open and close nice”, eh? I’d be cautious about it. Close either door with even the slightest force, and the whole thing would collapse into a pile of rust.
This car appears to me as one that sat under a tarp, trapping all that Florida moisture, likely a canvas tarp then covered with the infamous blue Florida roof tarps seen everywhere after hurricanes. I believe that would explain why the horizontal surfaces are toast, but the doors open and close fine.
This looks to be a victim of good intentions gone wrong. I’m betting the car was stored outside with a canvas tarp over the top surfaces of the car, and then maybe a blue tarp used frequently in Florida after storms to protect leaking roofs. That could also explain why the doors open and close perfectly. Canvas tarps are about the worst thing to “protect” or cover your car
Reminds me of my moms beautiful ’73 Omega, Old’s answer to the Nova. Stored in the way you described and in one winter when I took off the cover I was mortified to see the results. I had to breeze blast the entire car to get a coat of primer on it just to save it. Learned a lot about FL and sea air that year.
Thats even beyond qualifying for yard art! Till the last couple of years no one would even try to sell something like this other than parts.