1968 Chevrolet Camaro 327 | Original Paint Unrestored CA Car

1968 Chevrolet Camaro Additional Info:

1968 Chevrolet Camaro 327 | Original Paint Unrestored CA Car

VIN 124378L348380

First sold on August 29, 1968 by John Geer Chevrolet in Sacramento, this exceptional Camaro spent most of its existence under the care of a Full Bird Colonel stationed at McClellan Air Force Base in Northern California. Prior to my purchase in 2016, it had just received a comprehensive mechanical servicing in preparation for sale, after spending some twenty years in dry storage in downtown San Jose.

When I first encountered this car I was very excited to discover how original it was. From the original paint, to the incredibly preserved interior, and very cool USAF decals still displayed on the front chrome bumper. My biggest surprise though, was how it drove. I have a number of 1960’s era cars in my collection, and am very familiar with taking into consideration the limited performance capabilities of these cars when driving in modern traffic. When I collected the car, I drove it some 50 miles home, through a mountain highway, and was shocked at how well it handled the sharp curves, braking smartly, with smooth positive power steering, and the general feel of a much more modern car. I put this down to the fact that it is a highly original, well cared for example, that had obviously been very well prepared prior to my purchase.

The interior is in amazing condition for its age. The black carpets are original, and show light fading in areas that the sun reaches them, and the front and rear seats are simply exceptional, as is the headliner, door panels, and entire dashboard assembly. The radio still works as intended, as do all clocks and gauges. The air conditioning unit is a very rare and desirable dealer installed item in wonderful condition. I did however remove the compressor with the intention of upgrading it to a modern R134 unit. The original compressor and mounting bracket are included in the sale, however I did not get around to upgrading to a modern unit simply because the weather in Northern California does not require it.

The body is just beautiful. It is free of any damage, save for a few small dings on the rear valance, and one dime sized nick above the drivers side headlight. I did not want to fix any of this due to the fact that the black factory painted stripe on the front of the car is original, albeit faded in places. I did however replace the factory applied vinyl side stripes (from the rear of the front wheel arches back) with replacement GM items. I also fitted a genuine GM rear spoiler, and replaced the rear window rubber seal due to aging. The paint is in very nice original condition, although there are some areas on the sharpest edges of the fenders that show wear due to years of polishing. None of this detracts from the overall appearance of the car, and in my honest opinion the gentle patina only adds to its overall authenticity. I have had many positive comments at local car shows, praising the fact that this is an original preserved Camaro.

After my original purchase, I proceeded to enjoy the Camaro for the next couple of months, using it almost daily. The car came fitted with Rally wheels and a new set of radial tires, and my first modification was to locate a set of original period Western Wheel slot mags. Once found, I had these restored and fitted with BFGoodrich Radial T/A’s, and had the raised white lettering removed by Diamond Back Classic Radials for a smooth vintage appearance. These wheels are shown in the photos, or I can re-install the original Rally wheel set-up prior to delivery.

In January of 2017 I decided it was time to proceed with some more serious upgrades. The following items were purchased and professionally installed over the next few months. All original parts except for the exhaust were retained and are included in the sale.

Approximately $10,000 was spent on parts, and professional installation (receipts included), and 1,250 miles have been added since.

Other than the original parts that were removed, and aforementioned receipts, the sale includes the original Owners Manual, and the original Owner Protection Plan Booklet with intact Protect-O-Plate.

The new owner is going to be getting a wonderful driving car. It is turn-key, and in need of nothing. It was not my intention to sell my Camaro, but I have a growing collection and limited space, so something has to give. The car is available for inspection and/or test driving in Aptos, CA prior to auction end.