Old '72 Camaro

I'm going to look at a potential project today if still available.
It's rough. Basically a roller in need of complete restoration. Not sure what model SS / RS etc... I don't really care I guess.

The guy kept warning me about the condition. I think he had
calls thinking it was just in need of an engine and tranny.

I just want to be sure the frame is straight and no evidence of accidents or major rust (I'm in Michigan so rust is a problem) I guess some spots can be welded or fixed - correct? I am planning to strip it down and start from scratch - don't know if any sheet metal can be spared.

Any tips or suggestions to look for. BTW he wants $500.

that`s kinda how i bought my mustang .. a stripped out hull .. i`m sorry now i did that .. the better car you buy to begin with the easier it will be to put back together .. i`m looking for another stang now even if it costs 25 grand or so ..

A friend of mine said that too. I just want to get started on something with the kids and not break the bank all at once. I like the older Camaros, but anything nicer is a lot of cash. I already sold one of my rifles to buy it so the wife can't complain. :3dSMILE:

Good move! You don't need to tell her that it will cost a lot more to finish it.

My theory is ..."you always want to keep your cheerleader happy"! :-)~

that is a good one hotrod. :LOL:

Oh I know - I just need a starting place. I'm not in any big rush, just want to get the platform. :toocool:

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Originally Posted by Wayne Gilchrist

A friend of mine said that too. I just want to get started on something with the kids and not break the bank all at once.

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Not sure you intentionally said this, but the corollary is ".....I want to break the bank over time...". You asked for advice, Hoss gave you the best piece of advice given your description, and then you rationalize it away. Not trying to bust your chops here, just pointing out what you're doing to yourself. I'd bet there's at least a couple dozen people on here who haven't posted that when they read what Hoss said mentally yelled "Oh yeah, true words!!". Most of them learned the hard way how true.............looks like you want to add yourself to that list.

EDIT: Now, if you said "there's $1000 worth of parts there", and you intend to part it out to help build your future car fund I'd be your biggest supporter.

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I'd bet there's at least a couple dozen people on here who haven't posted that when they read what Hoss said mentally yelled "Oh yeah, true words!!".

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I was one who read it and said that also. I know your not going to get much for 500. In my opinion these cars like the camaros mustangs, ect seem to be harder to put back together than the older cars. It just seems to me its a lot more mind boggling. I passed up a 1970 mach 1 that had everything there b.c of rust issues. It was 2500 bucks and had a title. But to me it needed a lot of patch work. and it was not a dog but i knew i would be better off waiting until i found something better. Sometimes my feelings tell me i should have bought it but deep down i know i would have had to put a lot of work into it, and it probably not be worth it to me.

Bob speaks sound advice. All of us who have started with a fixer upper will tell you the more it needs fixing, the way more it's gonna cost in the long run. With the economy the way it is, biding your time and saving up maybe for a 3k car, might get you one in driveable condition. Even driveables cost alot to fix up down the line, but if your starting with just a frame, yikes it will cost 3x's what you would have to put into it, to buy one already in the shape for what you spent. Now if you know this, and want a project to work on for a few years with the kids, realizing it will cost more over time than an initial outlying of cash to begin with, then welcome to the club many of us have joined.
I love the early 70's muscle cars. I believe there is a big aftermarket for most of the parts, including sheet metal, but if it's like what I'm paying to replace a few fenders and running boards on my truck, you might want one with a good skin on it. Sheet metal can easily cost more than your engine and tranny combined depending on what it needs!

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Hoss gave you the best piece of advice given your description, and then you rationalize it away.

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Not really, sorry if it seemed like that. :( I'm taking in all the information from the posts here. I haven't done this before so I like to get a lot of opinions. Some people may have had hard times, other may not. I'm looking for information.

Chops are still intact! Thanks for all the information. Like I said a friend of mine said the exact same thing and now I see more and more people are echoing that response.

I did. however, go to look at it - I had the appointment set up when I posted originally.

I'll post pictures later tonight. It seems to be in better condition than *I* expected. Hardly any rust on the frame and is straight. Most of the sheet metal may be salvageable but it will be a lot o work and money no doubt.

It sounds to me like you just want to work on something and don't have or don't want to spend a whole lot of money on it. I mean, if you had to sell a rifle to fund the deal, then you must really want to do it. I have been in your position and would rather purchase something....anything....to work on rather than twiddling my thumbs and not having any iron to cut or weld on.

The one thing I would caution you about is to measure diagonally under the car between front and rear points that you know are in the same position left to right. I might also spend the money to run a CarFax on the car to see if there has been any major body damage in the past. I don't particularly mind starting with a rag, but I don't want to start with a tweaked rag.

The car is a unibody construction, with front and rear subframes, so it really doesn't have a "frame" as we think about some of the older cars with full frames. All the more reason to make sure it isn't a rhomboid rather than a rectangle.

Building a car from a gutted body is really expensive.....think of it...if you need the chrome round head sheet metal screws that hold the trim part inside the car, you first have to figure out what screw it is....then, you gotta pay somebody $ for the screw....not cheap by any means. The ONLY time to buy a gutted body is when you are going to gut it anyway and put in a 100% different interior...like a sheet metal interior in a race car.

Buying a completed but rough car is far more cost effective...you have all the little parts to start with....even if you have to replace some.

If you gotta start a project, start the engine and trans while you are looking for the right car.

Mike in Tucson

i think if the car as a roller is in great shape on holes floor pan solid . buy a rusty roller for all the parts this car is lacking .this car has a sub frame so if the rockers are rusty truck pan id gone .then there a very chance the back spring pockets and back rails are going .so you end up with a good roof line. cars like this we tube out . i did a very nice 70 firebird many years ago great body shot it dynasty red i think code 72 ? PPG with DAU 75 clear thats the way i did them 25 years ago . but the guy did not have any thing but a body so i could not finsh the car no glass not one thing but a shell .he wanted me to fine all the parts and that was hard to do back 25 years ago. car sat out side for 20+ years with no glass in it. that thing was still shinny rusting to the ground :(

Thanks for the ideas of what to check - This is what I need. Like I mentioned it was in better shape than I thought and I am by no means wanting to do a Total restoration- I';m looking for a Street car that I will run to the strip now and again. A project to keep idle hands busy and keep me out of trouble! :3dSMILE:

if it has good glass / chrome and plastic it is well worth the money .. there are still a few deals out there even though EBAY has killed most of them ..this is a 500 dollar camaro in bama
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...g?t=1287189503

Hoss I see what you mean.

Here are some pictures of the one I looked at today
No windshield, or rear glass, no interior.
Notice the hack job on the hood scoop!

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...ontQtrview.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/Rearview.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...ompartment.jpg

500 bucks .. go for it .. if i had 30 grand i`d own this big block ebay stang
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...g?t=1287191007

Most of my projects have been $500 or less because I do not spend a lot of money when I first get them. I am currently building an AMC Spirit that I dropped a 360 in. So far, I have about $1200 invested and that includes the purchase price, new rear springs and fabrication for the 360 to go under the hood. I have also bought a rear spoiler and an AMX grill for it. I have made my own patch panels and built a hood scoop which is the first major welding project that I have done and I didn't even warp the hood. With my Nash, I plan on putting a tilt front end on it but knew that I did not have the skill for doing it which is why I bought the Spirit. By the time I finish it, I will be more confident to build the Nash. So if it is in better shape than you expected and are comfortable in going through with it, then do it knowing that you will have some work to do and that there will be some expenses. As a side note, if you have friends who know about body or engine work and are willing to help you, use them to teach you as you work on the project. I have someone here who is helping me with body work and I learned a lot last fall building a truck for my daughter. Whatever you do, enjoy it and don't give up because there is always somebody around who can answer your questions and you will have a lot of them.

judging from the pics you showed, that looks a lot better than i thought it would. i say go for it

looks good to me for five hundred bucks. I'd say bring it home before someone else does then you would be sick.

Wow the body from the shots you posted looks great for the price. I understand the I'd rather tinker now and build over time approach to Where am I going to get 10k approach. It's a lot easy to buy 175.00 a month worth of parts over ten years!:LOL: That strategy does have it's set backs though! Sometimes our projects get sold off at a huge loss, due to lack of progress or interest over a few years. I think everybody wanted to spare you this frustration, however you may have the determination and where with all to assemble a fine car for a reasonable price.
If you don't care about stock, 350 engines and trannys are reasonably cheap, and used seats readily available. Running the strip can be very costly in set up costs to be compliant with safety regs. But that's and entirely different topic which others here are a wealth of knowledge.
I love this car's body style. Reminds me of the Rockford files. I use to love the 180's he would do in his car, by pulling the emergency brake!:3dSMILE:

Well I'm going to pick it up Friday. I have a trailer lined up. The guy I'm borrowing the trailer from has a dragster - I'll have to find out more about that. He also works at a body shop and does custom painting!

I figure I can probably get the $500 back if I want to get rid of it in the future but the more I look at it the more I think it will work out.

wayne i would go for it. looks good.