Help with 78-81 Camaros!

[78-2-81]

Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am looking for a 1978-1981 Camaro. Sadly I don't know much about them, and I have never owned a Camaro but would really love to. I fell in love with them after seeing one a friend of mine has and I want one, and I need one! HAHA! I was hoping maybe someone could help me out? Maybe tips on insurance or anything like that? There is one problem, I am from Canada but not too far from Michigan so I figured someone would know maybe?

I am not in College yet but have heard CONSTANTLY to go to school first but, I can't wait that long! 18 years is enough for me. I thought of possibly parking it while I'm in school then, I could come home to a toy.

Some questions I have are:

What are some common problems with this model?
Any tips or anything to look out for?
Are there any ways of maybe getting this before I go off to school?

Basically my Dad is a big on me going to school and thinks I can't do both. Funny because he has a damn 81' Corvette just sitting collecting dust. There are some issues with it but, I want a Camaro anyways.

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am looking for a 1978-1981 Camaro. Sadly I don't know much about them, and I have never owned a Camaro but would really love to. I fell in love with them after seeing one a friend of mine has and I want one, and I need one! HAHA! I was hoping maybe someone could help me out? Maybe tips on insurance or anything like that? There is one problem, I am from Canada but not too far from Michigan so I figured someone would know maybe?

I am not in College yet but have heard CONSTANTLY to go to school first but, I can't wait that long! 18 years is enough for me. I thought of possibly parking it while I'm in school then, I could come home to a toy.

Some questions I have are:

What are some common problems with this model?
Any tips or anything to look out for?
Are there any ways of maybe getting this before I go off to school?

Basically my Dad is a big on me going to school and thinks I can't do both. Funny because he has a damn 81' Corvette just sitting collecting dust. There are some issues with it but, I want a Camaro anyways.

Insurance for these cars is cheap if you go through a "classic car" insurance company (i.e. Hagerty, Grundy). It's an agreed upon value policy, and both companies have top notch reputations...BUT...you can't have it as a daily driver...pleasure vehicle only...and it must be stored indoors always.

Common problems include rust in the rear subframe area, just behind the door (in front of the rear wheels), floors/trunk, and the bottoms of the fenders...but the rear subframe area usually goes first.

Parts are plentiful and reasonably priced. Hard to find parts include tail lights and hoods, and show quality examples of those can be very tough to find.

You can find these cars relatively inexpensively (for now), but they are definitely on the upswing. $8000 will get you a very good example.

Good luck!

[2002Z4CSS]

My son and I have had several 1978-1981 Camaros. Like mentioned above the insurance is not bad. These cars prices are finally taking off the last couple of years. I have one from North Carolina for cheap if interested. It is a 1979 Camaro and is a clean body shell. My son also has his 1979 Camaro that was his first car. He has collected parts for several years for his car and has several parts he is willing to sell.

[78-2-81]

Do you have any photos of these Camaro's for sale?

[2002Z4CSS]

Do you have any photos of these Camaro's for sale?

Here are a couple. The 1979 Camaro from North Carolina is priced at $650.
(734) 635-7206
(734) 718-9750

[steddy]

1979 10k Miles

It's hard to say this, but I'd be willing to let go of my original baby. I named this one Kymba for the fact that it's all white (blue interior) and with the motor I put in it, when it's cruising, it sounds like a lion's bellow. Problem is, I have the family thing going and with the kind of motor it has, this isn't a "gas saver", but she is respectible on the time slips (12s consistently on street tires. Never tried with slicks).

Right now, she has a problem with the starter, I believe. Battery shows power, but it doesn't seem to be getting to the rest of the car. She has 10,000 original miles on her, very solid, except for minor rust at the front corners of the rear quarters. The floors have been treated from front to back, so no rust there. Frame's tied, comes with the solid aluminum rims (outlaw I) you see in the pic and also the original set of Z rims. The motor's a 355, with KB pistons and plasma moly rings (she was originally built with a progressive NO2 system in mind), 10.5:1 compression with a Lunati cam (.564" intake .545" exhaust 112* duration [custom grind]), MSD-6AL ignition. 750 Double Pumper Holley carb, Harwood 4" cowl hood with working cowl. She also has a B&M console ratchet shifter.

Backing it is a Turbo 350 trans with a shift kit and mating the two is a 3500 Summit stall converter. Right now, she has Lakewood slapper bars keeping the geometry together when you hit the gas, with custom leaf spring hangers that bring the rear up just a little and still utilize the poly spring bushings, so no bounce.

I'll take $5000 for her.

Believe me, the engine alone was far more than this and when she runs, there'll be NO disappointments. Only reason I'm offering is that I just don't have the time required with the bike, other car, house, family, etc. (I would presume that to be your dad's story with the '81 Vette also). Darrenscamaro and Big Jon have seen the car in person and can give their personal insights.