What would you do?

[Mike Hall]

have come across a 67 camaro that has lived its life without rust or damage. I just got the car in yesterday and im blown away and the lack of rust. There is not even any surface rust on the floors. The car was stripped to the bare metal then primed with epoxy primer leaving all the minor dings and dents so they can be fixed later. The condition of the car is one thing but another cool thing about the car is it was ordered as a base car with the High output 327 with double hump heads and a 4sp. Im unsure of the rear end other than its a 10 bolt. My question is should I restore it back to original or mod it for touring? I have the original 327 which looks to be in good shape and complete from carb to pan. The original trany is not in the car but I bought a 67 camaro M21 a few months back. What would you guys do? I would love to start with a car in this shape for my touring car but then again it would be a shame modify this car if it had a chance at being someone valuable. I will post some pictures later.

Mike

[Ummgawa]

Mike

I would Pro tour it. You will get a consensus here to PT the car. If you list this same question at Camaros.net, they will say put it back original (with a few exceptions of course). If you dont mini tub it then you canalways go back "stock" at some point, If you ever want to. Pro touring is the best look for first gens I have come across. I have always been a "Like em the way the General built em" kind of a guy. But when I saw the Mule, well, it was all over for me...kinda like the first time I saw my wife. I knew it wa s all over but the crying part.

Like marriage,it is expensive.

[Payton King]

The car at this time will bring more money in pro-tour form. If it was an SS I might go another direction. SS cars were only availible with a 350 and 396. I am only aware of 1 327 motor for that year....they were not like the corvettes that had different levels of performance.

Sounds like a great find and a great car. I spent a lot of money on the body of my 69 and would have been better off starting with a great shell like yours...I had almost $9,000 just in sheet metal before installation.

As a side note I use to live in Helena, Al.

[Hdesign]

It's really your car so obviously do what you want but I would personally PT it! It doesn't seem to be so rare or insanely desirable that it's a $100K+ car in pristene stock condition. You're probably gonna spend a bit more with all the top of the line PT mods but it'll be a much more and drivable car. Just bolt on goodies will do wonders for the handling and performance. I agree with avoiding major surgery on minitubs and whatnot. You can always return it to original down the road. To retain some of that great classic feel, I would leave the interior bone stock. Sort of the best of both worlds...Good luck!!

[Derek69SS]

If you have to ask, there's really only one good answer... modify it, but don't butcher anything.

I'd go "stock" with it, but update the brakes, suspension, wheels, and maybe add fuel injection, overdrive, and a 12-bolt with your choice of ratio. It's all stuff that's easy to reverse, and can be done in stages if budget is a factor.

[Mike Hall]

I guess you guys are right. Its just a great easy starting point. I got the car for $6300 and Its well worth it with the body it has. The car was stripped to the bare metal then primed with epoxy without any body filler. Other than mini tubs, a cowl hood, and maybe a firewall smooth kit it would be a factory body. I plan to do a killer custom interior with a very high end audio system. These old cars with the high dash thats straight across the bottom is perfect for some HLCDs. LOL This is getting me excited.

Mike

[Stuart Adams]

PT it. I have had numbered cars and the money to get it CORRECT by judging standars will be very pricey also. Plus you loose big time if you put miles on them, unless its a Yenko or some other very rare car. Your car would not bring even close to your investment if you restored it stock and then sold it.

Think about it, we all want a great body to start with, you have that without putting new panels on etc. Mini tub it and use great parts, then drive it like you stole it, IMO.

Or you could sell it to me cheap...LOL.

[Mike Hall]

Im going to PT the hell out of it. LOL I just put both my 66 chevy IIs up for sale being This is the only project I will be able to have for now. Im moving to a town house so i will have to be a one project man for a while. LOL

Mike

[Stuart Adams]

Right on.