1968 Chevrolet Camaro RS

Description

The muscle cars that seem to be gaining traction in the market are those that are true to their original build. This 1968 Camaro RS coupe is just such a machine; no fake stripes or questionable mods, just a clean V8-powered F-body that was restored to look and drive just the way it did back in the day.

Following a 5-year restoration that rebuilt the entire car practically at the molecular level, this neat Butternut Yellow coupe looks great. You can imagine the soul-searching the owner must have faced with a super-clean Camaro shell that could be anything he wanted, but he wisely chose to put it back the way the factory built it. The smooth paint hugs the shapely Camaro bodywork and gives it a subtle look that actually works really well, and you can see in the photos just how straight it really is. A black stripe around the nose works rather well with the black vinyl top, which was also replaced during the restoration. The Rally Sport package, as you undoubtedly already know, includes the awesome folding headlights that give the Camaro a totally unique look, as well as some special badging, different taillights, and back-up lights moved to the rear valence. The lack of a rear spoiler gives it a purposeful look and the chrome is so brilliant that it's probably better than new.

The standard black interior is remarkably original, and it's kind of cool that even the base upholstery looks upscale to us today. The buckets are in good condition, showing only modest signs of use, and again, they resisted the urge to add options or upgrade the trim during the restoration. Then again, the Camaro's interior is so stylish that it really doesn't need the upgrades to be a great place to spend some time. Plus, we really like the butch look of a manual shifter sticking out of the transmission tunnel without a console. Of note, the seats, door panels, and headliner are all original, but the carpets are so nice that they have to have been replaced at some point. The factory gauges show well with perhaps some light fading but like the seats, they're really quite nicely preserved, and the original AM/FM/8-track radio remains in the dash, a relative rarity. The trunk was also nicely detailed with a reproduction mat and full-sized spare tire.

That's the original, numbers-matching 327 cubic inch V8 under the hood, although the numbers were lost when the block was decked. It was fully rebuilt to stock specs and detailed for show with Chevy Orange paint, a correct air cleaner assembly, and perhaps most remarkably, a factory AIR pump and other emissions controls 100% intact. With a 4-barrel carb, it's responsive on the street and with just over 1000 miles on the build, it's broken in and ready to enjoy. Correct finishes, markings, and hardware were used throughout, making it look highly accurate when you open the hood. The 3-speed manual shifts nicely and again, it's just the way the factory intended, and the original 10-bolt rear is surrounded by a reproduction exhaust system with transverse muffler. The body-colored floors make a fantastic background for the nicely finished chassis and proper Rally wheels with 215/70/14 BFG radials complete the look.

This is how most Camaros were spec'd back in the day, and with V8 power and a subtle look, it'll probably attract more attention at shows than all the over-done SS clones you see every day. Call now!