While I have grown up in the seat of my 33 pickup, I didn't officially get that truck until I was in my 20s. My first car was this 1968 Camaro SS/RS. This is the the car to blame for my addiction to being a Chevy fanatic and perfectionist, weather that being a stock restoration or being period correct on a hot rod & custom. I was already addicted to cars by 6-7 years old, so my grandpa had the idea of finding a project car for him to teach me all the tricks of the trade on and to have it done when I got my permit. My parents were on board as they then used it as a bargaining chip to make sure I did good in school, I could keep the car and work on it if I kept a minimum of a B+ in grades. My grandpa then would give me Auto Traders to look through and see what caught my eye. I was always drawn to 67/68 RS Camaro's as that blacked out grille was just mean looking. Found this car in the local paper for sale and scooped it up as it was rust free not know how much of a score the car actually was. Spent the next 7 year restoring the car ourselves, only working on it when I could get to his house after school and weekends. Kept my grades up all through graduation, so I still have the car now 24 years later. Over the years have discovered that the car is rare from talking to Camaro Restorer's as its a "phantom super sport" car. Its a L30/M20 car so a 327ci/275hp and 4 speed. For some reason with this motor/trans combo it got a 12 bolt and all the Super Sport suspension on a non SS car. Last time I checked with the group only 15ish cars have been confirmed with my car being one, even though I didnt fully restore it stock. Its done how I would have ordered it back in the day.
Super neat car! Besides being a 327-275 hp instead of a 350-295 hp..the only difference is the transmission. L30 cars came with Saginaws. The SS a Muncie. Congrats!!
That and you had to option for dual exhaust on a L30 car, 350 cars got dual exhaust standard. My car still had the original single exhaust on the car when we drove it home.
Really nice Camaro. Good for you on keeping it. My first car was a 68 Camaro 327/275 hp that I repainted in Lemans blue and stuck all the SS badging on it back in 79/80, before they called it cloning. Mine had black deluxe interior as well. Sadly I let it go as a broke college student. Never saw it again.
Thats what happened with this car. Its had the hood swapped at one point early in its life as it has a correct 68 Super Sport hood and hood hinges. It is a factory deluxe interior car as well, the interior minus the seat foam and carpet is all original to the car.It was a factory spoiler car, which is kind of odd for a RS only car. My car had to be either a dealer demo/manager car or someone special ordered it due to all the options. Based on options on a order sheet, you could have gotten a big block car cheaper than what this was as delivered in 68. thanks, its held up well for the first car I really ever worked on, lol.
My first was a 68 convertible with the 275/327 and a glide.... white with a red interior.... She's long gone....
My ‘68 Firebird was my first frame off…drove it 22 years and when I built first hotrod( the pickup in driveway) i made sure it rode better than the bird,,they rode like a shopping cart!
very nice Bird. Yeah the Camaro has never been a frame off. The chassis is still all original as it rolled off the line. Its about due for a good overhaul of rubber pars on it.
Not sure how I missed this even though I knew you had the Camaro. Very cool that you kept it. I wasn’t as smart and sold my 67 RS/SS convertible which was my first car before I ever even completely finished it when I was 17…
Ive had some people make some very tempting offers over the years, Ive always had a super blownout price in my head. Ive only said it once to a guy who would not leave me alone at a show once unless he knew the number and he actually thought about it which had me worried a bit, lol.
Very nice '68, you did a beautiful job on it! Not my first, but still have my acquired in '77 69 X33. The first gen's are special.
When i removed the front clip i was surprised to find a couple of the mounting holes on front clip rotted out. Replacing the floor pans on theses cars is very tedious. I got a little carried away,,
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