Cool Camaros don’t grow on trees. Good luck finding complete first-generation models, which hobbyists seem to think are the most desirable of the bunch. With their flowing lines and pony car styling, the sporty Chevys have always hit a note with consumers since their launch in the fall of 1967, and have continued that trend to the present day, as one of the most desirable classics on the marketplace today.
Tom Tallman of Oakhurst, New Jersey is always out and about looking for cool rides. Many people know him as @nj_carspotter on Instagram and this enthusiast fills his social media feed with cars located in the Northeast. “I love finding cool cars out in the wild, and sometimes I inquire about them seeing if they are for sale,” says Tom.
So, when he got a tip on a pair of Chevys sitting under a carport, he was quick to make a move on them. “My buddy told me about the cars, and they weren’t far from my home, so I went to take a look. Under this beat up carport was a cool Gen-3 corvette in rough shape. Right alongside it was this ’68 Camaro. It had seen better days but looked salvageable. I made an offer on both and took them home,” says Tom.
The Corvette was quickly sold off, but Tom had a soft spot for the Camaro and kept it around. “My first car, which I still have, is a ’71 Camaro SS. I’ve always loved this early styling of the first two generations of Camaros. I figured I’d put some elbow grease into this one and see what happens. I had a cowl hood that I put on for the time being, some rally wheels and bigger tires, and added a few other parts from my stash to finish it off and give it a more streetwise look.”
Not much is known about the Camaro, but it did start out life in South River, New Jersey before finding its way to Pennsylvania. It was last titled in 1989. It appears to be a pretty basic ride. “It’s not an SS or an RS. It’s a small-block powered coupe, with few extras to speak of. The body on the car is in reasonable shape, with some panels needing attention. Overall, for New Jersey, this is pretty good starting point for a project. The Matador Red paint has been cooked off on many of the panels, but remnants can still be seen in the lower panels and inner edges. Some trim is there, but some will need to be sourced.
The interior has a super-cool 70’s vibe, probably due to the vintage Craig Pioneer 8-track player installed under the dash. The horseshoe shifter and console denote an automatic trans behind the small-block, which is a two-speed Powerglide. The Deluxe steering wheel is original and mostly everything else is present in the interior, minus the original radio and vent cover. The upholstery will need some work but appears to be the original black vinyl interior.
Under the hood, a small-block sits. “Not sure what it is exactly, as I haven’t run the numbers yet. But it looks complete and has a later model air cleaner, and valve covers, so it’s probably a much newer replacement engine.” says Tom. The car doesn’t sport any power goodies, so it rides on manual drum brakes and manual steering. Though it’s not running yet, Tom feels he can get the engine to turn over with a little work. “It’s not stuck, so that’s a big positive as far as I’m concerned.”
Right now, due to multiple other projects, Tom is selling off the Camaro. “Hopefully someone will save this ride. It’s got good bones and I’m sure someone can take this F-body and get it back on the streets. It’s also a good starting point for a Z/28, SS or RS clone. Like they say, they don’t make ’68 Camaros anymore, so this one should be built back up.”
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