Restoring a Camaro

Few car enthusiasts can resist the lure of a restored Chevrolet Camaro.

The Z28 is one of the most recognizable names in Chevrolet history

From the late 1960s through 2003 Chevrolet engineers provided four generations of these performance cars destined to become classics. Camaros were (and continue to be) a blast to drive anywhere-from the grocery store to the drag strip.

Restoring a Camaro requires knowledge, some mechanical ability, time, effort, and lots of patience.


A good way to start is to get advice from other Camaro enthusiasts and club members.

Request it!
Camaro, forty years
by Darwin Holmstrom ; photography by David Newhardt ; foreword by Ed Welburn.
St Paul, MN : MBI Pub. Co. and Motorbooks, 2007.
On the eve of the 21st-century Camaro, this big book chronicles the rich history of an American muscle-car era icon in pictures and words. Here, accompanied by fabulous photographs, is the full story of Camaros 40 years.MBI
     
Request it!
The story of Camaro
John Gunnell & Jerry Heasley.
Iola, WI : Krause Publications, c2006.
Camaro fans will happily lose themselves in the details and superb photos featured in this complete guide to the longest-running pony car GM ever produced.
     

Manuals and restoration handbooks provide original specifications and step-by-step instructions. One long-time car restorer, Jim Richardson, provides these tips to help minimize problems:

  • Buy the right car- consider your budget, the car's condition, and your skills
  • Decide how the restored car will be used- for driving pleasure or investment
  • Set up a shop- at least a well-lighted and ventilated two-car garage space
  • Do a little at a time- break the project up into sub-projects
  • Do the mechanical first- don't let surprises under the hood undo paint, trim, and interior work
  • Take lots of pictures- a good way to remember details and share the experience

More about Restoration

This 1968 SS396 still turns heads today

Whether for investment or pleasure, time spent restoring a Camaro is time well spent. There is nothing like driving down the street in a car you restored. It's fun and satisfying, well worth all the work and unforeseen things that happened during the restoration. It could also be a wise investment. A Camaro that sold for $2800 in 1967 sells for eight to ten times that amount today

Restoring automobiles is a hobby that will 'take you places.' For many enthusiasts that place might be to find a Camaro and start a restoration project.

Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff.