Original Owner: 1979 Camaro Base – Sold?

June 13, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this base Camaro “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

Despite what you might think, not everyone wanted a second-generation Z/28 Camaro in the late seventies. With gas prices on the rise, a fair number of buyers liked the Camaro’s basic styling but not all of the stickers and spoilers that became the rage for performance cars by then.  That’s likely what happened when the original owner bought this pretty sliver-over-red, straight-six powered, base Camaro originally listed in May 2021 on Craigslist in Parkersburg, West Virginia back in 1979. Driven since new and reportedly restored a few years ago, the original owner is now asking $19,000 for their well-documented Camaro. Comparing that price against the Collector Car Market Review indicates the current asking price falls between this guide’s #2 “Very Good” estimate of $12,800 and its #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $19,700 after factoring in a twenty percent deduction for the less-desirable six-cylinder powerplant.  Similarly, the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms the original owner’s ask falls between this guide’s #2 “Excellent” estimate of $11,600 and its #1 “Concours” appraisal of $15,800 after factoring in a thirty percent discount for the inline-six.

Produced from 1970 through 1981, the second-generation Camaro achieved its highest production ever at 282,571 units, a record which stands to this day.  As growing emissions standards choked engine performance over the second-generation Camaro’s model run, the original focus on performance shifted to luxury.  A prime example of this was the introduction of the luxury-oriented Berlinetta model, replacing the Type LT, in 1979.  The only major changes for 1979 included a restyled instrument panel with a much flatter appearance than the previous wraparound design, while a new electric rear window defroster became optional this year, replacing the old blower type unit mounted in the rear package shelf.

This 1979 vintage Chevrolet Camaro and Chevette promotional film currently posted on YouTube provides a great overview of the entire line of both models that year:

The original owner’s husband reports they have all of the documentation dating back to when the car was new as well as a video of the car.

Here’s the seller’s one-sentence description:

“We have a 1979 Camaro my wife bought brand new in 1978. This car was restored a few years ago and looks just like it did when she bought it. We have all the documentation along with her original bill of sale right down to the temporary tag. This is a coupe NOT a Z-28. It has a 250cu straight-six engine that they only made 23k that year out of 282k cars. Technically it is rarer than a V-8 car. I have a video available to send you.”

Restore or Restomod: What would you do with this D100 Sweptline?  Comment below and let us know!