Any Ideas on what model this is?
 

A longtime trusted coworker of mine in another state has had this Camaro for the past 10 years. He sent me a photo as I expressed some interest in it several years ago when he mentioned having it in passing and he is now ready to part with it. He is going to send me the VIN info sometime this week but I cannot tell from the photo what model Camaro it is as I am not very experienced with classic cars.

I am told it has a 305 in it and it is a 1979. He said it was a Berlinetta, but it does not look like the photos pf the Berlinettas I have seen. the front end looks like a Z28, but the hood is not the same as most. Any ideas?

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ne/photo16.jpg

Thanks in advance!

looks like some z28 parts were put on,plus a aftermarket t-top and wheels,on a z28 all the chrome and grill were black

Wrong wheels for a Z\28. Also the hood is stock camaro. Someone is being truthful, It's closer to a Berlinetta than a Z\28

79 or 80, but the grill is wrong for a Z28. Side ports are right and wheel flares but the grill looks like a Berlinetta. Agree with Louf, T-tops are suspect.

Duh, totally missed the hood. I think it's a Berlinetta with some Z accents.

So it is obviously not as "all original" as he thought. I don't blame him, he, like me, is not a big classic car guy. I was just suspect based on the photos and my spider senses were correct!

I told him to photo the trim tag for me to look at.

So based on the trim tags and VIN it is a Berlinetta. The VIN indicates a 350. Where is the typical location of a stamp on the engine? Will that confirm it is a 350?

For what it is worth, here is a photo of the motor. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...eone/image.jpg

79z28 LM1 350 markings
 

I have two 79 Z28s - my personal favorite year!

In 79 they dropped the LT model and replaced it with the Berlinetta.
The 79 model year produced the most Camaro's - that's why we still see so many today.
The Z28 was not a model it was an option but easily decoded using the VIN and Trim Tag
The 2nd digit in the vin would be S for Berlineta
The 5th digit would be a L for 350
The 6th digit would be 9 for 1979
http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/camaro79.php
http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...second-gen.asp


350 LM1 - On the top rear of the block behind the distributor and behind the driver side valve cover is the block number. It will be hard to see while the motor is in the car.
Check the pad on the block behind the alternator to see if you can see the partial vin stamped there.

Here are some pics of a 1979 LM1 350
http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf9ef8656.jpg

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps01cb3d5d.jpg

Close-up
The gray tape is covering where the distributor shaft goes in the engine.
http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb650cf34.jpg
Close-up
Behind the drivers side valve cover.
1977 - 1981 Z28 Engine (350) - LM1, 170 - 190hp
Block 3970010 2 bolt main http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/z28lm1.html
http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/a...psea068390.jpg

Close-up
Here is the partial vin engine Pad - Note that in this pic the Alternator on the right is painted blue.

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps23db7d2b.jpg

Thank you for all the great information, I really appreciate the response! I think I may be able to get the owner to find the numbers for me now. The VIN on this one starts with 1S87L9L so it looks like it came with a 350.

Now I just have to convince my wife I need it!

Do some homework on those T-Tops. I was looking at some old pic's of my 79 and the tops go all the way back, even with the vertical angle of the side windows.

Here's an old grainy pic of my Z so you know what I'm talking about.

Only reason I mention it is they leaked like a sieve and if the rubber is old, you'll have issues with it. If this will live in the garage and you'll only drive it on sunny days, you'll the T-tops.

Your Welcome! Good luck with you project!

Never tell your wife you "need" anything, lol. That's a bad way to start the conversation off. :nod: Let us all know when you pull the trigger! Good luck!

So it looks to me that the numbers on the engine match the numbers on the VIN so I assume that the engine is a 350 based on this. Now the million $$ question is what is the this car worth today and how does the Z28 adds effect the overall value? Is it rare to have a Berlinetta with a 350?

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ne/image-1.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ne/image-2.jpg

looks like a good car! As long as nobody starts putting Z badges on it when it isn't one, I have no problem with putting some of the cooler looking parts n pieces on. That's what im doing to my 86 berlinetta lol. Had a guy at a gas station try to tell me his car was a 81 Camaro SS. When I told him they didn't make an ss Camaro in that year, he flipped out and showed me all the ss badges on the car (where the z28 badges would be). I looked close, and could still see a little of the residue from the berlinetta badge on the nose :facepalm: Some people just don't get it.

Havin a numbers matching car is always better for resale as an original classic.
A car can only be original once... after that it's what the market will bare or if your lucky finding that special buyer willing to pay what it's worth to you.

Is it rare? Well numbers wise:
According to NastyZ28. http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/camaro79.php
In 1979 there were 260,658 V8 cars and 84,877 were Z28's The rest Base, Berlinetta's or Rally sports could have added the RPO LM1 350 factory option listed as $360.

According to Old ride -- http://www.oldride.com/library/1979_...et_camaro.html
1979 Base Camaro 111,357
1979 Berlinetta Camaro 67,236
1979 RS Camaro 19,101
1979 Z-28 Camaro 84,877

Hagerty lists the 1979 Berlinetta 350 option car about $2,500 more than a Berlinetta with the standard 305 witch is not bad for a $360 option!
http://www.hagerty.com/price-guide/1...evrolet-Camaro

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the input. I am just trying to weigh the asking price of the vehicle against the amount of $$$ to get it back to very good condition. And since this is my first venture I am being doubly cautious.

I have been looking online and as with everything else online separating fact from fiction is very difficult but it looks to me that a total rebuild of the motor could run up to $3000.00, interior work about $2000 and a paint job could be $7000 to $10000. Based on the asking price I would have $18,000 to $21,000 in this. While I am not trying to flip the car, I don't want to be upside down either. Are my estimates correct?

I look online and I see similar cars in similar shape with wide ranges of asking price. Of course those are asking prices, so I look at actual sales and the fans is very wide as well. What makes this a $6000 car vs. a $4000 car?

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the input. I am just trying to weigh the asking price of the vehicle against the amount of $$$ to get it back to very good condition. And since this is my first venture I am being doubly cautious.

I have been looking online and as with everything else online separating fact from fiction is very difficult but it looks to me that a total rebuild of the motor could run up to $3000.00, interior work about $2000 and a paint job could be $7000 to $10000. Based on the asking price I would have $18,000 to $21,000 in this. While I am not trying to flip the car, I don't want to be upside down either. Are my estimates correct?

I look online and I see similar cars in similar shape with wide ranges of asking price. Of course those are asking prices, so I look at actual sales and the span is very wide as well. What makes this a $6000 car vs. a $4000 car?

You estimates may be a bit high but you right that you could put a lot of money in it and never get it back. In this year there are lots of cars to choose from. Your not going to make money but for your investment you can have a lot of fun and should think about it as an investment in Fun. A driver paint job is easer to drive and enjoy but a show paint job can only be driven to show and may drive you to sell.

If this is your first restore or build try to keep it running so you can enjoy it and keep the enjoyment of driving it fresh in your mind. I see so many people get over their heads. Remember tearing apart a car is a lot easer than putting it back together. It takes time and money to put it back and Craig's List and EBAY are full of half finished broken dream giveaways. NV took only a couple weeks to tear apart and almost 3 years to complete.

Good luck - be strong - keep the faith!

I took my license test in a Black 79 Berlinetta...maybe thats why i have always been a Camaro fan!

Mine was in a 74 Gremlin...glad it never stuck with me.

:amen:

Perhaps you can have your friend look for the build sheet? It is usually located behind the rear seat back. Not that hard to find. If it's still there it will answer a lot of questions.

Not sure about the Berlinetta but you could get a Z-28 with the Type LT package before 1979. The Type LT and Berlinetta's come with the factory gauge package. The pic shows the fender vents and front spoler. A '79 Z-28 would also have a spoiler (not sure what the actual name is) piece in front of the rear wheel opening which matches the front spoiler. '78's didn't have the rear spoiler.

The car would be a good base for a Z-28 clone. Just need the upper and lower grill pieces and emblems. If you take off the under hood insulation you can see the bolt pattern for the hood scoop. Drill out the holes and find the center of the carb and cut out a hole for cold air.

I would get it if you want a good project car and if you could get a good price.

Good luck!

The biggest thing about any project car is you need to get it on a hoist to find out if there is a lot of rust damage, that is the tell tale sign if you plan on investing money in a project. Cars from the east coast can have rust issues because of salt used on roads in severe weather. Do your home work first before buying.

The body work paint estimate could be a little light depending on what you actually want done and th quality of the work. The engine price is in outer space and should include a trans at that cost and labor to pull it put it all back in like new fromt the air cleaner nut to the drain plug. A 350 Chevy is the cheapest engine to build of any out there.