Anyone Still Owns Their First Camaro?

[CamaroMiami]

I still own my 92 RS 25th anniversary edition-V6. It needs restoration work but it is also still drivable.

[meissen]

My 1994 Camaro. Like my 2012, it was a pretty basic model v6, but it did have power windows, power locks, power seats, etc. My parents financed it for me when I turned 16, and through high school I paid the monthly bill. When I graduated, my parents paid the rest of the car off as my graduation present.

When I first got the car I liked it, but I wasn't passionate. Everyone I talked to would say things like "Wow I wish I had that sporty of a car when I was 16" and I would kind of shrug it off, not thinking it was anything too special.

I then discovered a site called ProjectCamaro.com (it's now owned by some guy in Japan using it for silly content) which promoted the customization of Camaros. That's what sparked a slow burning fire inside me. I got more into customizing the Camaro. I added a magnaflow exhaust to give it a bit more grunt, added hood stripes, ground effects, different rims, and then had new stripes painted on when I added the Z-roc/Stinger hood. I wanted my car to be different - to be mine, so I went a different route than most so that my car would truly be unique. My car was named "Red Alert" and still goes by that name today.

By 2005, I was active in a local area's 4th Generation FBody club but was jealous that other states like Texas, Indiana, etc had state-wide FBody websites. On a "what if?" whim, I registered mifbody.com and created the Michigan FBody website. It was meant to be like Camaro5 or CamaroZ28 - a general website, not a club but a general forum to find out about cruises, car shows, and events while socializing with other Michigan-based FBody enthusiasts.

Within the first few months, the site's popularity took off. The slow burning fire inside me for FBodies was now an out of control wild fire and I've became entirely engulfed in all things FBody. Diecasts, shirts, posters, books, magazines, other memorabilia, etc... I got paid and it immediately was spent. :laughing: The site grew quickly, and today even after doing a mass cleaning of inactive users or users who didn't finish activating their account, we're over 1700 members strong. We host the state's largest all-FBody show (which was this past Saturday) and draw participants from all over the Great Lakes region. In an effort to promote the fact that we are NOT a replacement for clubs, we actually host subforums on our website for local area clubs such as Western Michigan Camaro Club and the Eastern Michigan Camaro Club. Last year we actually lended some of our server's resources to the Western Michigan Camaro Club and now host their website entirely.

Around the same time, while at a car show with my 1994 Camaro I met a beautiful Italian girl there with her 2002 Firebird. I was surprised to see a girl at the show who was so into cars. Admittedly, I made it a point to be mildly annoying to her at first because I knew she'd at least remember who I was. It worked, and when her family's PC started crapping out from viruses, she remembered a certain annoying guy who was good with computers and IT. In 2007 I proposed to her at my website's annual car show. What really made the moment even more special was that Scott Settlemire made an appearance to our humble little car show and brought a Reliable car carrier with the Cadillac Sixteen, 2006 Camaro concept, and the 2007 Camaro convertible concept. So in the background while I was proposing we had the 2006 Camaro concept and the 2007 Camaro convertible concept.

In 2008, I finally got tired of the 3.4L v6. I found a great deal on an LT1, trans, PCM, harness, and darn near the rest of the car came with it. My dad and I spent all winter working on my car. We had a V6 pulling party, an LT1 install party, and a First Fire-up Party. The project started out as a "v6 to v8 swap" but then I used my dad's favorite line "If you're going to do it right, do it right the first time" against him. I said "Dad - if you're going to cam it, you might as well do it right and do it while the whole engine is out of the car." He folded, so it soon became a cammed LT1 with bigger fuel injectors and all new gaskets. Of course, I couldn't just stop right there -- I bought a rear end from a newer Camaro that had upgraded axles and then replaced the entire suspension in the car. It turned out to be quite an expensive project. The memories I made through the project are ones I will sincerely cherish forever - it was the pinnacle of the "father and son" project with my car. My dad calls himself the "Red Alert Pit Crew"

Along the way, the passion for FBodies also evolved into a sincere love for General Motors and their products. 99% of the United States will never appreciate General Motors like the Metro Detroit area does, and I'm no exception. When the economy tanked and GM was in bad shape, I took it personally even though I had no financial stake in the company -- I knew the company's well being would vastly affect the entire state of Michigan and the rest of the country. When GM prospered, I was proud and happy just the same. Back in January, I started working for the General as an IT Auditor. In the Metro Detroit area, having a job at one of the big 3 is a big deal and it makes me feel very successful in my career to have a job at GM. I directly attribute that success and getting the job at GM to my Camaro.

Memories with my first Camaro? Yeah I got some.

[PsychoZL1]

Yes, I still own my first Camaro!
That is because this is my first Camaro!

[DRMKAR]

Yes.
I have it right now

[67ss350camaro]

I got my first Camaro when I was 17 and still have it over 30 years latter . I have also added a couple more since.

[BowtieBelle]

Originally Posted by BlemsBumble

My first Camaro was a 1990 IROC Z. Bright Blue Metallic. It was the first car I ever had that I was completely satisfied with. Sold it 13 years ago, unfortunately.

Been trying to find a blue metallic IROC. Had a white '87. LOVE. THAT. CAR.

[heRS]

My first Chevy heartthrob was an el Camino and I've owned 2. Since they don't make 'em anymore and the new Camaro was a real looker I went with the Camaro. My 2010 is my first Camaro and yes, I still have it.

[Micawber]

My first camaro is my current 2011 model. I loved the first gen cars, from afar. I did come close once, back in the early '80s. Some local guys had rebuilt the motor in a '68 Firebird, but couldn't get it to run afterward. The car had some other problems and languished in a back yard for a bit before I heard about it and offered to buy it. I showed up with a tool kit and played around with it for a couple of hours before it started. I drove it home but because of it's other issues, and a lack of cash, I had to leave it parked too. Another guy came by and I let it go for a decent profit, but I still wish I could have held on to that one.

[DwRed1LTV6]

My 1st Camaro was purchased in
1996. '86 Z28 Iroc-z 5.0 liter V8 T.P.I Auto,
purchased with a little over 52k on it ,
sold it with bout 62k.
Black/Grey Interior/T-tops/4 wheel disc brakes
Posi rear end 3:23.1 ratio.

The Silver 85 isnt going any where any time soon . . . . . . . . .

[crateish]

My first Camaro was a black '84 I bought used in '87. A courier ran into me and totaled it three months after I bought it.

My current Camaro is my second Camaro.

[Linker239]

My 2001 Victory Red V6 with T-Tops, I got it a month before I turned 16. Now it's loaned to my older sister, I was supposed to get it back, its been in the "shop" for a year and a half now. I did happen to go by her house one day and I saw it setting in her garage. It brought tears to my eyes.

[Robertf65]

I've been fortunate enough to own many F-cars (mostly firebirds) and Vettes over the years, but this was my only Camaro - a 1993 Z28.



She cornered and stopped about the best of any F-car I'd ever had, but its engine performance was a total let down. When I bought it, I came out of an '86 Vette L98 and my seat of the pants "instruments" said that Vette ran circles around that camaro. I did Borla cat-back with muffler bypass and intake, but the car always ran like it had a potato stuck in the tail pipe. A real downer the entire time I owned her. Sold it to my son after 9 years and he happily drove it into the ground.

The car I still pine for is this 1972 Trans Am 455HO. It was my daily driver for 10 years and when the 455 took a dump I needed a car and couldn't wait for an engine rebuild or swap, so I let it go. Stupid.





I keep looking at white 5th Gen SS Camaro's and I see some of that old TA in them, especially when I see the Camaro / TA concepts...



For the money I'd spend on a new SS, i could probably locate a decent 72 455HO and be done.

[jaysonstuart]

My first was a 75 LT Coupe that I purchased in 94. When I purchased her she had a tired 350 in her the paint was faded and the interior was worn.

I took her home, pulled the motor and dropped a 383 stroker in her. rebuilt the transmission and paid dearly for a 12 bolt rearend with 410's in it. Had a buddy redo the interior, then had it painted by the local Maco. Spent 1500 buying the car and about 10k fixing it up. I drove it till 2002 when I sold it for 7k and used that money to put down on a new silverado.

I always wanted another one, and when the 5th gens came out I was dying to get one, but I wanted to buy a house first. Well I bought the house back in feb, and as soon as the dust settled I bought my 2012 SS. Couldn't be happier, car drives like a dream and it's super fun to race around town! I can't wait to take it on it's first road trip.

[DAVID2010SS]

Yes Its a 1979 Z-28 with only 15,000 miles on it. Never been repainted and still looks brand new.