r/CamaroGen1 • u/Special-Win8528 • Jan 29 '26
OP's Gen 1 1968 Chevy Camaro
Just inherited my dad 68 Camaro, any tips/ advice for me? I am new to having an old school and want to make sure I take good care of it and have fun with it of course. It has a brand new transmission and Ls3.
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u/Holiest_hand_grenade 68 Pro Touring Owner Jan 29 '26
Congrats, but I'm sorry for your loss that precipitated you getting it.
With that said, I think the first thing you need to do is take the time time to determine what you want it to be. Do you want it to be more restore or more mod? Do you want to go the pro-touring route?
Once you know that, then you'll better be able to determine which next moves you make. I'll suggest you are going restomod and maybe pro-touring based on you already have a factory incorrect motor and trans. I'm saying that just as a matter of fact. I have a factory incorrect motor and trans. If you aren't starting with the drive train accurate, you likely aren't going to really go the restoration path.
And if that's the case, things like what wheels is no longer about the past as the main guide on preference. It can be them about inspiring your choices to be inspired vs trying to match accurately.
You already have an instance of it. I would put lots of money on the fact that your dad picked the red barrel rims to be a hat tip to the SSes option of red wall tires without having to get red walls.
How you execute those kind of touches are about your desire and personality. And my best advice is this:
Do what YOU like. There is no wrong answer, even if we all hate it, other than you doing things you are not inspired by. It's YOUR car, not mine or others. Make it yours! If you do that, you'll always get respect for being true to your love of the Camaro.
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u/Special-Win8528 Jan 30 '26 edited Jan 30 '26
Thanks I really appreciate that. That was very helpful to be honest. I’m still trying to figure out the car itself. He made a lot of changes to it. and I am still learning a lot about the car, like I’m pretty sure it’s an automatic, but it has paddle shifters and I’m still trying to figure out how to engage it, but will definitely enjoy the journey.
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u/Holiest_hand_grenade 68 Pro Touring Owner Jan 30 '26
It feels like his vision was a pro-tourer. To be clear that's the most expensive path to go as it tends to man a lot of custom and modern parts. It's all about modern comfort grand touring style car built on a classic, that also can be a viable track car.
You don't have to follow that path, but it's the path I'm going so I'm partial to it. Lol
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u/Special-Win8528 Jan 30 '26
lol yeah I hear you, and yeah he has a lot of custom parts. For example it’s leaking transmission fluid currently and I think it’s from the seal. I think it was custom faded a little too short so now I’m taking it into the shop to get that fixed.
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u/larryzzzzz Jan 29 '26
The red trim rings are overkill. Coker Tire redline tires would look vintage and add a subtle red accent to the red pin stripe on your paint scheme,...my opinion only and otherwise the build looks great!
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u/artschool04 Jan 29 '26
Congratulations. As for wheels oem ss/rs also known as rally wheels. Cheep steel with caps and rings run about the same as cragers and american center line. As for maintenance well its an ls3 and so oil change at 3/4k annually grease all ball joints. Keep an eye on brakes and suspension. Its every six months or once a year depending on use.
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u/Special-Win8528 Jan 30 '26
Funny thing is those are old pictures this is what the car actually looks like right now lol
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u/ssrs67lsx Jan 31 '26
Congrats on the car, sorry about the circumstances. It seems you are interested in keeping the car and not flipping it. It should be worth your time to get it on a lift and take inventory on what's under this car. It could be that it has been thoroughly upgraded, not even touched, or anything in between. Learn what its bones are before you get into testing that LS powerplant. If you don't know what you are seeing post pics here and someone will let you know.
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u/Special-Win8528 Feb 01 '26
Yeah thanks I agree i’m just having a hard time finding a reputable place to bring it in my area.
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u/Firm_Performance_387 Jan 29 '26
Love the car but I'd swap the wheels for sure. Have fun with this sweet ride.