Why build a Camaro or Mustang?

[fantasygoat]

When I go out to cruises or shows, I always see dozens of Camaros and Mustangs. Even at a small parking lot show with maybe 50 cars, 30 of them will be Camaros or Mustangs, and they'll all look basically the same.

What's the attraction? I mean, beyond the obvious that they are spectacularly attractive vehicles - I mean, when you spend the kind of money it takes to own one of these cars, why would you want to have something like everyone else?

I'm just curious as to people's opinion on the topic.

[Restomod]

Simple there is no other reason to own them than they are beaufitul and I want one....I dont want a Chevelle and 69 Camaros (had one of them to and 20+ Fbodies) cost more than 69 Mustangs (had over 30 Mustangs) and I cant afford a Ford GT or Lamborghini Gallardo.
I may pass anouther 69 FB but it wont be like mine. My next project will be a 70 Nova.......

[silver69camaro]

Some of us have had the cars for years, way before the popularity really caught on.

Others just like the cars. Why does it matter what other guys have?

[bigvegan]

1. Because they look awesome and have a tremendous heritage.

2. Because you can build them up to handle / perform as well as a modern sports car.

3. Because it's a benchmark car that's available to people at every income level. You can still find a 1st gen Mustang / Camaro / Firebird for less than $10k in running condition, and you can find them for $200k+. That's the sort of thing that daydreams are made of.

4. Perhaps most importantly, with their popularity / aftermarket support, you can pretty much build a whole car from brand-new parts. Not that you should do this, but anybody whose ever spent a futile weekend at a swap meet looking for a piece of trim or hardware for a less popular make / year can testify that part availability is a definite plus.

[mjoc1]

Why? Because we build what we like. and actually like finger prints no two are alike, they may look similar but if you go through the car no two are the same. Now I own a 70 1/2 RS/SS camaro I have owned this car over 12 years. I get mad when i see all the coverage the second gen is getting but then i get over it.

Now what made you bring up the camaro and mustang. When the 55-57 chevy still out number almost al other customs. What about lower rides and IMPALAs. It all depends on what you are looking to see.

Mike

[Ron S]

I am a lover all cars,American ,Foreign and trucks for that matter.I have to say,that every once in a while Detroit just got it right.The early Camaros,Mustangs were just about aesthetically perfect,along with the mid year Vettes and E -body Mopars.The high production numbers of those two cars didn't hurt they're populatity either.Ron http://mysite.verizon.net/ls6ron/

[TonyL]

Parts. Availability.

Ease of build. Less and less fabrication, and therefore imagination is required. (wow. am I going to regret saying *that*) to build an awesome car.

That's why there is so many. Also, for many of those that have them, they wanted them since they were kids, and the coolest car on the block or in the school parking lot was a camaro or mustang. They're instantly recognizable as an icon. They get instant respect in traffic.

Sure, at a show, there's lots of them. But that's NOT what 90 percent of the camaros that get built were for. They were built for that moment when someone pulls up alongside the car in traffic and gives you a big thumbs up or nod of respect.

[jvike]

Build a MOPAR!

[fantasygoat]

3. Because it's a benchmark car that's available to people at every income level.

Well that's just not true. When I was looking for my next car I considered a Mustang, but for the price of a rusted out, engine-less heap with a ripped interior I got a drivable Torino with not too much rust.

Most of the $10K Camaros I see are body shells.

As far as 55-57s, I originally had those in there too as they make up the next 10 cars at the show. The last 10 is the rest of the cars.

As a person who owns one of those "other" cars I am obviously biased, and certainly envious of the parts availability for the Camaros and Mustangs. But myself, I generally glance at and walk past them at shows to go look at the different stuff.

At least here, people generally make them different, unlike the stock nut-and-bolt crowd who seem to live to point out I have the wrong hose clamps.

[Jim Nilsen]

I will like people who think that my car is a Camaro and it is like all the others because it is always fun to see their faces when you open the hood or have them look closer at everything and here them wonder how you made it into another car without them noticing.

The value in a Camaro or Mustang is the popularity of them, the reason for owning one is that they have value no matter what you do to them.

They are not all the same unless they are factory original and even then they are not the same ,you wouldn't even be here if you were truly one of those people who believe in orginal being better.

The S15 I did had no real value other than what I thought it had and when the wife wrecked it the insurance company made me a believer that a valuable car starts with the car and not the owners appreciation of it.

[Damn True]

Because GTO's are ugly.



Kidding.


Because I've wanted this car, this way for 30 years. Now I can have it and I don't give a rip if anyone else digs it or not.

[trex1270]

Hold on....you mean a 1969 Camaro is not the only car made??? The 69 camaro, along with a 1970 mach are two of the best looking cars ever built. It probably goes back to when we were all lads and Joe smucatelly had a really hot car and we would stare at it when he drive by.....for me, my brother always had Cuda's, but in 1987 I saw a 1969 L78 camaro SS. It was Glacier blue,black interior, awesome car. I was hooked...love them 69's...I actually tried to by that same car in 89 (sr. high school). Could not come of with the 6500.00!! That car now is worth around 80k...heck, it even had factory a/c.

[bigvegan]

I hope the OP's user name is also the name of his car, as that's just awesome.

[Mathius]

When I go out to cruises or shows, I always see dozens of Camaros and Mustangs. Even at a small parking lot show with maybe 50 cars, 30 of them will be Camaros or Mustangs, and they'll all look basically the same.

What's the attraction? I mean, beyond the obvious that they are spectacularly attractive vehicles - I mean, when you spend the kind of money it takes to own one of these cars, why would you want to have something like everyone else?

I'm just curious as to people's opinion on the topic.

I feel the same way about restorations. But the obvious answer to YOUR question is that they were great looking cars and everyone wants to own one.

Mathius

[f1shman]

Well that's just not true. When I was looking for my next car I considered a Mustang, but for the price of a rusted out, engine-less heap with a ripped interior I got a drivable Torino with not too much rust.

The deals are still out there, you just have to look harder for them now. I bought my Firebird (no not a camaro) in 2004 for $2500. I did have to drive two states away to pick the car up, but it was a complete car that was registered and driven by the previous owner up until the time of sale.

[Gearhead Dude]

I too love the look of early FBs and Fastback 'Stangs, but can't afford the price of entry yet. I bought my '67 Cutlass for $1000 from the original owner, then got in it and drove it home 200 miles. That's got to be equal to driving across 3 of them lil' New England states to find my deal! LOL

[icebird84]

it is simple like in politic you 2 big party's GM and Ford
Camaro biggest name over all form GM but not only big name from GM you have the Corvette hard to get ,then you have the Trans am (firebird)chevelle and 442

The secretary car is Ford biggest name over all The Mustang , but you have Ford GT40 very but hard to get, then you have the Torino,thurnderbird

but there is a third party Moper
it has big name like , Charger ,Barracuda ,Road Runner ,Challenger
but you need to have some big round hairy cajones to go with the third party :)

[69stang]

My 69 mustang is definately on par to being totally different than any on the road. Why, cause its my favorite car and I'm building it to suit me. There are other cars I like but my goal for this one is a Ferrari class of vehicle.

[JEFFTATE]

Becuse they look good.
They're easy to get parts for.
The popularity of the parts makes them cheaper ( in a way )

They can be made to handle pretty well.( in a way )

[MuscleRodz]

For all the same reasons they were popular when they were new on the showroom floor, everyone wants one.

The second biggest reason to pick a 69 Camaro? Value.....

Value ties right back into popularity, if you have to sell, you don;t have to fire sale them to get rid of them.

[Damn True]

Why Flounder?

[Vegas69]

Two reasons....It's my favorite car...and the best muscel car ever built. Of course it's a 69 Camaro.

[fantasygoat]

I guess I ask because I like pulling into a cruise and being the only one there with my model of car. Pulling in and parking in a long line of the same model - often the same colour! - doesn't seem as appealing to me.

But I sure can understand that resale value reason! My last old car was a '70 Plymouth Fury convertible. It was totally gorgeous after I was done with it, but I couldn't sell it to save my life. Ended up losing about $5K on it all told.

Also parts availability. I had to scour eBay to find stuff for the Fury as there is ZERO aftermarket support for them.

[Vegas69]

It really depends on how you build em. Like was said...not many 69 Camaros here. I went to our largest car show and maybe 15-20 out of 1500 cars. I have probably seen 5-10 on the road living here 10 years. And..... you can buy well engineered parts that make it feel like a new sports car. Not to many other old cars you can do that with. If we are talking about a stock Camaro well I see your point. But a top shelf pro touring car....not to many of them running around the world frankly.

[Twentyover]

Why a Camaro? Because when I was 15 and first saw the 2nd gen, I told myself I would own one someday. After 38 years of doing the responsible thing, I was able to get one.

Why? because when I walk away from it, I look back and smile

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[fantasygoat]

Fine, here's my Fury!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/Fury20III202007072610-1.jpg

[formula]

ok, so let's take a normal car show.

At that show you have, say, 500 cars. Ok, so it's a pretty big car show.

Out of those 500 cars, how many are usually ultra-mega-big-budget super-rods? 10? 20? 50? I'd say 25, max. These are the people who select their platform based on the current cutting-edge of the industry, and thus will oftentimes pick a more unique or exclusive car to build up.

Now, how many are dare-to-be-different cars? let's say another 20. These guys built their cars to be unique no matter where they go--including car shows.

Last, there are always the total, complete wackjob cars that show up at every show, i.e. the cadillac 500 in an MG type build. Stuff that, honestly, no one knows where it came of or how anyone thought it was a good idea, but we love them anyway because they're sure fun to look at.

So that's 50 cars out so far.

All the rest of these cars fall, more or less, into the same category--for one reason or another, the owner fell desperately in love with the idea of the car they're building. This is the car they've always wanted, their absolute pride and joy. Maybe a family member had one, maybe they had a poster when they were a kid, maybe their first girlfriend's dad had one that he let them drive to prom--who knows? Moral of the story, these guys build their cars based on personal experience--and the more popular and prolific a car was in its day, the more likely a person was to have a memorable experience that led to their obsession with that model. Example: When I was a little kid, I had exactly two hot wheels: A '63 split window 'vette and a second-gen trans am. I played with those cars a thousand hours--I still have them, right in the center of my ridiculously huge hotwheels display in my room (old habits die hard!). Guess what my two favorite muscle cars are? Guess why I fell in love with my bird? It all traces back that hotwheels track, watching the two fly down that orange track, through the loop, and off the jump on the end across the finish line.

So, since there were a sh*tload of camaros and mustangs, there were a sh*tload of people who fell in love with camaros and mustangs, and thus...there are now a sh*tload of restored, customized, or lovingly preserved camaros and mustangs.

At least, that's how I see it.

[thedugan]

They are American icons.

[WS6]

I understand what you're saying and asking. I feel the same way to a large extent but it doesn't bother me typically. I do as Jim likes seeing people do and look for the details to see if someone did something different. I certainly don't like restoration shows because it really does get boring. I love all inclusive anything with wheels shows. You get the whole spectrum usually.

As for me, I prefer seeing the "off brands". I'd rather see a 67/68 camaro or any Firebird/Trans Am instead of a 69 camaro. I'd rather see a cutlass/skylark/Tempest than a chevelle typically. Make my shoebox a 210 or a 56 instead of a 57 Bel Air. Hell I like seeing built turbo Supra motors in camaros if done right. It makes the world go round the see the different builds. Even when it's different builds on the same model car.

[XLexusTech]

Going to say its pretty Basic. Good Taste :-)

[claytonisbob]

If there were so many of them, I wouldn't turn my head when I see one... but I do. When looking at all muscle cars, sure Camaros and Mustangs are the most numerious, but thats not to say they're everywhere.

At least not in Dallas. I definitly don't see more than one pre-1981 f-body a week, and only then on nice days. Oh, and I don't typically go to car shows as there don't seem to be many good ones down here.

[AndrewNTX]

I've been a Fox body guy for years. When I decided I wanted some 60's iron to tinker with I considered an early Mustang - but ended up ruling it out. Everybody had one.

When I got the idea for a Falcon, it was a great fit. Many Mustang parts work and you certainly don't see a Falcon at every car show. Falcon was the car that the Mustang was created from. It probably would be more 'popular' to have a Mustang but I like being a little different, and it certainly is. I also wanted a survivor type car w/ some special trim/story and finding that in a Mustang would be pretty difficult, but on the off the beaten path cars you have a higher chance of finding such a combination.

[T_Raven]

I kind of think it's because all the other stuff has dwindled over the years. The Camaros Mustangs and Chevelles have always been so popular that people wouldn't scrap them. But how many mid 60's buick/olds/pontiac, fords, lincolns, mopars, whatever all got crushed because no one ever thought they'd be worth anything? Or maybe they just never sold much in the first place because the "pony cars" were more popular. Take a look on ebay or any other classifieds and you see all kinds of F bodies and mustangs for sale but it's hard to find the other stuff.

[Danny Thomas]

I understand what you're saying and asking. I feel the same way to a large extent but it doesn't bother me typically. I do as Jim likes seeing people do and look for the details to see if someone did something different. I certainly don't like restoration shows because it really does get boring. I love all inclusive anything with wheels shows. You get the whole spectrum usually.

As for me, I prefer seeing the "off brands". I'd rather see a 67/68 camaro or any Firebird/Trans Am instead of a 69 camaro. I'd rather see a cutlass/skylark/Tempest than a chevelle typically. Make my shoebox a 210 or a 56 instead of a 57 Bel Air. Hell I like seeing built turbo Supra motors in camaros if done right. It makes the world go round the see the different builds. Even when it's different builds on the same model car.

I agree whole 100%. We love these old cars but seeing new invented designs on them, make them more impressive. I took my 67 and completely customized it to my liking and hopefully to others. Had one guy tell me at a show " nice presentation" meaning it was completely different from everything out there. Restorations bore the crap out of me. I like modern features in an old SOLID built car--comfortable seats, nice stereo, LS motor getting 27 MPG, killer looking wheels and etc. This is why Bill Howell did the GTO.. to be different. Yes there may be thousands of these cars around, but most are very unique and are worth stopping at and seeing what that particular owner has done to make it his own. Bring the 2nd gen's on.. I have a 81 TA and just waiting to see what the possibilities will be. Its completely original right now but one day it may become another Pro-Touring car.:1st:

[Rag-Rat]

Why, because they make me feel warm & fuzzy inside when I see one. LOL. But seriously, when my older brother brought his 68 Camaro home when I was 16......I said "Holy *****.....I gotta have one of those". That was almost 30 years ago. Long before they got to today's status. Glad to say the feeling has never changed. If I ever went Ford, the first car I would look for would be a 67-70 Fastback/Sportroof. Same for Mopars. The Cuda/ Challenger has that ohh-ahh when you see one.

[406 Q-ship]

Parts. Availability.

Ease of build. Less and less fabrication, and therefore imagination is required. (wow. am I going to regret saying *that*) to build an awesome car.

That's why there is so many. Also, for many of those that have them, they wanted them since they were kids, and the coolest car on the block or in the school parking lot was a camaro or mustang. They're instantly recognizable as an icon. They get instant respect in traffic.

Sure, at a show, there's lots of them. But that's NOT what 90 percent of the camaros that get built were for. They were built for that moment when someone pulls up alongside the car in traffic and gives you a big thumbs up or nod of respect.

and this is coming from a Corvair builder.........sorry I had to get that in Tony.

[crewchief429]

Im lucky enough to own a 1969 Mach 1 AND a 1969 Camaro. The best of both camps. My Camaro isn't road worthy yet, but i can't drive my Mach 1 ANYWHERE without someone asking if it is for sale. I have never came across anyone who doesn't like the look of the 69-70 fastback/Mach/BOSS cars.

[wmhjr]

Because GTO's are ugly.



Trouble maker.

[Orngcrush69]

I say build what you really want. It doesn't matter what is popular, it's going to be yours...meaning your time and money!

[Mkelcy]

I guess I ask because I like pulling into a cruise and being the only one there with my model of car. Pulling in and parking in a long line of the same model - often the same colour! - doesn't seem as appealing to me.

I took my car to a show once, and that did it for me. The entire long day I sat there, I resented the loss of drive time. Now the only cruise I go to is 29 miles one way up a mountain road, and the fun is the drive up and the bench racing with the other guys who have also made the drive.

Like most here, including you, I built my car to suit myself. My enjoyment of my car comes about 95% from what it does for me, and about 5% what it does for others. YMMV.

[BonzoHansen]

We go to cruise nights far away (1 hour +). get there late, leave early. Just a destination, often with food. :)

[joemac]

I am of the camp that likes to look at a little variety. That's why I like the early '90s thunderbirds. They just aren't that popular and there is not a lot of aftermarket support for them. The up side is that they can use any ford drive train.

My thoughts are that if it wasn't for the camaros and mustangs the automotive aftermarket wouldn't be what it is today. I think the bigger names really carry the rest of us and if it weren't for them we might not enjoy some of the parts and products that are out there.

[tyoneal]

When I go out to cruises or shows, I always see dozens of Camaros and Mustangs. Even at a small parking lot show with maybe 50 cars, 30 of them will be Camaros or Mustangs, and they'll all look basically the same.

What's the attraction? I mean, beyond the obvious that they are spectacularly attractive vehicles - I mean, when you spend the kind of money it takes to own one of these cars, why would you want to have something like everyone else?

I'm just curious as to people's opinion on the topic.
==============================
I have a 69 Camaro Red-Blk/ Red-Blk, and a 65 Riviera Blk/Blk

This is an easy one. I got my Drivers License at 15 which was 1977, I bought a 67 plain jane Camaro (327/210 3 speed on a tree) from my Girl friends Father for $500. Got hit by a Drunk and totaled it. I bought a 68 RS Camaro that didn't run for $50. Got it running did a little be of fix up, and sold it for $1000. In 1979 I bought a 69 Camaro for $750. It had been a race car and was pretty torn up. (Ex racer)I Spent 2 years working on it, and sold it for $4500 to help pay for school. Since I didn't finish it, I promised myself I would buy another sometime in the future that was in 1981. In 2007, 26 years later, I bought another one. This time to finish it, and enjoy it.

My 65 Riviera (Buick) was bought new in 65 by my Grandparents. when my Grandfather passed away, I bought it from my mother. It is perfect on the inside and needs a new black paint job. IT has a 425 ci.Nailhead with twin Four Barrel carbs on it with a chrome air cleaner. It's a real looker and great to go out in. (360 hp/ and 465 ft pounds of torque qt 2800 rpm's)

Those are my reasons. If I had more room and money, I would like to get my 928 up and going, maybe build a '33 Ford coupe or a 1969 Mustang Mach 1. Also, I would like to build a Exocar sometime in the next few years.

Anyway, I hope that made it easier to understand. The first generation camaro's were 10 years old when I was needing a car, and they were cheap at the time. Only problem was no aftermarket parts. We have it real easy to day to be able to buy these now and have the huge choices of great parts to get for them.

So there are my reasons. One Common, 1 not so common.

[spaghettio]

camaros are like buttholes. everybody has one haha