Need Advice...

[JayBird]

Hey guys,

I am contemplating whether to sell my 69 camaro to buy a Corvette Z06. If Im having major brain issues here, let me know. :lol: I am not sure what the price I should ask for, especially in this economy.

The paint is about 15 years old as I have had the car almost 10 and the previous owner had it painted 5 years before. There is only 1 bit of rust that I have seen and I have had the floorboard and trunk stripped down to bare metal. The small rust is on driver door down on lower side near front fender and I am fixing it whether I sell it or not.

The car is an original matching numbers SS. I have the original engine that will go of course with the car. The T350 goes as well, but have not checked those numbers. The car was an originial auto with T350.

Here are the mods etc I have done to the car. ~2500 miles on motor and trans. I have to look at odometer to get exact number.

Paint: Hugger Orange (originally Olympic Gold)
Wheels: Vintage Wheel Works 17x8x4.75” front – 17x9.5x5.5” rear
Tires: 245/40/17 front – 275/45/17 rear
Engine: Professionally built 355 cubic inch small block – 475 HP @6400
Will provide all engine component details to potential buyer
Transmission: Tremec TKO-600 5-speed
Rear Differential: GM 12 bolt positive traction w/ 3.73 gear ratio
Brakes: Baer track system in front (13” cross-drilled/Zinc washed rotors), touring system in rear (12” cross-drilled/Zinc washed rotors) with Hydratech’s hydraulic brake booster
Shocks:
• Front: Koni adjustable coil-over designed by DSE
• Rear: Adjustable conventional style


Suspension Modifications

Subframe converted to coil-over front suspension using the (DSE) Detroit Speed & Engineering coil-over conversion kit
DSE tubular upper control arms
DSE subframe connectors
AGR custom valved 12:1 power steering box
DSE tubular tie-rod sleeves
1 1/8” sway bar
DSE steel sleeves with Delrin bushings in lower control arms
DSE aluminum solid body mounts w/ stainless bolts
Hotchkis 2” drop multi-leaf springs in rear with additional ¾” aluminum lowering blocks
Ididit tilt steering column w/Borgeson joint
Tom’s Differential Axles

Interior Modifications

DSE steel custom dash - Autometer gauges with LED bulbs and ignition moved to dash
DSE hoop bar with removable cross bar
Custom made aluminum pedal covers
Corbeau TRS seats w/ 3” racing harnesses
Stock backseat re-covered to match front Corbeau seats with Corbeau 2” factory latch style seatbelts in rear
Dynamat Xtreme insulation installed throughout car to reduce road noise
& vibrations
Sparco removable steering wheel (horn still works)
CV Products aluminum shifter stick and ball
Anvil Arms Carbon Fiber Satin A-Pillar moldings
New carpet, doorpanels, window cranks, dashpad, rearview mirror, dome light




Other Modifications

DSE Firewall Fill Platel installed.
Car rewired with Painless Wiring 18 circuit harness and GM weatherpack connectors used for easy disconnects
Vintage Air Front-Runner serpentine pulley system

DSE aluminum hood hinges
DSE Billet Hood Latch Pin and Spring Collar
DSE aluminum close-out panel
DSE power steering pump & reservoir
Be Cool 4-core aluminum radiator w/ Spal electric fan
DSE selecta-speed wiper
DSE modern headlight kit
DSE aluminum trunk battery mount w/ Optima battery
Flowmaster 2 ½” H-pipe exhaust system connected to 1 5/8” Hooker Super Comps w/ceramic coating
Marquez Design components
o aluminum marker plates, tail light markers, cubic inch numbers, aluminum door jamb vents, stainless hood adjusters, and stainless door strikers


Included with Car

Wilwood 1 1/8” Black Powder Coated Aluminum MC (new in box)
Prodigy Customs compete stainless bolt kit (new in box)
Original SS Hood
Original 69 seats
1970-81 2nd Gen Camaro bullet mirrors
DSE powder coated Compac bracket for Vintage Air Gen II system (new in box)
Turbo 350 transmission

Thanks guys....I willl post pics asap.
__________________
Jay

[BA.]

Hey guys,
If Im having major brain issues here, let me know. :lol:


I think you're goofy. :)

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

[buickfunnycar.com]

personally I wouldn't do it but you have to do what makes you happiest...

[hivewax]

all the time and money in your '69 is more than the Z06. Z06 will be out of style eventually.

[clevorguy]

Did you do the work on the camaro yourself?

I have an odd way of thinking about owners and their cars. If you put all the sweat and blood into building it, I would have a hard time believing you would want to sell it. If you had someone do it for you, I think it's just another "object" to you...and you might as well sell it and buy the vette.

I could be way off, but I've developed a bond with my car throughout this process and I know I'll never sell it, but that's me.

[JayBird]

Thanks for the replys fellas. Yes I have done all the work myself minus the engine build. Im torn, dont get my wrong here...but thats why I'm asking. If I keep it, I will paint it and install air.

Im afraid I would regret, but my wife and I could take the Z06 on longer trips. I dont take the 69 as Im afraid of theft. I know the corvette can get stolen but its not as likely.

[hivewax]

i plan to put Lo-Jack once i'm done with a new 9" rear, new suspension/wheels/brakes.

[lnirenberg]

If its just to go cruising, keep the 69 and get a good stated value insurance policy and drive the damn thing and stop worrying over it. This has been my approach @ 7-10K miles a year and if the worst happens I'll take the insurance $$ and start over as 1/2 the fun is in the build. If you want to go road racing I'd buy a used Z06 in a heartbeat. I've seen low mileage '06s and '07s in the low $40s. Not bad for a $70k car and I think a giant chunk of the depreciation has already happened. Go on the corvetteforum.com or corvetteactioncenter.com as there a ton cars for sale.

[Camaro_Kyle]

Keep the 69. It's an investment - it will only go up in value whereas the ZO6 will only keep going down.
Get a lo-jack and a good "you really shouldn't have stolen this car" tool

[bigvegan]

+1 to everybody that's said keep it and get a lo-jack / gps tracker and enjoy it (and maybe see if you can find a used Auto Taser steering wheel lock on Ebay to provide an obvious theft deterrent).

[Lowend]

I struggled with this myself a few months ago over my '71 Camaro

My storage space was gone. I was strapped for cash. I barely drove the car, and I realized that while the car was be done to 99% of the world... it would need another $15K to be right for me.
Just couldn't justify it

Ended up selling the '71, and my normal driver to buy a Subaru STi for a dual purpose driver/auto-xer
For now it's the right decision; but I don't doubt that I'll regret it later.

It's really a question of your needs. Don't worry about what your buddy's will say if it's gone.

NOW - since you seem to be doing ok on the cash side of things. Have you considered keeping the '69 and buying something a little more daily driver/budget oriented for the trips?

[mc84_zz4]

Im afraid I would regret, but my wife and I could take the Z06 on longer trips. ....

I could not take my wife anywhere in a Vette, there is barely space for her shoes for 3 days...lol.
I'd install air in the fine '69, LoJack, elec fuel pump, and you can shut that mother down with 1 phone call.
If the wrecker was used, they better be fast, and smart, and if the worst does happen, make sure your insurance covers the full value.

[MonzaRacer]

I agree you will regret getting rid of the Camaro. The Vette your looking at sure wont be as much fun or the head turner the Camaro is, the work you have done is part of the payoff.
Heck look around and find a cheaper slightly banged up Vette, get a local shop with good rep to repair the body and do a few minor mods and have a weekend driver. Then when the Vette gets hit or stolen you have insurance cash for Camaro.
I agree Lojack and there is a GPS type of trackin g I think it was Prodigy or someone on here.
I also agree with the electric pump kill switch.
Last year of the year before local Harley dealer had his RV,trailer and motorcycle stollen, he got RV and empty trailer back, and they came and wanted to booby trap it so it has a hidden fuel pump cut out. I told'em to also add a good silent alarm with ignition cutout.
Slow thieves down and they will quit and go away, good insurance will take care of damage/theft with stated value policy.
And if the Corvette is for long trip just rent one of the darn things, much cheaper in long run and if it has issues the rental company works the logistics out!

[JayBird]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I really appreciate it.

[MuscleRodz]

Why get rid of an investment asset with potential to appreciate and sell it to purchase another asset you know will depreciate?

[68sixspeed]

In the long term you'll miss the camaro and it is harder and more expensive to replace. Suggestion, keep the camaro, save a bit and pick up a used C5, they can be had well under 20k and are a better car for long trips than the c6z... the z is a blast, but it's a lot of car, and being a track car it rides stiff. Also if you are thinking of something the wife can drive, be wary of the c6z unless she is a real gearhead and driver-- I'd toss the keys to my c5 to anyone and not worry, the car is well mannered, the z06's traction control is set loose and that car comes on like an animal at 3500rpm, it will jump sideways and over the yellow line on dry pavement, 1st and 2nd gear have traction 'issues'... lots of fun, but not for everyone.

Plus, c6z's are still on the down slide on price, wait for next year and they will be available in the high 30's.

[bret]

First of all, with all the money you spent with DSE, THEY should chip in on the Z06! [tell Kyle I told you that:)].

I have a 68 Camaro and a 2007 Z06. I love both of them amazingly equally. Typically I couldn't care less about a Corvette, and really still don't, but any hotrod with that much aluminum, titanium, magnesium, and carbon fiber is cool, even if it looks like a Corvette!

The Z06 is VERY comparable with Velocity in several areas. The accelleration is similar, the braking is similar, and the handling is similar [beleive it or not].
Velocity rides MUCH better and is at least as comfortable to sit in. The Z06 has a much better stereo, A/C, guage package, and much less wind noise.

The big difference is that the Z06 will do all this with little or no maintainence. What little the Z06 requires can be perfromed at the Chevy dealership. Velocity requires personal [out of warranty]attention from time to time.

Looking down the road I think the Z06 will hold its value better. It is a known, accepted entity. ANY hotrod will be subjective to the current and next owners tastes.

The problem is, this is not really about money. If it were we would be talking about an Impala or a Camry and not Covettes and Camaros.

Here is a thought...rent a Corvette for a weekend to see if it helps make up your mind. Good Luck!

[JayBird]

Hey Bret. Thanks for the advice. I've known Kyle and Stacy for a several years now and I've told him before my car should have been an R&D car. I'll make sure I tell him you said that. Does that mean if I some products from you, you'll chip in? LOL

I plan on keeping the 69 finish the AC and paint it. Then in 2-3 years buy a C6 Z out right.

Thanks again guys for getting my head straight. :)