ABANDONED! 1969 Camaro! left in back yard for 18 years (Can We Save It Before It's Too Late??)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- We attempt to dig this really amazing 1969 Chevy Camaro out of it's back yard grave before the trees come crashing down on it and send it to it's permanent resting place..
Can I get it running, driving and will it make it back home to my shop??
How bad is it and can we restore it on a budget??
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It's sad when somebody puts a sunroof in a nice car like that
agreed
Yeah, I know. I despised that 'trend' from the very get-go.
custom mod
@@LifeofLind I think I would get water into it, put a filter in front of the fuel pump, warm it up, then put it back on the fuel tank, see how well it runs, add a bit of fresh gas to the fuel tank, then drive it to the shop on that.
I also had a 69 camaro that someone had put a sunroof in and when i was a kid my dad had a 67 camaro that someone had put the hurst t tops in. Not sure why on either
I need friends with abandoned muscle cars! What a beauty!
yeah i have wanted to fix this thing for years
Yeah I’m with you
I have an idea for you. You should do a diesel swap on the barth. Then take the 454 and put it into the Camaro
that's a really good idea actually
I like that idea a lot!
Or a dodge Hemi 5.7 transmission and all. If you do the diesel engine you will have to put in a gas tank for your generator
@@clasicradiolover or switch it to a diesel
@@flowboy78 I drive an 18 wheeler. I looked into small diesel engines. Very very expensive. Cheaper to buy the hemi brand new.
1969 was the year I started high school. That is a rad car .
it's gonna be awesome. already is
I started kindergarten in 1970.
Those new sports cars got nothing on this old skool muscle. Just the sound!
So glad you were there with your expertise to help a friend! Speaks volumes about your character and integrity! The car deserves to come back to life!
thanks!
When you first walked up on the car through the jungle I thought for sure the car would be rotted into the ground. Was happy to see it sitting on concrete at lest. Glad your reviving it and giving it a chance at life again.
He walked 10 miles through a jungle and the gate was behind the car... lol
Noting the overgrown yard (if it's his yard) its no surprise he let the car sit.
What a waste it needs some love I would love to own this here in Australia 69 camaros are worth a fortune
How much do they go for in Australia roughly? Is it the exact same 69 Camaro because some cars overseas look a little bit different.
@@billhill5505 any were between 60k to 110k that’s Aussie dollars
Cheers mate from Connecticut USA We love are old car's and big trucks
The car was GIVEN to this punk as a high school graduation present.
You mates have great taste my friend.👍👍
Why did you climb through all that brush when you could have just opened the gate!
gate was chained and locked from the inside!
Hi Dustin that is awesome what a great looking car love that colour too bring this car back to life please. Jeremy Downunder
it's really gonna pop when it's done!
You went the hardest way to get to it. You could have gone through the gate. But I suppose you made a little more suspense
gate was locked from the inside. keeps the hoodlums out hahah
I was gonna say the same thing haha
@@LifeofLind and the BS in
This. Is. Awesome. In. My. Mind... a. Fully. Intact. 1969. 307.. camaro... this. May. Not. Be. What. Most. Would. Wow. About. But. You. Might. Find. It. To. Be. Very. Rare. In. Today's. Gatherings... and. A. 307. With. A. Stick. Of. Any. Kind. Or. An. Automatic. Like. You. Have. Here...... with. The. Addition. Of. 373 or. Larger. Differential Gear. Can. Really. Scoot. And. Be. Downright. Fun. To. Drive. City. Or. Highway.... have. A. Nice. Day.. you. Might. End. Up. Really. Liking. This. One....
I'm going to fix it up someday or I'm saving it for my kid or oh it's for sale I like to get $20000 for it . (Car in present condition $5000) . being an employee of a salvage yard I see lots of these precious junk come through all the time because they sat too long while a selfish unrealistic dreamer let the car rot instead of saving it or save from rot by selling it to a more responsible owner. "I'm going to fix it up one day indeed". Dream on.
always worth saving!
"I'm pretty sure all of this will immediately light on fire if i try to start it" Some voice from way back in the dark depths of my brain "why don't you try it and find out?"
The voices in my head usually ignore me.😁
hahaha
Always amazes me no matter how much a car is neglected it still wants to live , looks a great project car . 👍🏻
Couldn't agree more!
stop acting like vice grip garage make it your own
not intentional!
I like your content, and that you are helping out a friend, but when you try to sound like Vicegrip garage and act like you are not smart enough to come prepared for a job, you do yourself a disservice. I think your own personality will suffice.
I was kinda prepared had hose clamps and everything hahah
I used to have a picture of one of these that someone put two big square headlights onto. They looked like they were off a Bronco or explorer, or something. It looked real good
Whom ever put that sunroof in that car should be ashamed of themselves.
I wonder if the"former" landscaper did it?
haha agreed
Damn right. I thought that kind of auto butchery went out with the 1970s.
someone did the same thing to my 77 f100 stepside for some reason LOL
At least the Camaro was parked on a cement pad that helped it from not rotting into the earth if he would of put it up on blocks or jack stands he would of saved the tires and the suspension from wasting away but oh well they can be replaced the main part was he kept it on cement instead of dirtt or a grass area because then the floors and stuff would be in rough condition
I don't know how much faith I'd put in 50 year old tires.
@@mb13972 yeah jacking the car up would not save the suspension or the tires. Has absolutely no bearing whatsoever pertaining to saving tires or suspension condition. Suspension components wear out due to use. Age of those components are the main factors in those problems. But yes it sitting on concrete instead of the ground definitely a major plus. Nothing rots a car worse than sitting on dirt or grass. l am a GM master technician and have been for over 25yrs. I’ve restored my fair share of cars and trucks over the years. The ones that were covered with a tarp and sitting on dirt were always in worse shape than one sitting on concrete without a cover. Also ones stored in old garages or barns with dirt floors weren’t any better. Obviously sitting in a garage with a good concrete floor is the best case scenario. Tarps, car covers of any kind and sitting on dirt or grass is a death sentence for old vehicles. My advice to anyone is don’t ever cover a vehicle sitting for an extended amount of time...they’re always better off leaving them uncovered.....
Now its worth $30,000. These things are getting crazy expensive.
You would think since the 69’ Camaro is my favorite car ….that I would know how to drive manual lol
With all the money that needs to go into that car I would do an LS swap and go with fuel injection and electronic ignition.
Yeah the only reason I’d rebuild that engine is if it’s the numbers matching engine. Generation III’s and IV’s are cheap and almost bulletproof. I’ve torn some down that had 200K+ miles on them and have yet to see one with a bottom end that needed bearings or anything. Studded the heads and put a dual pattern camshaft in them and hang a trash can sized turbo in the engine bay. The results are always same....pavement pounding reliability of epic proportions. These engines absolutely love boost and even the stock heads flow unbelievably good without any work. They’re light years ahead of the first generation in every way....
yeah this one is tired, so i think it will stay for awhile, if the videos on the camaro where doing better i would consider putting an LS in it. but it's not my car and don't have the extra cash to make that happen right now.
would love to do a build like that. even if so many have done it already!
He should be ashamed of himself for leaving that car like that. It's UN-American
why all the walking through the jungle when its sitting right behind a gate?
haha gate was locked and chained form the inside
Nice job so far. The Car still looks like it’s in pretty good shape after everything it’s been through
Thanks 👍
Sun roof just brought the price down a hole bunch
First thing I would remove!
Very cool 😎 car love old school car America made it hurt to see a cool car go to waste it will run again and be Badass again
What kind of people park these cars without any regards to protecting them.
Back in '69, I ordered a new '69 from the local chevy dealer. Z28 package including 302 w/options, cowl hood scoop, 3.73 posi-traction, close ratio 4 speed, nerf bars, special hubcaps and rally rims. No tach because I bought and mounted my own. $3850 sticker and $3050 out the door plus tax. Color: Frost Green, Black Stripes, Black interior. Best car I ever owned, then sold.🤣
i bet that was a great car! I misss all the cars i sold when i was younger!
Omg just take the damn thing back to your shop ffs!!
Nice car brother! Around where I live, people want thousands of dollars for stuff that should of been put in the recycling plant years ago.
When I was 19 I had a 1969 GTO Mach #'s car. 0 rust - with a sun roof. Had 2 guys who come to look and said it was a parts car. That GTO's didn't come with vinyl tops so its a parts car. They were wrong of course. LOL. Tried to argue . Just trying to low ball me or just don't know cars like they think they do..
HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT FOR THE CAMARO??? Serious buyer from Canada asking here.
i'm sure he wouldn't sell it
Champion plugs are the absolute worst plugs ever!!!
They fowl out way to easy, was a design to sell plugs constantly
Only ac delco is what I use in my old stuff...
yeah we updated it with a good set after tuning
Sunroofs make me cry
me too
Dude. Im still subcribed. Will be. Love your stuff.
But PRODUCED..LOLOLOL. Gate. Driveway. Pad.
Mr camera guy. Toooo funny. Love it
Thanks for the sub! and it's legit, the gate was chained from the inside so i had to wrestle them trees! haha
Ahhh. Ok. I like your production tho. Its real. But yeah the steve irwin jungle trek....funny.
Keep'em up
That car looks as though it was the one that I helped a Navy guy down in Jacksonville Fl install a rebuilt engine, The fellow in the next bay to me did the engine and I helped this sailor do the swap and then we fired it up. The car had the same wheels and the same paint job which was done in a shop here in Jax. What this sailor would do is him and some of his buddies would share an apartment and when he shipped out for sea duty he would put the car and his stuff into storage and pay for the time that he would be out to sea in advance (he did not rely on anybody to do that for him) Then when he came back in, him and his buddies would find another apartment and he would get his stuff out of storage. He was a really nice person and his name was George and I believe he was from the New Jersey area. He did not stay in the Navy but went into house construction. This was around forty years ago. I just wonder if that was the same car.
chould be the same one? great story
Cool old car, sad that it’s in this condition but probably worth bringing back to life…
I’m thinking a lot of yard (jungle) work is needed…
“Going to get started early, it’s 9 AM”…
This time of year the days already half over here in Arizona due to the excessive heat, I was out in the yard at 5 AM.
well i start on my yard and garden at the homestead at 5am too lol. this is early for video work haha
That is a car worth saving, the growl from the engine is amazing.
Nice video. I see you took the long way into the jungle🙂 Aren’t we lucky to live in a climate where cars don’t always rust out if left to sit for years. Gotta love CO.
Yes we are
307 Camaro? Only Camaro worse than that is an I-6 engine Camaro. Obviously, this is not a northern car.
i don't think any of these 1st gens where a bad car. engines are easy to swap
It’ll be better off to take the car home instead of trying to start it with all the junk fluids. You need to drain all that crap out of the system before you stick that into your carburetor and ruin it. First thing I do is get rid of that freaking sunroof.
agreed the sunroof ruined it
Skip ahead to 20:00 your welcome
Edit 25:00
The 307 was an oil burning piece of junk, figuratively speaking.
yeah it's really bad.... it needs removed
A 307 ? Ouch ! No power performance but indestructible
seems to run okay, maybe a heads and cam combo
A bit over-dramatized with the walk through the trees to get to it, when it's parked on a concrete drive behind a gate right off the street. But a nice car.
yeah I forgot to explain that the gate was chained and locked from the inside.... so i had to go around that way.
There's no way that car been setting there for 18 years in it runs that good start right up in drives in you know nothing about it in your going to drive in take a chance of wrecking it are hurt someone please
i was surprised it started that well too. it has been sitting there that long!
Seems a little dramatic to walk through the “jungle” when you had a key to the gate. 😊
haha yeah it was locked from the otherside too
great video Lind, long term project definitely and 100% worth saving , parts are not that hard to get for these you just need $$ and wait a bit for them it has good bones and the 307 V8 was a good engine and able to handle 4bbl carb and intake really well and know buddies that use to get sometimes up to 18 mpg highway when you weren't putting your foot into and most of these came with 3:08 or 3:23 gear ratios stock thats why they'd cruise nice on the highway, I'd guess a $1000 in parts and you'll be pretty much road ready unless you find big issues with the trans or something else
Camaro owner and enthusiast here. My everyday driver is a 2019 2SS 6 speed.
Pre-1970 first gens are all pretty much worth every penny needed to fix them up. Whether you want to do a full concourse, frame off chalk mark restoration, just fix it up to make it road worthy as a driver, or go restomod, you cannot go wrong with a 1st Gen. Even if it’s “only” got a 307. If it was a straight 6 it’d be worth it too.
You have a column mounted automatic: a bit rare combo on the 5 liters. That’s mostly found on the straight 6. Your 5 liters mostly had floor mounted shifters, with or without the console.
My goal in life after retirement in about 15 years (I’m 43) is to find any 1st Gen like this and put the time and money into it myself to bring her back.
Great find my friend!
it feels pretty good for just a 307!
That’s just a pile of junk! I’d be happy to dispose of it for you😉
haha
Hello from NY
hello!
That car was owned by a female the hat & cat art sway me that way
12:45. Good effort, but I knew from it sitting there for 17 years the back brakes will be bonded to the drums, been there, done that. Lol
Edit; I'll be dipped, the back brakes were free. Damn good car
That aftermarket sunroof...ooof- terrible idea that ruined a lot of cars in the '80's & '90's.
agreed!
Here where I live there is a green 69 Camaro 4sp with rear spoiler minus the sunroof that has sat baking in the sun under a carport since 1983! Back in the late 70's I used to see it cruising the avenue and it was a pretty hot car in pretty nice shape. By 1983 I would see it cruising down the avenue but smoking pretty bad. Too much hot rodding I guess. Then I didn't see it for a few years. Then one day on my delivery job I had at the time I found it at a house with an overgrown yard like the one in this video sitting under a car port! Fast forward to this day and it is still under that carport so it has sat for about 38 years! I have tried to buy it many times but no dice so far! I will keep trying until I am dead or he is because even though it is sun baked it overall has a better body than the one in this video! I am looking forward to seeing you get this Camaro back on the road again!
well the more of them that sit around, i guess thats good they didn't get crushed
@@LifeofLind I don't really understand the mentality of letting them sit outside & deteriorate but that's how it is sometimes!
Wears Roadkill had to revive old car....has no zip ties to secure the gas can lol
duct tape is good too haha
I miss my 1969 Z/28!!!
heck of a car to find now a days!
I would have gone around and pulled it out and avoided going through the jungle. In fact if it had come out a little bit farther it probably would have been a lot easier to work on. But you're probably going to say what is the fun in that?
but whats the fun in that?
This car didn't come with base coat clear coat .
It's been painted 🎨
yeah I can tell it has been painted at least once. looks like the car was supposed to be this green though!
Shh, I hunting for Camaro's
Beautiful Gem except for sunroof but those beauties are hard to find
agreed!
That thing deserves more then what its getting you need to buy that thing if you can. But great video be safe out there
Just wow!!!
This car has so much potential to just leave setting for eighteen years. I'm glad the guy had enough since about him to at least park it on n concrete during that time. & To get it moved before that tree fell down on top of it. He's lucky to have a friend such as yourself.
I am going to get in touch with a friend who is a producer of history channel.
thanks for the kind words!
just found your channel, Can,t wait to watch all the videos
Hope you enjoy!
wow, thats insaine!!! like finding gold!!!!! but in some bushes....all i'd probably find is a big snake...
I call b.s... That was just recently pushed back there
nope
Just a note or two. Back then, a console was an option. The column shift means whom ever ordered it did not order the console. Also, in 1969 you could have gotten the more expensive Turbohydramatic 3 speed automatic, or the less expensive Powerglide 2 speed. Which does yours have? It probably was a basic V8 car ordered. The chrome around the brake pedal and gas pedal I'm pretty sure means it had the interior style trim group. The 1969 Camaro and Corvette ran into the early 1970 as the new Camaro was not ready yet. Late for the 1969 Camaro year were Rallye Green, Hugger Orange and Daytona Yellow, I believe to try and develop some interest in the 1969 until the 1970 was ready to come out. The green yours has looks like Rallye Green. Thanks.
When I saw the title I was immediately reminded of the old 1985 John Cusack movie "Better Off Dead" where they work on a similar 1967 black Camaro in the later part of the movie. Love that 1st generation body-style much more than the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th generation from'70s-'02, glad they retroed it in 2009. Thanks to "Smokey and the Bandit" I never had a problem with the Fire Bird having the 2nd generation body-style.
There was a car show on cable called "Phantom Works" and every now and they a car would show up much worse than this one to be brought back to life. The show was filmed here in Norfolk, Virginia and I've been by the garage many times and he does put the cars on display outside next to Hampton Boulevard like they showed on the show, they're real eye-catchers.
Look forward to this rebuild as well as all your others, just caught up last night with the latest on the Blue Bird and Barth.👍
These first gens looked amazing! thanks for watching
My exact thoughts about Better Off Dead, great movie and LOVE that car they worked on as well as this one. Can't wait to see this Green Jewel shine once more!!
@@SteveK6470 Agreed and I can't wait either plus I'm wondering what the real color of this car is, because there was Le Mans Blue under the Rallye Green on the driver's door where the paint pealed off.
Although there weren't any rust holes, I saw paint bubbling around the wheel wells. Since it was a daily driver and it snows where that car is, I'm sure there is road salt damage, just have to get it up on a lift and do a proper inspection to see everything.
ya it should be over full in the trans when off cause the trans needs to be full when running with pump working
yes, and it all leaked out too, tail shaft seal is gone
Has it really sat in the same spot for 18 yrs?
yes. back yard queen!
Wow that thing is mint! Buy it!
Before your time, and plastic bottles, there was a thing called a garden hose, enjoy the H2O. Lol
Think shorts were defo a bad idea 😁. Great car, was surprised as you when it turned over and when it started, oh the sound of a old carb sucking, took me back a few years. You have a great laid back, sometimes comedic way of putting things, easy and fun to watch. Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks so much!
When cars were beautiful ! Nice catch buddy !
You got that right!
Yea, that's 30K. That's just 30K of somebody that didn't give a shit about it.
That car need a full restoration its to beautyfull not to retore😍
if it was mine and i had the money, i would
also maybe careful next time with open can of juice gingerly sitting on rediator support basically right over battery terminals.....you could have had a less valuable car quickly.....😉also gotta say, those old school craigers look the piece on it!!! wash that poop off and impress some chicks!!!!!!!!!!!!
If u r lucky it won't have a crappy 307. A 350 or 327 is much better to work with. My buddy had a 69 RS w/250 I-6 the same color in 1978 we painted it flat black with spray cans. Thats all I have to say about that.
I'm no Chevy guy but always Loved to looks of a 69 Camaro. But @ 36:55 mark I'd be going to rent a trailer or borrow one. I'd love to have that car if I was still working at Hi-Prf. engine shops and could still work on cars! (69 years old, retired and oh yeah, No money!) Grin
Looks like some Crager rims!!! Old school love it
I can see why Aussies loving this Camaro :0 she is a good old girl. Just needs some TLC..
I can't wait to wash it haha
Also a trailer may be a good investment for ur future
whats the fun in that!
Wish TH-camrs would Stop using the word "ABANDONED!" An't no 69 Camaro left in the woods! Someone still owns the title.
it's not that bad at all
80*F is allready very hot to me. I've had nights of sleep when it was 90*F INSIDE... 100*F is just unbareble for me.
I'm a Celsius-guy, so I had to do some math. I live acros the pond in the Netherlands. And 40*C/104*F is rare.
But when a heatwave strikes, It easely hits the high 30's (that's in celsius)
Amazing to see this awsome revival
yeah it gets really cold here -20f and really hot 104f it's way to early to be this hot!
Was that abandoned or a victim of Jason Voorhees ?
maybe his birds....
My first car was a 1969 Camaro 307 auto……
great first car!
Hello! LIfe of Lind.
Was your friend living at this location at the time? It seems like no one was living there judging by the over grown backyard.
on that year the shifter on floor not the column
column shift was an option on this one
Nice find your friend is a lucky man to have you as a friend can't wait to see what it becomes when your done.
thanks!
First off. Who puts a sunroof in a 69 Camaro???
haha i see that comment alot
Great car! Great footage. I would like to drive such a car from west to east coast in my life time. Have fun.
You should!
Nice👍. Needs the aftermarket Sunroof delete though.
Yeah I agree
A 69 Camaro with a 307 and column shifter? Talk about bottom of the fricken barell! Luckily all that can be addressed. At least it's not full of cancer.
I say TOTAL BS to sitting outside for 18 years. Looks like one summer out there at best. C'mon man!!!