For the record, anyone who buys a car solely to speculate on it’s value like real estate rubs my nerves raw. But, whether I agree with it or not, value speculation is a real thing in this hobby and while I hate it with a burning passion, I have to say that if it means cars and trucks get cleaned up and saved, at least there is some kind of good that can come out of it. The Rough Start budget doesn’t normally lend itself to this kind of thing, but in the case of today’s ride, it does surprisingly well.
I love mid-second gen Camaros. They are my first automotive love. But in the last few years, their values have gone to where split-bumper cars were. Paying ten grand for a big-bumper Camaro used to be laughable…now, it’s a reality. But if you know where to look you can find a working, driving Camaro that will lend itself to a clean-up light restoration nicely. This 1976 Type LT is such a car…overall, this is a nice driver-quality car that upon the purchase price of $4,800, should get you wherever you want to go. That’s just the start, though. The color combination of dark blue with a black gut will make for an easy restoration, the interior isn’t horrible or even that worn, the body looks good enough for a Craigslist ad, and the paperwork is all there. 
It would be tempting to tweak this Camaro just a little bit, though. We’d look for a front bumper that doesn’t have the extra padding and we couldn’t leave well enough alone underhood…a Camaro should be making better than 150 horsepower on it’s best day, don’t you think? Nobody will harass us for those decisions. The one that will cause some controversy: would you leave the car without a spoiler or would you immediately go get one of the three-piece units for the tail? We’d be careful and consider any and every modification before doing it, though…with the way the values are climbing, you don’t want to go too far.
Value speculator. Sounds like a m-fer who needs to tell the general public that “he has dirt enough on Hillary to finally put her in jail.”
Just the fact the car looks rust free is worth the price. The people that over value their cars are the ones still owning them!
My high school parking lot in the mid 80’s was full of big bumper/soft bumper Camaros and colonnade Cutlasses. This car would a blast down memory lane.
Excellent F-body for an excellent price. It would be mine if I was in CA…
When you talk speculation it gets very chicken-egg. I’d say supply waaay outstrips any possible demand for malaise f-body, but look at the current darling, the C-10. All it takes is a few smart-alecky journalists saying get ’em BEFORE they’re hot!
I had almost the same car, 1976 in Firethorn Red, in 1982. Wouldn’t mind finding a survivor in those colours. It had factory hi fi with 8 track! And tapes were on sale, 3 for $2. I had a trunk full… Less music than on my old i phone, but it was great!
In a Hemmings auction report, they showed a 1974 example, column shift automatic, full wheel covers, and stock wheezy 350 under the hood hammering for $18,000 and they felt it was a bargain. Yes, it was very clean and original but hardly a desirable model.