My evaluation

Published on 2022-06-12
Last updated on 2023-06-19

The car is a solid base!

Conclusion after the 1st year = September 2018

Around

The body is impeccable. No major holes, no major rust spots. 99.9 % of the sheet metal is fine. Only the trunk floor has a 5×8 cm hole by the spare wheel bracket and the end tip on the driver’s side is spackled.

The paint is from the Americans, which does not indicate high quality. Underneath the paint is a sufficiently thick filler layer (0.4 to about 1 mm), which unfortunately likes to chip off with the paint when bumped. On the whole, the Cooper is also complete, with no critical parts missing.

Interior

Inside, the seat covers, carpet and door panels are new. Unfortunately, the dash, trim, center console and glove box have been repainted from red to black by the previous owner. Inevitable scratches then bring back the original red, which is detrimental to the appearance. Heater adjustments and small items need to be overhauled or repaired.

About the engine

The non-original engine has been tuned. It has a sufficiently sized carburetor for tuning. However, it would be too big for stock. The sharp camshaft matches the carburetor and intake manifold. However, the cylinder heads will not be able to reach their potential in the combination. Big problem was the not reasonably adjusted carburetor and ignition.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro

Conclusion after the 2nd year = September 2019

The Cooper is a really cool sock. It just gets better and better with time. The adjustments, tweaks and repairs make it a great car.

In the meantime, I have also said goodbye to the claim of keeping the car original. The last American has already changed the existing base so much that only the sheet metal, the chassis and the engine remained from the original. I also had the engine replaced by the Classic-Car-Ranch.

Furthermore the Cooper is a simple base. It is not an SS, Z/28 or COPO. It is just a housewife’s car that the modern woman used to pick up the kids from school (Fictitious). Optimizations do not reduce the value of the vehicle.

Just to clarify what the American, the CCR and I have already rebuilt:

Original from deliveryCurrent conditionChange by
Garnet Red with small stripes at side wallGarnet Red with black Z/28 stripesMr. Cooper
Flat hoodCold induction hoodMr. Cooper
No spoilersFront and rear spoilerMr. Cooper
White vinylroofBlack vinylroofMr. Cooper
Original engine with casting exhaust manifold and air cleaner housing Tuned engine with tubular steel manifold and open air cleaner CCR
Single pipe exhaustDouble pipe exhaustMr. Cooper
195×14“ wheels with steel caps215×15“ wheels with sombrero capsMr. Cooper / CCR
Drumbrakes frontPower disc brakes frontCCR
Red seats, carpet and consoleBlack seats, carpet and consoleMr. Cooper / me
Red dash panelBlack dash panelMr. Cooper / me
Two spoke steering wheelThree spoke sport steering wheelMr. Cooper
Analog MW-radioDigital FM-radiobefore Mr. Cooper / me
Original fan at the water pumpElectrical fanme
Original dash instrumentsElectronic dash Instrumentsme
additional battery breakme
1969 Chevrolet Camaro

Conclusion after the 3rd year = September 2020

Nothing has changed in the observations made above. The Camaro is getting better and better. We continue to develop and improve the technology and so the car reaches a condition that some much younger cars do not have. Even existing annoying detail errors are now gradually eliminated.

Our development

In the meantime, we also dare to do work that I wanted to have done by the workshop just a year ago. For example, we had the engine opened and worked on the chassis. Electrically, a lot has also been done, so that the risk of cable defects is also minimized as far as possible. The body has only a few small weak points.

Unfortunately, I always find that you can’t rely on workshops, so we actually have to do more and more ourselves if it’s going to be reasonable.

Our „setbacks“

Since it goes partly to “deeper” assemblies, it happens now also more frequently that unsuitable parts are bought (e.g. rag join) or by changes of one of the previous owners the actual again ordered original parts do not fit (e.g. shock absorber). Unfortunately it also happens that parts do not fit despite all research. Cause is the English article descriptions, which leads to misunderstandings or the conversion from inch to metric system. So then also other parts accumulate (e.g. rim rings).

Conclusion after the 4th year = September 2021

Due to an unfortunate circumstance, we weren’t able to do much to the car itself or drive it much. However, I did take the opportunity to give the Camaro a major overhaul.

A slip in the ditch resulted in the fenders and doors needing to be painted. The part was taken care of by the insurance company. Now that it was in the shop once, I had it completely painted. Since the appraiser also wanted the front suspension and steering linkage replaced, there was a generous upgrade here as well, as well as 225 tires from Continental all around. Front and rear spoilers came off and the stripes disappeared. The major rust damage to the end tips of the rear fenders, which had been filled in by the last owner, was also expertly repaired with repair panels.

The bottom line is that we have a great car in great condition. However, with the handicap that it has already cost more than it is probably worth. Also, the originality has now moved even further away, although visually it has come closer to the original.

The list of changes from the “2nd year” is now joined by the even wider tires and improved front suspension. However, reduced by spoilers and stripes.

Supplement

After four years together with the Cooper, the general inspection was due again in December 2021. This time I went to the vehicle car inspection myself and had it done. The inspector was very taken with the car and called the task a “HighLight at the end of the year”. For the emissions test, he had to exhaust the measurement possibilities of the old car.

Finally: Test passed, without any noticeable defects.

Cost: 124 EUR + 10 EUR for the coffee fund and rest until December 2023.

Conclusion after the 5th year = September 2022

Since the Camaro is always in the shop to have any defects from the slip fixed, we don’t really get to work on the car or drive it. On top of that, the steering doesn’t work as it should, so I’m constantly touching up there as well.

On the car, we only do small things or touch up the shop work.

Unfortunately, because of Corona in the last 3 years almost all classic car meetings are cancelled. Meetings starting from the third quarter fall exactly into our vacation.

This is also reflected in the distances covered:

  • 2018 = 1370 mi
  • 2019 = 1500 mi
  • 2020 = 1370 mi
  • 2021 = 300 mi (3/4 year in the workshop)
  • 2022 = 400 mi

Basically, I can only reiterate that the car is almost perfect in my eyes. Quirks are simply due to age. It’s fun to work on him and it’s fun to drive him.

As they say in Germany:

Whining at a high level