Long Time Car Guy Gets His First Camaro

Gashog · 05-23-2017, 09:45 PM

It’s great to meet you all!
I’ve wanted a Camaro since my uncle showed up in our driveway in his new 69 when I was a kid. Dad was a Ford guy and I got bit real bad by the Mustang bug drooling over the Mach 1 in the show room while he was cutting a deal on our 70 LTD. I was heavy into big block Mustang restoration in the 70’s & 80’s, got into big block mid year Corvettes during the 90’s and traditional flathead Model A hotrods in the 00’s.

My back is a wreck, shifting and getting into/out of my daily driver (98 Corvette convertible) took all the fun out of driving her, and at 20 years old she was getting pretty long in the tooth. It seemed like it might be time to get that Camaro I’ve had my eye on for 50 years. The plan was to sell the Corvette and pick up a 68 six cylinder automatic coupe. When reality set in I realized I wasn’t 19 and it wasn’t 1979 anymore.

Shuffling around for Plan B I remembered I was going to buy an Aqua Blue Metallic V6 automatic RS when Chevy brought the Gen5's out in 2010 and ended up replacing my work truck. I was pretty tickled to find the twin of the car I was going to buy 7 years ago (sans the console gauge package)- a one-owner garage kitten with 17,000.

The gauge cluster is in, but the Gen5 is a different animal than the cars I spent 35+ years working on and I can’t roll up my sleeves to work on her like I used to. I hope to draw on the experience of the some of you younger guys and share a few things I’ve learned along the way.

witenite · 05-23-2017, 10:14 PM

Congrats on the new ride and welcome from Newport News VA.

KenKat · 05-23-2017, 10:15 PM

Welcome, I enjoyed the story of your journey to Camaro ownership!

Here's your picture - great color:

Ashen 6.2 · 05-23-2017, 10:33 PM

Congrats and welcome!

BAD DAB · 05-23-2017, 10:34 PM

A big welcome from the RVA!

Gunmetal Speedster · 05-24-2017, 01:52 AM

Welcome to the forum! Great color, love the rare factor. This is the perfect place to piggyback off of knowledge, there's tons of it here. Make yourself at home

riozlander · 05-24-2017, 05:14 AM

welcome and omg beautiful color and car

Sir Nuke · 05-24-2017, 06:40 AM

CONGRATS on your ride and Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to Camaro5/6. There is a BIG fridge on the back porch with anything you can think of in it...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have. Make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom's, dad's, wives', husband's, girlfriend's and boyfriend's here don't care....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!!

Deputy347k9 · 05-24-2017, 07:41 AM

Congratulations and welcome to the Forum! I know exactly how you feel about owning your first Camaro. During the 60s I was big into the Impalas, owned 60-64 mostly 348/409 cars. Then into the 68 Charger with a 426, slipped back to the Chevrolets once again with a 54 truck. There was a couple of 390 Fords and only one 289 early Mustang. The last car that I sank a ton of money in I still have, 1996 Impala SS that I have had professionally modified to a six speed/400 HP, that one has 9,000 miles since complete restoration.

But... I have for ever wanted a Camaro from the first one I ever saw. Distractions kept us apart. About 3 months ago the wife said, "why not", find a nice one but I want a convertible, (never had one of those neither). After countless hours on the net I found one in Dayton, Ohio, 2014 with 4,423 miles on the clock. Like yours not a nick, road chip or scratch and she was fully loaded to the T. Flew up to Dayton on April 13, 2017 and purchased her. Took me 3 days to get back to eastern NC because I had so much fun driving the back roads, visiting friends and "looking good"! I have had her one month now and waxed her at least ten times! She is such a beauty!

Again congratulations and keep smiling!
Larry

E-Ray · 05-24-2017, 08:26 AM

Welcome aboard. Looks very nice!!!

svenh44 · 05-24-2017, 08:37 AM

Love the color congrats and welcome

Coors9 · 05-24-2017, 08:39 AM

Congrats on your Camaro

Gashog · 05-24-2017, 04:36 PM

Thank you for the warm welcome and the kudos on the Camaro. It's great to hear from all the local boys. I'm sure our paths will cross at a show in Williamsburg or points in between.

@KenKat
Thank you for the picture upload.

@ Deputy347k9
LOL, lots of distractions. Love those big inch cars. Still have a 427 435 horse StingRay and my 69 428SCJ Mach 1.

Color has always been at the bottom of the list when I'm looking for a car. Seeing the new body in ABM brought back too many memories of the Lemans Blue cars I remember when I was working as a gas jockey at my cousin's Shell Station in high school to consider anything else. I'm just glad Chevy didn't use an Aqua Blue Metallic car for the poster child on the 2010 brochure or you probably couldn't throw a dead cat without hitting one. ABM, Hyper Blue and Kinetic Blue are shades of gray to me, but I like the early Gen5 styling better than the Gen6's and I've never been a fan of factory collector cars. With all the low mileage Aqua Blue Metallic SS's out there, I never expected I'd find a low mileage six banger automatic. It was kind of nostalgic to have the chance to own the exact car I would have ordered 7 years ago.

cbaer981 · 05-25-2017, 02:00 AM

congrats on the new ride, youll love the car. I had my 5th gen for about 4 years now and it still puts a smile on my face everyday I drive her!

05-23-2017, 09:45 PM	#1
Gashog Drives: 2010 ABM V6 Rally Sport Coupe Join Date: May 2017 Location: Virginia Posts: 5	Long Time Car Guy Gets His First Camaro It’s great to meet you all! I’ve wanted a Camaro since my uncle showed up in our driveway in his new 69 when I was a kid. Dad was a Ford guy and I got bit real bad by the Mustang bug drooling over the Mach 1 in the show room while he was cutting a deal on our 70 LTD. I was heavy into big block Mustang restoration in the 70’s & 80’s, got into big block mid year Corvettes during the 90’s and traditional flathead Model A hotrods in the 00’s. My back is a wreck, shifting and getting into/out of my daily driver (98 Corvette convertible) took all the fun out of driving her, and at 20 years old she was getting pretty long in the tooth. It seemed like it might be time to get that Camaro I’ve had my eye on for 50 years. The plan was to sell the Corvette and pick up a 68 six cylinder automatic coupe. When reality set in I realized I wasn’t 19 and it wasn’t 1979 anymore. Shuffling around for Plan B I remembered I was going to buy an Aqua Blue Metallic V6 automatic RS when Chevy brought the Gen5's out in 2010 and ended up replacing my work truck. I was pretty tickled to find the twin of the car I was going to buy 7 years ago (sans the console gauge package)- a one-owner garage kitten with 17,000. The gauge cluster is in, but the Gen5 is a different animal than the cars I spent 35+ years working on and I can’t roll up my sleeves to work on her like I used to. I hope to draw on the experience of the some of you younger guys and share a few things I’ve learned along the way. Last edited by Gashog; 05-23-2017 at 10:16 PM.

05-23-2017, 10:33 PM	#4
Ashen 6.2 Drives: 2014 Camaro Z/SS Join Date: May 2014 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 2,173 View My Garage	Congrats and welcome! __________________ 2014 Camaro SS L99, Ashen Grey w/Black Leather - Build thread - http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=491561 Tuned by Ben @BWTuned, GPI 416 w/GPI S/C Cam, GPI Ported Heads, Holley Dominator ECU, Mag Heartbeat, ZL1 Fuel Pump/DSX Aux Pump, NW 103 TB, FIC 1650's, Alky Meth, Rossler T400 w/t-brake, Circle D Converter, Kooks Headers, Viking Coil Overs & all the BMR Goodies in the rear, Zl1 3.73 Diff, DSS Axles, Wiles Racing Driveshaft, Hendrix Offset Diff Bushings, AFE Solid Subframe Bushings, 875HP/843TQ 5FDP

05-23-2017, 10:34 PM	#5
BAD DAB Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Black & Silver Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 8,230 View My Garage	A big welcome from the RVA! __________________ STAINLESS WORKS HEADERS-TUNED BY JANNETTY RACING-C.A.I. INTAKE-TAYLOR 409 WIRES-SOLO AXLE BACK EXHAUST-ELITE CATCH CAN

05-24-2017, 01:52 AM	#6
Gunmetal Speedster Drives: Savitar; The 500rwhp N/A Monster! Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Middletown, Ohio Posts: 2,914 View My Garage	Welcome to the forum! Great color, love the rare factor. This is the perfect place to piggyback off of knowledge, there's tons of it here. Make yourself at home __________________ **SOLD504HP/433**TQ \| Night Fury cammed • Cold Air Inductions intake • Bo White ported TB • Speed Engineering 1 7/8 longtubes • NPP catback • QTP low profile cutouts • Powerbond 25% UDP • 3.73 gears • JRE scoop • ZL1 grille • R1 Concepts drilled/slotted rotors • built/tuned by Weapon X Motorsports Instagram \| YouTube \| Build Thread

05-24-2017, 06:40 AM	#8
Sir Nuke Master of All Things Drives: '26 Corvette Stingray Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Southeast of Houston, Texas Posts: 22,739 View My Garage	CONGRATS on your ride and Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to Camaro5/6. There is a BIG fridge on the back porch with anything you can think of in it...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have. Make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom's, dad's, wives', husband's, girlfriend's and boyfriend's here don't care....and take it easy. oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here. Welcome!! __________________

05-23-2017, 10:14 PM	#2
witenite Drives: 2010 2SS non RS Join Date: May 2014 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,397 View My Garage	Congrats on the new ride and welcome from Newport News VA.

05-23-2017, 10:15 PM	#3
KenKat Drives: 2014 2LT RS Summit White Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 622	Welcome, I enjoyed the story of your journey to Camaro ownership! Here's your picture - great color:

05-24-2017, 05:14 AM	#7
riozlander that guy <-------- Drives: 2012 camaro V6 LS M6 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: southern Commiefornia Posts: 730	welcome and omg beautiful color and car

05-24-2017, 07:41 AM	#9
Deputy347k9 Drives: 2014 Ashen Gray Convertible Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Havelock, NC Posts: 1,328	Congratulations and welcome to the Forum! I know exactly how you feel about owning your first Camaro. During the 60s I was big into the Impalas, owned 60-64 mostly 348/409 cars. Then into the 68 Charger with a 426, slipped back to the Chevrolets once again with a 54 truck. There was a couple of 390 Fords and only one 289 early Mustang. The last car that I sank a ton of money in I still have, 1996 Impala SS that I have had professionally modified to a six speed/400 HP, that one has 9,000 miles since complete restoration. But... I have for ever wanted a Camaro from the first one I ever saw. Distractions kept us apart. About 3 months ago the wife said, "why not", find a nice one but I want a convertible, (never had one of those neither). After countless hours on the net I found one in Dayton, Ohio, 2014 with 4,423 miles on the clock. Like yours not a nick, road chip or scratch and she was fully loaded to the T. Flew up to Dayton on April 13, 2017 and purchased her. Took me 3 days to get back to eastern NC because I had so much fun driving the back roads, visiting friends and "looking good"! I have had her one month now and waxed her at least ten times! She is such a beauty! Again congratulations and keep smiling! Larry Attached Images

05-24-2017, 08:26 AM	#10
E-Ray Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS, Nightfall Grey Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Sulphur La. Posts: 1,680 View My Garage	Welcome aboard. Looks very nice!!!

05-24-2017, 08:37 AM	#11
svenh44 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Brandywine Maryland Posts: 124	Love the color congrats and welcome

05-24-2017, 08:39 AM	#12
Coors9 Drives: 2011 Cyber Gray 2SS RS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Paradise, Newfoundland. Canada Posts: 121	Congrats on your Camaro

05-24-2017, 04:36 PM	#13
Gashog Drives: 2010 ABM V6 Rally Sport Coupe Join Date: May 2017 Location: Virginia Posts: 5	Thank you for the warm welcome and the kudos on the Camaro. It's great to hear from all the local boys. I'm sure our paths will cross at a show in Williamsburg or points in between. @KenKat Thank you for the picture upload. @ Deputy347k9 LOL, lots of distractions. Love those big inch cars. Still have a 427 435 horse StingRay and my 69 428SCJ Mach 1. Color has always been at the bottom of the list when I'm looking for a car. Seeing the new body in ABM brought back too many memories of the Lemans Blue cars I remember when I was working as a gas jockey at my cousin's Shell Station in high school to consider anything else. I'm just glad Chevy didn't use an Aqua Blue Metallic car for the poster child on the 2010 brochure or you probably couldn't throw a dead cat without hitting one. ABM, Hyper Blue and Kinetic Blue are shades of gray to me, but I like the early Gen5 styling better than the Gen6's and I've never been a fan of factory collector cars. With all the low mileage Aqua Blue Metallic SS's out there, I never expected I'd find a low mileage six banger automatic. It was kind of nostalgic to have the chance to own the exact car I would have ordered 7 years ago. Last edited by Gashog; 05-24-2017 at 08:17 PM.

05-25-2017, 02:00 AM	#14
cbaer981 Drives: 2013 LS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 36	congrats on the new ride, youll love the car. I had my 5th gen for about 4 years now and it still puts a smile on my face everyday I drive her! __________________ 2013 LS, Roto Fab CAI, MRT V1, Hurst billet Short Throw with Track Pack Bushings, JacFab Intake and Spacer, Fog Light Kit, Monster Clutch, Pac 5 dash kit with pioneer 5200 NEX double din, and 45th Anniversary Rims