Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

I am looking for opinions. What would you focus on if all you had was around $30,000 to spend on a car? I have found a 1969 SS 396 4-speed Camaro with a color change, no documents but in very nice driver condition that will cost about $32,000. A 1970 SS-350 4-speed Nova that has been nicely restored and a bunch of documents for $30,000. A 1973 R/S,LT,Z/28 original black with a bunch of neat options but no paper work and I could get it for less than $20k. Or a 69 396/350 hp Nova with a 854 396 replacement motor and a color change in very nice condition with no paper work for about $25,000. Or should I wait and save up my money for a 1970 L-78 Nova with a replacement 396/375 drive train and no paper work that is in real nice condition for $40,000 plus?
Mark Sheppard

Re: Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

What sort of advice are you looking for?

To answer a question with a question, what car do YOU like?

I'd vote for a Nova because that's what I like. What do you like?

Re: Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

Is the SS 396 Camaro with the color change a numbers matching, genuine 396 4 speed car? If that's the case I think I'd go for the Camaro as long as the new color is something you like. As far as I'm concerned a color change, as long as it was done correctly, would not be that big of a deal to me.

Re: Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

I am looking for advise of what would be the best car for the money? I know that in 5 years or less I will get bored with the car and want to sell it. What car do you think will be most desirable in the future? Is a SS 350 Nova with paperwork worth as much as a SS 396 Nova with out paperwork? Is it better to save my money and buy a L-78 Nova later on for a lot more money?

Re: Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

The Camaro has a date coded replacement motor and it was changed from dark green to white. It is a nice car that has over a 100,000 miles on it but it has been well taken care of.

Re: Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

I'd go for the car with an original engine and some type of paperwork to verify its options. The '73 Z with no paperwork has the L82 verified in the ID number and the Z28 option on the trim tag. Pretty good verification it is a true Z28, even without paperwork. As noted above, I wouldn't worry about a color change if the other things are appealing. In the long term, original engine and paperwork will hold their value. You do have to worry about exploding the original engine, though.

Re: Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

I think the 70 to 73 Z's are a great deal for the money...lets face it...they made 20k 69'Z's...less than 8k 70 Z's...maybe 2500 72 Z,s...and you can get into a real sweet 2nd gen Z for about 30k....I think they are the best value out there....

I love the look of a 69 RS Z just like the next guy...or an L-78 RS-SS for that matter....

...but a 70 split bomper Z with the spoilers and stripes and basically a DZ motor with 48 more cubes...nuttin' wrong with that!!


wait it out until you find a documented car...even if you have to spend a little more...in the future, no if's ands or butts!! good luck!!

just my .02

Re: Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

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Or should I wait and save up my money for a 1970 L-78 Nova with a replacement 396/375 drive train and no paper work that is in real nice condition for $40,000 plus?


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Mark, the certified L78 Nova you just sold for 10K is far and above a better deal than a no paperwork driver for 40K or any of the cars you listed,dont you think???

Re: Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

Chuck I know you are right but in my area I was certain that I was going to have more than $40,000 in the car and to be honest I was fooling myself in thinking I would have the time to do a project like this.
Mark Sheppard

Re: Advise please 69 Camaro or L-34 Nova or L-78 Nova
 

Mark, 4k a month for 12 months will get you this super nice real #s ac pace car with no stories or resto bills.