Starting in 1967, Chevrolet introduced a vehicle that would rival the Ford Mustang. The vehicle was called the Camaro. Meaning "friend" in French, some laughed because in Spanish, "camaro" meant "shrimp." However, no one was laughing when the Camaro was tearing up the streets and blowing the doors off the Mustang.

These are starting to become quite rare and if found in good condition, they are not cheap used cars anymore but are worth a good sum of money. Most Camaros have hidden damage and some have hidden meaning. Checking the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a good place to start to determine the authenticity of the Camaro you are wanting to purchase.

Since the Camaro was of Unibody construction, you will certainly want to check for frame damage or frame rot. Begin your search by writing a list of what you want in a Camaro such as engine size, model, transmission type or whether or not you want a Camaro with matching numbers. Having a Camaro with matching numbers means that the transmission, engine and rear axle numbers all match. These are extremely hard to find vehicles and if found, will be very expensive to procure.

Car Swaps and Hot Rod Associations

If you are lucky enough to find used vehicles like a Camaro and wish to do the work yourself, there are numerous sources to find reproduction parts that will fit like a glove and not burn a hole in your budget. One place to check is the Internet; just watch out for shipping costs. There are also parts to be had at swap meets or at car shows, but your best place to find quality parts is to talk with the members of your local hot rod association.

The Camaro Search Begins

Searching for and finding a Camaro will be relatively easy thanks to the power of the Internet. As of writing this article, there are over 3,800 Camaros listed for sale on websites with prices starting from $1,500 to $275,000. You may have to drive quite a distance to retrieve your vehicle or it could very well be in the next town over. Wherever your Camaro is, know that what waits for you is a lot of history and good times when you drive it down the street.