After being overshadowed by the first and third generation Camaros, it’s nice to see the second generation models getting some love. Built from 1970 to 1981, these cars were designed by Bill Mitchell at the height of his powers and withstood the ever-changing safety and emissions regulations of that era. But even if they don’t have the horsepower of Camaros from other eras, they’re still great fun.
Featured on Dylan McCool’s YouTube channel, this 1979 Chevrolet Camaro is a real barn find. Sitting for over 10 years in a metal shed, the car was covered in dirt, animal tracks and who knows what else. Undeterred, McCool pulls the car out of hiding and loads it onto his trailer.
Equipped with t-tops, the Camaro appears to be in fairly good condition. The car retains its original 305 cubic inch small block V8 engine and appears unmodified. The first step is to operate the vehicle. After installing a new battery, the lights come on and the spark plugs show signs of life. Soon the Camaro starts for the first time in a decade.
One thing that indicates how good the Camaro is is the coolant. Not only is the radiator always filled, but the coolant is green and looks fresh. The next step is to run the car from an auxiliary fuel tank. After a few tries, the engine continues to run and settles into a smooth idle.
Soon the Camaro is moving under its own power and ready for a short drive. It’s far from fully roadworthy again, but still ready to mess up. A few donuts in the yard, followed by a short drive and smoky exhaustion show the car has plenty of life.
The 1979 Chevy Camaro is one of many really cool barn finds we’ve seen lately, including this 1979 Ford Mustang Pace Car and this 1977 Oldsmobile 442. Like those cars, this Camaro is a great candidate for the restoration. Or leave it as it is, clean it up and burn some tires.
