I have a 68 RS/SS L-78 4 spd car.I have had it since 2000.Has one repaint (seafoam grn) with a vinyl top. All original sheet metal no rust or bondo,had 1 repaint in 1979ish still looks fresh and also has dealer installed a/c that works. I like the car but don't drive it and thinking of trading it in on a new Z28. Just kinda wondering what its worth. Not good at navigating this site so I prob wont reply unless I get the time to figure it out lol.

 

You need to post some pic's...

 

An L-78? Wow! That's a Big Block 396!

I bet you don't have *any* problems accelerating up a highway on-ramp and merging with traffic! :-)

The spec is 375 HP. But. Just Googling it, people are seeing 444 HP on a dyno. The L-78 also had the good stuff internally. Solid lifter cam that's really pretty wild, 4-bolt mains, and forged, well, everything.

You really might want to reconsider selling this one. There just aren't that many big block cars left from the days when Chevrolet used high compression, wild cams, and a very good 4-speed transmission. Way too many of cars of this generation ended up wrapped around light poles and stuff.

(I have a 1970 Camaro, so I understand even better...)

Also, people (say, like me) who have wanted to restore their SS396 Camaro, but who could not find a 396, might want that engine in a big way. Having the right engine size is helpful for the value of the car, all things being equal.

It's a tough call to either go with the present 454 I have, or find a 396. Of course, I haven't been able to find a 396 since, let's see, 1988, when I got this.

Nice car, man.

Thanks,
Dave

 

After strolling around the Internet, I found at least one site that will enable you to read your VIN number, which tells a lot about the car. If you haven't looked up the trim tags, you should.

One site (of many) that helps decode 1st gen VINs is: 1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO Information Specifications Resources Pictures .

By the way, SS big-blocks from 1969 can have aluminum heads, and that makes its value shoot straight up.

Here's a sample couple of lines. The Chevy code says, L-78, but the website gives details, and 1969 prices:

L78 396 cid/375-hp V-8 $316.00
L78/L89 396 cid/375-hp V-8 w/ Aluminum Heads (SS Only) $710.95

Find your trim tags and look up everything on them. Good people have put trim-decoder information online. I learned a lot about my Camaro doing that.

I hope this helps you.

Thanks,
Dave

 

Yea its a 396;375hp Its a really nice original car. Looks better then a lot of cars just done plus its a never hit car Its lacquer and looks good no cracking. I do know I let a friend drive it once and he took it to 120 in third gear and broke the tires loose hitting forth and it has a 373 rear.

 

It is really hard to give a value, I would guess in mint shape original or fully restored it is a 50-75K car. Once you start talking about a driver that has been repainted and had AC added the price is going to drop fast because the show people are no longer interested. If it is all matching numbers 30-50K, that a big spread. A big part of that value is going to how the underneath looks and options condition of the chrome and rubber etc....

The repaint hurt because unless it was fully documented or done by a well known shop there is no telling what is under that paint. I know we see some cars going through known auction for crazy money but you have to remember those cars either are fully documented original cars with a history started on the day it rolled off the show room floor or a fully restored car restored by a well known high end restoration shop.

 

Lets just put it this way, no matter what it's worth, you take it to a dealer and they aren't going to give you anything. You'd be better off trying to sell it and then use the money for a down payment.
But you got a lot going for you seeing it's a RS/SS and a big block.
I agree, posting pictures would be a big help.

 

I know this isn't the question you asked, but someday in the near distant future, as you see the value of your 68 keep going up up up, while the value of the new Camaro keeps dropping, you're going to really really regret the day you sold the 68. I regret the day back in 1982 when I parted with my really nice (but not perfect) 69 convertible for a whopping $2,200. It would have been a $25-30k car by now.

 

I agree with what Camaro 69 said, I was just looking at a new ZL1, just to look at and the salesman said it was going for 63K. To me, that car isn't worth that amount and with the massive GM recall, people are going to say the same thing.
I bought, well won my 69 Camaro in a so-called bet/ deal and gave the guy $250.00 for it. If he saw what it was like today, he'd probably regret selling it for that cheap, but I sure don't regret giving him the $250.00.....LOL

 

take it to the dealer and tell them you will let them display your camaro in there show room if they will provide you with a new camaro to drive.