Late last year while rebuilding the suspension on my '71 Camaro I noticed that my old Doug Thorley headers had started to rot out at the collector after 37 years. Great life span, and a very good purchase in 1975 for $69 on sale. Problem was the new Doug Thorleys are nearly $600 for ceramic coated, so I've been contemplating what brand I might get for a lessor amount that would fit and work as well on the 427.
Today we drove 3 hrs north to the swap meet in Puyallup, Wa. and while looking around I came upon a booth with numerous early 2nd gen parts. In one corner was a set of chrome plated headers I instantly recognised as being BBC type. Turned them over and there was the Thorley metal tag on the front tube. Asked the seller what they fit, and he said they came off his early 70's BBC Camaro show car. They showed no signs of ever being on a running car, as they look like new inside and only have some speckles outside to indicate they were mounted once. Seller said he'd never fired the engine on his car bbecause he didn't want the chrome to discolor.
I asked what he wanted for them and he said $80. I asked again, as i thought I misunderstood, but he gave the same reply! Looks like I better not buy any lottery tickets, as my luck may be all used up for awhile! Not sure what chrome Thorleys go for, or if they even offer them today, but I wont mind them discoloring at the price!

 

Nice find, nice price!! I did well at the place I went today also. I got a little tired of the rain though today.

 

If they discolor will it be that multi color kinda rainbow discolor like on flamed rims? That would be pretty cool.

 

For that price I wouldn't care what they were. Have you looked into having your sent to Jet Hot? I bet you could have the chrome ones done for less than 3 bills. Then again the 70's stuff is probably done right and won't flake off. As long as that doesn't happen the blue is cool to look at for me.

 

Like I said, the part that has some pitting is down where the tubes meet the collector, so no way to even see it. I also like the bluish color of chrome haders when they're heated. Wouldn't buy chrome new, just because I'm too cheap, but it's fine at the price.

 

Man, wasn't that rain horrible today!? It was just above freezing up north, and then a steady drizzle, plus the breeze. I had to buy a $3 pair of work gloves at the swap meet just to keep my finger warm while we looked around!
So did you get everything you wanted up north?

 

That chrome should hold back the rust a little maybe you can get 40 years of of these. Only 40 years,, maybe you should get inside jet coated so they will last longer and you don't have to do this again.

 

Yeah I'm gonna be ticked if I have to get under this thing again at 101 yrs. old!

 

Got Visors, full set of seat belts, and steering wheel and all the little parts for it for $120 and a set of camel hump heads (3782461), ready to go for $250. He has a lot of body parts also from what I can see.

 

You really scored! Those old camel hump heads will do great, I always liked them!