If I were to get a 2nd generation Camaro, would I be able to get it serviced in places like Firestone, PepBoys or I need to find a mechanic that knows older cars? I am asking because I know nothing about engines so if something goes wrong, I will need to drop it off at the service station. I guess I am sort of dreaming about owning 30 year old car with no knowledge of mechanics but since I am working, I think I can afford repairs. Given that I do not need to go to a special place that charges $300/hour.

Thanks.

 

no just about anybody with some automotive knowledge can work on a old camaro it doesnt take a school trained mechanic to work on a old camaro,shoot I'm only 18 and I'm the only person that works on my car dont see any reason to pay some shop $70 per HR for something i can do my self.
if your thinking about geting a old camaro you might want to pick up some repiar maunals cause these car need to be maintanied regularly other wise they wont last very long and wont be dependable.

 

Thanks 73camaroSS. I guess I could pickup some books and read but I do not know how much that would help me as I am total noob when it comes to engines and cars. I know how to change the tire, replace battery and spark plugs but that's about it. I am helpless when it comes to carbs, valves, suspension, etc. Plus I have no place to work on the car anyway.

 

no prob, i was just giving you some ideas of what it takes to own and maintained a old camaro, are you plaining to get acar that is all ready restored or a project car. the only way to learn those things is by trying it your self, trust me everybody at one time had no idea what they were doing but learned how to by trying and haveing to fix there own cars cause haveing somebody else do it just wasnt a option.thats how I'm learning is by doing it my self and work on my budys cars and mine a old car like mine needs TLC at least once a month.

 

If I buy Camaro, it is going to be restored. Probably not 100% but at least so I can drive it. Like I said, I have no place and no knowledge to restore car myself.

 

well since you have no idea how to fix a car and maintaine them maybe you would want to get something newer like a 4th gen Z28 or SS they are pretty much maintence free and get good gas milage not to mention haul a$$,cause a second gen would just cost to much to have somebody else fix it all the time. even a 3rd gen would be more pratical for you, just a idea I'm sure any camaro yougetwill you love it for ever.

 

lol i feel the same as 73camaroSS, lets put it like this, i'm 18 years old too, this is my first car, i have a job and everything but still... don't have much of a budget to take my car to a repair shop so, so far everything that the car has needed i've done myself, i've had it for almost a year and well even tho gas is seriously killing me i'm prolly not gonna give up on her, oh yeah? i'm not that good at mechanics ether and this is actually the first car i've worked on, i believe it comes to be much easier than you think, and you don't really need much of a place to work on the car, at least i usually do it parked outside my house or somewhere like that.... i know... kindda wack but thats how much i love this car!

 

I guess you are right that getting newer model will save me some headaches but I like the second generation Camaro. Third generation is my least favorite. Fourth is ok but I already own two modern cars so the new look does not appeal to me that much. Of course first gen. is nice too, but simply too expensive.

 

Yeah, most engines are universal in theory so anyone that works on domestics should be able to handle it pretty easily. The small block chevrolet is the most mass produced engine (over 90 million) on the face of the planet from my understanding and little has changed since it was introduced in the 50's. That's also why performance parts and accessories for the engine are so cheap (depending on whose version of cheap you use :P ) and there's so many variations of parts and power you can put together.