Hey guys, first post here. I'm in the market to get my first camaro and I'm looking at either a 2nd or 3rd gen. This is going to be a daily driver. I know these are not the best daily drivers but I've been daily driving classics my whole life and I love it. It won't be for snow but I am moving to FL where that won't be a problem. I have extensive mechanical ability so I am not worried about maintenance so much as being an effective car. I love the look of 2nd gens but 3rd gens are pretty slick looking too. The biggest question probably is how the back seats compare in the two styles. I'm open to anything you guys have to say about ease of maintenance, storage space, handling, etc. Another key question is about t-tops. Never had one before but they seem like they would be fun however I have heard rumors/problems of leaks and body warping on the t-top cars if you put them on a post lift or have been maintained improperly. I'm all ears! Thanks in advance

 

Well no Camaro has much for a backseat,the 3rd gens have a hatchback the second gens a trunk so there's that.
Second gen cars a little bigger and heavier ,3rd gens cheaper to come by.
Early second gen cars ('70-'73) getting up there in price like the first gen cars but that's what I'd want if I was looking.
Nothing wrong with a Camaro as a daily driver,a good condition low mile car or restored can be very dependable if not great on gas mileage.
Not sure what your budget is or if you want a V8 or a six,a 3rd gen V6 can be had pretty cheap.

 

My budget is around 8k-10k for the initial purchase. I have a mild build 5.3 LS with a TKO 600 sitting in my garage I've been itching to put into something... probably not my daily but I've been known to do dumber things. I would probably be looking for a V8 just because it's fun but until gas goes down in price I probably will keep it stock for a while. I am looking at 1974-1981 2nd gens because I'm weird and like those front ends better than the early style.

 

Well that's a good thing as they are a lot more affordable,in that price range at least in my area you should be able to find a really decent late 2nd gen car. Geography has a lot to do with pricing and availability. I'm not sure where you are but cars from SoCal and AZ will be solid bodies if original to the area and not wreck repairs,other parts of the country watch out for rust.
Good luck in your search.

 

With this project is all about opinions. IMO if you don't specifically want a second Gen go with the 3rd gen. I am an older fella and I drove 2nd gens back in the day buying my first 3rd gen in 85 ish.

Second gens
I own a 1972 daily inline six with power glide trans. Like all inline sixers of the time that thing was a work horse. It never let me sit but it did not do anything well except point A to Point B. I Paid next to nothing for it with rusty wheel wells and no reverse. I repaired those two things and did a tune up and drove the car for the next 4 years. So I think I may have had $450 in it not including the paint which I did myself.
At the same time I owned a 74 Z28 clone with a LT1 350 out of a 1970 blazer and a 4 speeds. I had upgraded the rear to one out of a 79 Z28 with disk brakes and I used a sway bar from the same 79. I also had upgrades all the shocks to gas changed. Again I was in my teens so everything was budget but I was in school for cars so I have access to good information.

I tell you all that so you know my background with 2nd gens. By the early 80's I was a tech at a GM dealer and I was working on the 3rd gens. I decided to replace my 72 daily with a 82 camaro V6 with rod knock. I got it from the dealer and they let me buy parts at cost as part of the deal. I did a GM crank kit and a cam from a X11 2.8 HO motor. To me the amazing part of the 3rd gen was the driving experience. The car was just well balanced. It was way slower then my 74 but the handling at higher speeds braking all made it a better driving experience. For a brief time I owned a 84 Z28 but that ended up being more of a flip. I sold both the 82 and the 74 in the late 80's due to kids and house stuff. By the end of the 80's I was a GM master tech and had lot of seat time in Vets and Irocks. I really liked the 1990 5.7 Z28 but I would have rather had stick. GM never offered a 5.7 Stick in a 3rd gen. In 92 GM offered a bolt in T56 6 speed for a 5.7 but it was a 5K kit. The 1988-1992 5.7 is still a car I would not mind owning. Also the safety level of that car is so much higher then the 2nd gens.

To give you some perspective on how good the 3rd gen was at higher speeds if you ever race a 1 mile pull you will note there are classes and one of those classes is for a 4 seater 1981 back This covers all the Mustanges camaros and all the older cars made before 1981. The reason that existed is because of the 3rd gen camaro. It blew everything away. If you do a history tour you will find many of a near stock land speed records where done in 3rd gen camaros. EVEN today the platform is a common site at the salt flats. You will see some first and second gens there but in many cases the factory bodies are changed to improve aerodynamics.

I have thought many times about doing a 3rd gen daily Either 3800/5 speed or a 5.3/6 speed. I am so busy and old these day I just bought a 04 GTO 6 speed before the prices got crazy. I do have a complete 93 Lt1/6 speed in the driveway that just needs a new wiring harness. Maybe for my son who is 13, At this point he seems to like the 3rd gens better then the 4th.

After saying all that I do love the 70-73 and I have a soft spot for the 74 as it still have the small back window. Your budget would be a little light for a low rust 74 roller. 78-81 Z28 have always had a strong following. I have not kept up but the 75-77 used to be the easiest to find on a budget. Also the later year 2nd gens are a little more ridged and are have a slightly higher safety rating. Early to mid 2nd gen T-top cars do not do well in wrecks and should be avoided as daily's. Maybe its because I commute into Philly I think the primary job of a daily is to keep you alive but being fun to drive is a close second because that keeps me awake


Check this out.
https://camaroforums.com/forum/82-92...pension-82050/

 

Its what you are more comfortable with .Second dens can take more punishment and are easier to work on yourself ..And do upgrades with .

 

Great comments guys! I have looked at a few cars and I'm leaning towards a 3rd gen but the 2nd gen Camaros are sweet looking. I have daily driven V8 carbed classics daily before and it is a blast but having air conditioning, better gas mileage, and better safety/handling in the 3rd gen is a huge bonus. The 305/5spd combo would be a perfect balance between power, sound, and "fun" aspect but I do love the 2nd gen body style. I have not gotten to sit in any 3rd gens yet but I will soon as I am going to look at one for sale by me soon. Any other people feel free to chime in.

 

Don't know how you feel about 4th gens but with a late 4th sporting an LS1 you can have both great power and pretty amazing gas mileage.
My '01 SS 6 speed was getting about 28 mpg highway before mods but even now pushing 400hp at the wheels it's getting 26+.
That's almost as good as my '05 4 banger Saturn Ion work beater.
I did a 500 mile trip crossing the Cascades mountain range there and back a couple years ago (with the mods already done) and averaged 21 mpg with quite a bit of spirited driving.
This car sometimes amazes me at how well it does on gas,that said it does require premium gas to run full power.
I've had to put regular in it a couple times and it ran fine but didn't make full power,of course that's still more power than any 6 banger or older 305 or 350 without huge mods.