L78 Values

[ovaltrack]

Team, Having a hard time pulling up real examples of cars being sold and the selling price. Specifically 1967 and 1968  L78's hardtop and convertibles. Have been searching Mecum and Barrett with no resent History. Any help would be appreciated.   Thanks

[plumL78]

67's  are under rated for sure but they are starting to get some more interest. cost a bunch of money to get the correct  under hood parts for that car if you can even find them. The bat car sold for around 240 but that was exceptional and went over seas. I know one that sold for around 75k.

[169INDY]

I would assume the 68's lag due to difficulty in documenting/challenges of Real examples and the Middle year syndrome.
Then the fact that what 1967 production was limited to 1138 units (?) 
Both years sales data may also be affected by "private sales" of Real deal cars that trade out of the public view.

[cook_dw]

$60 - 150K average just depends on the car.  Is there a certain car you are wondering its value?

[bcmiller]

Highly variable. Depends on condition.

[NAPA68]

PM sent

[68camaroz28]

As Bryon wrote it depends on so many different factors. Turbo 400 cars lag behind manual transmission ones, rs can add 20% to a 67, and then possible survivor status. They can be all over the map as Darrell showed. Another issue when trying to determine going price involves sold numbers available as your finding out. The market at this moment is extremely strong and you might want to discount some huge inflated figures.

[68camaroz28]

As Bryon wrote it depends on so many different factors. Turbo 400 cars lag behind manual transmission ones, rs can add 20% to a 67, and then possible survivor status. They can be all over the map as Darrell showed. Another issue when trying to determine going price involves sold numbers available as your finding out. The market at this moment is extremely strong and you might want to discount some huge inflated figures.

Me bad, comparison of prices from automatic to manual does not apply in this discussion instance but it sure does impact muscle car values overall.

[David K]

When it comes to. “What’s it worth”, you have to compare exactly what your car is equipped with…colors, drive train, etc. Apple to Apple. My .02

[ovaltrack]

A 67 Z28 brought 215,000 at Harrisburg  mecum today. I'm sure it was special.

[David K]

Damn. Couldn’t give ‘em away for 75k just 2 tears ago.

[BULLITT65]

https://www.mecum.com/lots/PA0722-518194/1967-chevrolet-camaro-z28/

The seldom seen white deluxe interior sounds like it was played up. 😳

[67L48]

I would expect that any 67 L78 car with the original engine would easily be a 6-figure car.  With fewer than 1,200 built, it's nearly as rare as the 602 Z28s from 1967.  And, like the Z28s, probably many of those 396/375 were beaten to death at the race track, as they were purpose-built cars back then.

I know that, due to rarity, the Z28 is the Holy Grail of 1967 Camaros (maybe in each year of 1st Gens, really).  But, for me, I'd take an original RS/SS L78 every day of the week over the Z.

Now, if it's just a car that has a verifiable birth record as an L78, but the original engine is long gone, I think it's much less interesting.  It would still be valuable and more valuable that anything else other than a Z.  But, I don't think it gets into 6 figures without the original engine.  E.g., an original L78 car that now has an LS3 and so on will be an expensive car, but won't touch that original 396 car.  Obviously, just one man's opinion here and I'm happy to be wrong.

[MO]

So many variables between 67 Z's and L78's, but prices seem to be parallel for the most part. However, the cream always rises to the top.

[1967 4K]

I been setting back watching this post since July and wondering how it would play out. I like to hear what other people say about a particular car.
Certainly the Bat Car is the pinnacle of the 4K’s. Sherman and I spent many hours on the phone discussing the 4K and he always told me that our cars didn’t receive the credit they deserved. The time seems to be closer to that happening. He said the born with engine cars are certainly 6 figure value cars.
If I ever price mine it will be in the 6 figure area. The 4K’s are just as rare as the COPO’s but no 427!
Richard

[67L48]

I think it's the relative obscurity of the 396 engine, in general, that has held back the popularity of the Camaro BB cars.  350 is a legend, obviously.  302/Z is a legend, obviously.  Then, the really cool GM engine of the day in the BB variety was the 427 in the vette ... and through dealer or COPO modification in the Camaro (and I don't know enough about Nova/Chevelle/Chevy II to know if/where that engine played over there).  In 1970, the 454 came out and that was that.  302 - 350 - 427 -454 ... and nobody really remembers the 396 (and, by "nobody," I mean the casual fan, not the Camaro or GM enthusiast).  So, I think it's taken time for the market to recognize the rarity and the value of the 396 1st Gen Camaros.

I liken it a bit to the Mopar cars.  They weren't worth much more than their weight as scrap metal up through the early 200s.  Then, all of a sudden, people remembered that those engines were absolute monsters.  I still think the styling isn't in the same zip code as Mustang and Camaro (and Corvette, Nova, Chevelle), but the market eventually remembered the rarity and power of those monster Hemi engines ... and their values went through the roof almost immediately.

In some ways, I think that's a similar story to the L78, L34, L35 BB 1st Gens.  The market (casual people) just haven't paid enough attention, but that has changed and is changing.

[169INDY]

When I purchased my SS396 in 1983 my Father said "What do you plan to do with that Small car with the Motor Home Engine in it?"
He had a 1971 Open Road Motor home with a BBC 402 as power.
I always wished I would have source a L78 Car then (1980's)

"Obscure" or maybe Limited availability.

All in good fun.

Q? Was Grumps car a SS350 or 396/375

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

Some years ago, I was talking to a co-worker, who told me that he had a 1968 Camaro L78 that he was storing at Torrance Airport.  The Camaro was a 4-speed and he would occasionally take it out for a short drive.  I laughed when he told me how he muscled the Camaro around the airport and how much noise it made as the mufflers needed to be replaced.

 

[cook_dw]

Q? Was Grumps car a SS350 or 396/375

Debate still rages on but Grumpy's 67 L78 was one of the 1st.  I have photos of it before it was completely lettered running what I believe were his 66 Chevy II slicks and red steel wheels and it has cross flags on it then.

[MO]

I'm in the camp that believes Grump's was the first delivered L78.

[cook_dw]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=daWpqICnR_k&feature=youtu.be


https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1575873#post1575873

[crossboss]

I think it's the relative obscurity of the 396 engine, in general, that has held back the popularity of the Camaro BB cars.  350 is a legend, obviously.  302/Z is a legend, obviously.  Then, the really cool GM engine of the day in the BB variety was the 427 in the vette ... and through dealer or COPO modification in the Camaro (and I don't know enough about Nova/Chevelle/Chevy II to know if/where that engine played over there).  In 1970, the 454 came out and that was that.  302 - 350 - 427 -454 ... and nobody really remembers the 396 (and, by "nobody," I mean the casual fan, not the Camaro or GM enthusiast).  So, I think it's taken time for the market to recognize the rarity and the value of the 396 1st Gen Camaros.

I liken it a bit to the Mopar cars.  They weren't worth much more than their weight as scrap metal up through the early 200s.  Then, all of a sudden, people remembered that those engines were absolute monsters.  I still think the styling isn't in the same zip code as Mustang and Camaro (and Corvette, Nova, Chevelle), but the market eventually remembered the rarity and power of those monster Hemi engines ... and their values went through the roof almost immediately.

In some ways, I think that's a similar story to the L78, L34, L35 BB 1st Gens.  The market (casual people) just haven't paid enough attention, but that has changed and is changing.

Your comment about the Mopar's reminds me of what a former Mopar friend (now a fanatic Shelby and 'Vette guy!) said: "Mopar owners with a $500 dollar car, will put a $500 dollar part on it". And I agree, the Mustang and Camaro are in a different zip code styling wise than the Mopar line up. The exceptions are the beautiful '70-'71 'Cudas and Challengers. Too bad they did nor sell very well when new.
Anyways, back to the topic at hand. Years ago, my buddy bought a Butternut Yellow '67 Camaro L-78. He says, "Hey! check out what I just got" I remember walking around it, and it was very sleeper-ish with dog dish hub caps, nothing fancy. So, I say "So what a 327 2V car?" He pops the hood...duh! 396 L-78...