Bitchin’ Camaro: 1988 Chevy Camaro V8 5-Speed
If you went to high school in the 1990’s, there were certain cars that we all wanted but few got. The really cool kids found a way to swing a Camaro. For those of us who couldn’t, here is a great chance to make a teenage dream a reality for a decent price. Find this 1988 Chevy Camaro 5-Speed for sale in Kansas City, MO for $4,700 via craigslist.
No, this isn’t the IROC-Z package, but all the real car guys knew that you couldn’t get the 350-powered Z with a stick. You would definitely get the requisite cool-guy points with this car and its 5-speed transmission, though. While this 5.0 looks to be the TBI rated at only 170HP, it had the torque to spin ’em with a little clutch work.
Want to go faster? A swap to a more worthy SBC is a breeze and all the linkage and clearances are there to upgrade your tranny, if needed. Luckily, nobody has souped this car up yet and it looks like it is clean and well taken care of. In the midwest, most ‘maro’s of this vintage are rusted hulks that have seen more drunken burnouts than the Tip-Top lounge.
Here is a view of what looks like a pretty clean cabin and 8-ball shifter. This is in stark contrast to the usual crime-scene interiors you are greeted with when viewing 3rd gen Camaro ads on Craigslist. Enough logical arguments for buying this car, though. How does it make you feel?
Time to make a decision that would would meet the approval of your teenage self. Buy it.
See a cooler Gen-X high school car? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
Thank you for the Dead Milkmen reference. Anyone who doesnt know what Im talking about heres a link to youtube. I cant say its a great song but its very fitting
Dead Milkmen – Bitchin Camaro
Did his parents drive it up from the Bahamas?
5 speed makes all the difference……I am almost tempted to discard my elitist look down my nose attitude at this wonderful example of Billy Ray Cyrus 'Merica……almost.
I really like the American cars of this generation but I would have to pass on the T-tops.
Pluses: Manual transmission, already fuel injected, body and interior in very nice shape
Minuses: 305 low power, trans and rear end on these years prone to failure during "spirited driving", inspect floors for rust as T-tops tend to leak.
Suggestion: Buy it if the floors and body are solid, enjoy driving it as is. Fairly low mileage so hopefully have few problems beyond routine maintenance. Want more performance? – upgrade to better engine, trans and stronger rear end:
thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-lsx/448105-ls1-into-third-gen.html
Yup, this is it. I did in fact attend high school in the 90's, and did in fact have a '91 camaro RS 305 TBI 5 speed. Naturally it had t tops, and a Kenwood stereo. All this was happening in New Jersey. Thing is, I still wasn't very cool. The build quality of the car was awful (made me swear off American cars for almost two decades), but it did pull hard in 2nd or 3rd gear!
"…seen more drunken burnouts than the Tip-Top lounge." Cramp in my side from laughing.
DT nailed it. In high school I wanted one in black with silver trim. This or an Eagle Tsi in similar livery.
Ended up with an 84 Regal with a powder blue 1/2 landau top.
Thanks