Since I posted here a lot of questions and you guys are really helpful (I was surprised how really helpful you were must say!) I thought I'll share my project. It's not a frame-up resto. But I'll guess it will be fine. It's a pretty long intro so here is the story about my unicorn. The Zcorn.
First here are few things for the start... I'm from Israel. So excuse me for any spelling mistakes or if I don't understand full intentions or so (In that case, I use google
).
Second, and what makes the story long, those kind of American Muscles were never sold here.
There were a couple of those kind of cars but they were really expensive and rare to see. I believe the mםst of them were self-imported. Only on 80's\90's you could really see some American cars here but mostly pick-ups or family cars like the Ford Cortina or sierras and stuff like GMCs, Chevi Impala etc.
While most of the people around love the pony horse named Mustang (cause of it reputation on films I guess) since a young aged I wanted a Camaro. Always wanted it. Must have it. I guess that Bumblebee version back at 2007 "Transformers" awaken this will. The years passed and we jump to 2015. I lived for a year in California and had 2014 Camaro SS there. Loved it but felt like it was the time to get the real deal. An old non-computerize car A real rumble sound car.
Few months ago at June 2016 I bought my 1980 Z28. I realized I can afford buying it and most important, having time to work on it. It wasn't that easy (or cheap) but in spontaneous decision (and Ebay) I did it!
At the beginning of the process I had some worries cause of some few reasons. I'm going to import a car that was never sold here. Bureaucracy can be a pain at the future.
To import a car to my country there's a 106% (!!!!!!!) tax. So actually it like I bought 2 Camaros (You paid 10K$ on yours? for me it's 20k$) And of course add the over seas shipping, towing and all to it (I did all by myself and not with a shipping agent to spare cash).
And last but not least, since the Camaro wasn't sold here, there's not a real mechanic here that really know the car that really know the manufacture demands and taking care of the details of the small things like putting the original screws\ bolts. Stuff like this that symbol the different between beautiful to perfect. And as I said this Z is my unicorn.
Lucky me, I'm coming from mechanics family. My grandfather have one of the first garages in Israel. He used to work on European cars mostly like Renault etc. He is 87 (!) awesome amount of knowledge and for the last 20-25 years he did mechanical restorations for special clients. He built over 20 Mercedes, Jaguars, Peugeots etc. He built rare cars that used in some Hollywood film I can't remember and long time ago Ferrari wanted him to be their lead mechanic in Israel. Although he worked on some Chevy, Dodge, Ford engines at the past, we never restored American Muscle but he have so much knowledge that I will never have. He is a different era kind of mechanic a very stubborn one. No rounding corners so I know I'm lucky that he is the mechanic that leading our team.
Must say we never did cosmetics restos. Only mechanic ones and for me, the mechanic is what important. Cosmetics will wait since it's not effect the car running and it can wait for extra cash
Second on the team is my dad. Electric engineer and full of general wisdom of how stuff works so he's doing all the electricity for perfectness, interior stuff etc. While my head and thoughts are going all crazy and hyperactive, he is the calm, responsible and reasonable one.
For me, I'm not a full time mechanic. All I learned I learned from my grandfather by watching him and spending summer with him in his garage at young age and by serving the Navy. I was a mechanic and a fighter at the Navy but it was 10 years ago. Although a ship isn't a car the basics are the same and I never was afraid of hardworking.
Me along with those 2, Resto books, your help and Google will be invincible.
It's not the best or optimal start. I know. There are no other Z28 I know around here that I can compare too. No one around that is "American muscle genius" and the hardest true condition is that there are no parts store or warehouse around for that kind of parts. I can't just jump to the store and buy a part for this car and there are no junk yards with those type of cars sitting. Everything I'll need will be restored or ordered from places like ClassicIndusries etc. which, again, means 150-250$ international shipping and around 50% tax on the parts.
Yipi-Ya-Yo-Ka-Yeah!
So thank you for letting me share this with you. Thank you for all the help too! After this intro let the journey begin.
This is my Zcorn.
First here are few things for the start... I'm from Israel. So excuse me for any spelling mistakes or if I don't understand full intentions or so (In that case, I use google
).Second, and what makes the story long, those kind of American Muscles were never sold here.
There were a couple of those kind of cars but they were really expensive and rare to see. I believe the mםst of them were self-imported. Only on 80's\90's you could really see some American cars here but mostly pick-ups or family cars like the Ford Cortina or sierras and stuff like GMCs, Chevi Impala etc.
While most of the people around love the pony horse named Mustang (cause of it reputation on films I guess) since a young aged I wanted a Camaro. Always wanted it. Must have it. I guess that Bumblebee version back at 2007 "Transformers" awaken this will. The years passed and we jump to 2015. I lived for a year in California and had 2014 Camaro SS there. Loved it but felt like it was the time to get the real deal. An old non-computerize car
A real rumble sound car.Few months ago at June 2016 I bought my 1980 Z28. I realized I can afford buying it and most important, having time to work on it. It wasn't that easy (or cheap) but in spontaneous decision (and Ebay) I did it!
At the beginning of the process I had some worries cause of some few reasons. I'm going to import a car that was never sold here. Bureaucracy can be a pain at the future.
To import a car to my country there's a 106% (!!!!!!!) tax. So actually it like I bought 2 Camaros (You paid 10K$ on yours? for me it's 20k$) And of course add the over seas shipping, towing and all to it (I did all by myself and not with a shipping agent to spare cash).
And last but not least, since the Camaro wasn't sold here, there's not a real mechanic here that really know the car that really know the manufacture demands and taking care of the details of the small things like putting the original screws\ bolts. Stuff like this that symbol the different between beautiful to perfect. And as I said this Z is my unicorn.
Lucky me, I'm coming from mechanics family. My grandfather have one of the first garages in Israel. He used to work on European cars mostly like Renault etc. He is 87 (!) awesome amount of knowledge and for the last 20-25 years he did mechanical restorations for special clients. He built over 20 Mercedes, Jaguars, Peugeots etc. He built rare cars that used in some Hollywood film I can't remember and long time ago Ferrari wanted him to be their lead mechanic in Israel. Although he worked on some Chevy, Dodge, Ford engines at the past, we never restored American Muscle but he have so much knowledge that I will never have. He is a different era kind of mechanic a very stubborn one. No rounding corners so I know I'm lucky that he is the mechanic that leading our team.
Must say we never did cosmetics restos. Only mechanic ones and for me, the mechanic is what important. Cosmetics will wait since it's not effect the car running and it can wait for extra cash
Second on the team is my dad. Electric engineer and full of general wisdom of how stuff works so he's doing all the electricity for perfectness, interior stuff etc. While my head and thoughts are going all crazy and hyperactive, he is the calm, responsible and reasonable one.
For me, I'm not a full time mechanic. All I learned I learned from my grandfather by watching him and spending summer with him in his garage at young age and by serving the Navy. I was a mechanic and a fighter at the Navy but it was 10 years ago. Although a ship isn't a car the basics are the same and I never was afraid of hardworking.
Me along with those 2, Resto books, your help and Google will be invincible.
It's not the best or optimal start. I know. There are no other Z28 I know around here that I can compare too. No one around that is "American muscle genius" and the hardest true condition is that there are no parts store or warehouse around for that kind of parts. I can't just jump to the store and buy a part for this car and there are no junk yards with those type of cars sitting. Everything I'll need will be restored or ordered from places like ClassicIndusries etc. which, again, means 150-250$ international shipping and around 50% tax on the parts.
Yipi-Ya-Yo-Ka-Yeah!
So thank you for letting me share this with you. Thank you for all the help too! After this intro let the journey begin.
This is my Zcorn.
