Street Machines - Affordable Dreams

Finding any drivable '69 Camaro under $20 large is hard enough, but finding one this nice for significantly less--especially a convertible--warrants some close scrutiny. When we got Thomas and Diana Griego's letter, we were skeptical to say the least. But as we dug into the meat of the letter, it began to make sense. Here's the gist: The story starts in 1998, when the newlywed Griegos initially found their soon-to-be '69 in the possession of a reluctant lady seller. Unable to negotiate the sweet price, Thomas handed over negotiation to wife, Diana, who cracked the deal wide open for $7,500. Even nine years ago, it was a steal, especially with near-perfect paint and top. The running gear, however, was shot, and the couple scored a used '85 Tuned-Port IROC plant on eBay. A 700R4 overdrive from Bow Tie Overdrives was mated to the rebuilt 305, and the restoration was on. When the cash register stopped ringing, the couple was out just $16,281--less than the cost of a new Honda Civic. The Griegos did all the work themselves, save the engine and transmission rebuild. Considering the awesome visual result and the incredibly low build price, we felt a line-item breakdown was in order.