1969 Camaro Restoration: From Rust Bucket to Show Winner

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When Texarkana resident Jake Morrison pulled this 1969 Camaro out of a barn in Red River County three years ago, it was missing its engine, had quarter panels eaten through with rust, and hadn’t run since the Reagan administration. Today it wins trophies. Here’s how he did it.

The Find

Jake spotted the car through a Facebook Marketplace listing — the owner had inherited it from his father and just wanted it gone. $3,500 cash and a trailer ride later, the project began.

Body Work

The rust situation was significant but not catastrophic. Jake sourced reproduction quarter panels from Classic Industries and had a local body shop handle the metalwork over six months. Total body cost: approximately $4,200.

Drivetrain

Rather than restore the original 327, Jake chose a budget LS swap — a junkyard LQ4 6.0L from a Silverado for $800, rebuilt at a local machine shop for another $1,200. The swap makes an estimated 380 hp on pump gas.

Result

Total build cost came in around $22,000 — and the Camaro has since taken first place in its class at two ArkLaTex car shows. Jake says he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.