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Slide Show: Cruise Night car of the week Q & A

Steve Shauger, 54 of Baiting Hollow owns the News-Review Cruise Night car of the week for September 8. Scroll down to see what he had to say about his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.

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Q: When did you get the car?
A: I bought this car in 1999. I paid $25,000. It was $4,119.45 when it was brand new. The original owner was Gerry Nelson — he purchased it via satellite communication (Tech Controller) while he was stationed in Vietnam.  He bought it at Park Chevrolet in Asbury Park, N.J. When he got back home from Vietnam in October 1968  it was sitting in the dealership showroom.

Q: What shape was it in?
A: It is all original — paint, carpeting, wiring and even the tires. It only has 24,900 miles on it. It has an original eight track player. I have 7 cars, all Camaros, so I only drive it a couple times a month. I just bought back the car I owned in 1976, also a ’69 Camaro. I just bought back my first muscle car that I owned in 1976, also a ’69 Camaro RS/Z28.

Q: What was the biggest challenge in restoring it, and did you do the work yourself?
A: I’m just a caretaker. I have four survivor cars, all original Camaros — yellow, white, blue and green. I do all the mechanical caretaking myself. I haven’t restored a car in five years and that last one took me five years.

Q: What’s your favorite thing/feature on the car?
A: They are just something that attracted me — it was the styling. They are really refined. 1969 was an iconic year for Camaros. They won the Trans Am racing series in 1968 and 1969. In fact I’m from Pennsylvania and the Penske race team which won was located in my hometown.

Q: What was the first car you owned, make and model?
A: It was a 1966 Ford Galaxy 500. It was a hand-me-down from my sister Carol and brother Dean in 1974.

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Steve Shauger, 54 of Baiting Hollow's 1969 Chevrolet Camaro