Vehicle Description
In the early '80s, muscle cars were on the endangered species list,
with this 1981 Chevrolet Camaro being one of the few V8-powered
performance cars left on the market back then. Like the Trans Am,
they were distinctive and in-your-face, creating a statement about
American performance. Today they're hot collectables for guys who
were there, when owning a car like this made you The Man. Featuring
an upgraded 383 Stroker V8 and a quick-shifting 4-speed manual
transmission, this slick Camaro breathes some much-needed life back
into an era that was always starved for it.
Unlike all the orange and brown and bright blue 2nd Gens, this
bright red actually looks contemporary enough that you won't have
to make excuses for driving it every day. Paint and bodywork is
very solid, probably nicer than what you'd see on the road in the
'80s (especially since so many of these were ragged-out back then),
with only minor imperfections that can be seen upon closer
examination, most of which are on the center of the roof and
difficult to catch. The cowl hood is more aggressive than what
you'd find from the factory, and we love the look, especially when
coupled with the ducktail spoiler out back. All the brightwork and
trim looks new and fresh, including the bright headlight buckets,
with the rocker panel and profile trim doing a great job of
breaking up the red finish just enough to make the car really pop.
The urethane bits match the bodywork nicely, which is something you
couldn't say about all of the originals, a pair of high-visibility
"Camaro" badges have been professionally installed on the front
fenders to complete the look, and the unique lower and upper front
grille set-up is instantly recognizable. If nothing else, the
attention to detail on this car is impressive.
Open the doors and you'll instantly be impressed at the quality of
the cabin, which is a time-capsule from the disco era. Seats,
carpets, door panels, the headliner, and just about everything else
inside this car is original. The vinyl red bucket seats show very
little wear, the carpets are plush and stain-free, door panels are
slick, and the contrasting black dash and middle console do a great
job to break up all that red inside the cabin. Because this Camaro
is a base-model, options are sparse, with a heater and stock AM/FM
radio representing the "amenities", but if you're like us and love
to drive, the 4-speed shifter with a cue-ball knob topper is all
the luxury you'll ever need. The gauges and the bezel they're in
are so crisp and clear they look new, the four-spoke steering wheel
isn't cracked or faded, and, well, if you want a fresh and stock
1981 Camaro, they don't get much cleaner than this. Out back, the
trunk is outfitted with an original black carpet set as well as its
original space-saver spare and jack assembly none of which have
likely ever been used.
Granted, 1981 wasn't the pinnacle of the horsepower wars, but that
doesn't mean that 38 years later, we can't find a little more
horsepower to suit our needs. A perfect case-in-point is the
powerful 383 Stroker that rules inside the engine bay today, a
wicked small block with less than 1,000 miles on it since it was
rebuilt. Punched up with aluminum heads, a performance intake
manifold topped by a 4-barrel carburetor, and a chrome dress up kit
featuring ARP aluminum valve covers and a matching open-element air
cleaner. A full MSD HEI system and updated plug wires ensure the
motor cranks with ease, a big aluminum radiator keeps everything
cool, and thanks to power steering and power front disc brakes,
this car is daily-driver material. Long-tube headers feed a
rumbling dual exhaust system, which terminates in subtle turn-downs
that keep a low profile, which was probably the whole point. A
quick-shifting 4-speed manual transmission delivers the power,
which gets planted by the original 10-bolt rear with easy-cruising,
highway-friendly gears inside. Five-spoke REV wheels look very
sporty and wear fat 205/65/15 front and 215/65/15 rear performance
radials.
With an upgraded powerplant, slick color combination, this 2nd
generation Camaro represents great value in a turnkey classic. Call
today!