Vehicle Description
1973 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Clone
Dubbed "Super Hugger", the second-generation Camaro was an all-new
car with its basic mechanical layout familiar and engineered much
like its predecessor with a unibody structure utilizing a front
subframe, A-arm and coil spring front suspension, and rear leaf
springs. The chassis and suspension of the second generation were
refined in both performance and comfort; base models offered
significant advances in sound-proofing, ride isolation, and
road-holding. The extensive experience Chevrolet engineers had
gained racing the first-generation led directly to advances in
second-generation Camaro steering, braking, and balance.
High-performance configurations were initially available, but the
marketplace changed as the 1970's progressed with fuel crisis,
higher insurance rates, and tightening emissions regulations.
For consignment, a 1973 Camaro, worked carefully to be a Z28 clone,
and the restorer did an A-1 job thanks in part to using either NOS
GM sheetmetal or excellent usedpanels. Purchased by our consignor
in 1984 as his first car and used it, as well....a car. When the
original engine died due to timing chain failure, a snappy 350ci V8
crate engine with some goodies bolted on was added. A 2003
restoration led to a color change with black painted stripes
exterior, new full rear quarter panels, and 15-inch Z28 wheels.
With all of this in mind, you will be able to parade up Main Street
while in the back of your head you will be making money. An
investment in the future if you will.
Exterior
With all its steel panels bathed in a color change from dark red
with silver stripes to retina searing Hugger Orange, a 1970/71 thin
split front bumper with a blacked out oval shaped egg crate grille,
Z28 badge and single headlight flanking on either side, it is as
menacing as they come even down to the chin spoiler hanging below.
A pinned fiberglass cowl induction style hood backs up to a
windshield trimmed in black. Moving to the back, long wide doors
have nicely minded gaps, thin chrome trim strip trimmings for the
base of the doors and body matching racing mirrors. The long
gracefully sloping rear glass and deck has another rear spoiler
attached, and the round taillights framed by a nearly perfect
condition bumper below. Dual wide black painted stripes are racing
rearward from the hood, skip the roof, then continue on over the
trunk lid and rear spoiler, ending at the rear panel where the tail
lighting is. 15-inch black Z28 wheels hold the car off the ground
and are wrapped in staggered width blackwall radials.
Interior
Black plastic and vinyl shows nicely covering the door panels, and
all is looking very good, with only minor scratching of the plastic
on the tops of the doors and shiny handles and a bar actuator
buried in the door. Slipping inside we note an original dash with
all factory gauges mounted within a walnut burl panel and a
tachometer strapped to the steering column. All knobs, pulls and
slides are original as is the padded black dash top and lower black
plastic section of the dash. A shiny chrome Camaro emblem in your
grandmother's script resides on the glove box door and is looking
just fab. In the center area trio of aftermarket gauges where the
factory radio once lived and just below is the chrome shaft of the
B&M ratchet shifter that resides in the long black plastic
console. Correct black vinyl buckets, nice and clean, are now in
front, and in back a 2 plus 2 bench with a black carpeted hump is
running through the lower seat portion of this bench. More black
carpeting is flooding all the floor space, and up top is a tight
headliner in black. A black 4 spoke steering wheel and a black and
silver bowtie badge in the horn area shows off nicely.
Drivetrain
A lift of the long undulating hood and we are met with a RHS crate
350ci V8 with 4 bolt mains. On top is a Holley 750cfm carburetor
and apair of chrome valve covers give us some bling as does the
K&N chrome air cleaner lid. Attached to the back of this mill
is a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission with a shift kit and a
B&M Holeshot torque converter. Meanwhile a 3.31 Positraction 12
bolt rear axle puts the power to the ground. All nice, tidy, and
buttoned up with headers, power steering and soft supple hoses.
Undercarriage
Up in the air we see a well preserved undercarriage. Only minor
surface rust on the usual suspects: suspension components and
around a few of the spot welds. No invasive rust is seen and the
floors are bathed in black rustproofing. Snaking headers are on for
the exhale and the dual exhaust system has been fitted with Turbo
mufflers for that sweet exhaust note. Leaf springs with Southside
Machine traction bars are on the rear and an independent coil
spring set up, lowered 1", gives the ride while power disc brakes
are seen on the front and power drums for the rear. We do note KYB
shocks have been installed as well as polygraphite bushings.
Drivability
My crack decoder and I agreed to a foot race to see who got to
wheel this muscle car. Luckily for me I tied his bootlaces together
under the guise of picking up change in the parking lot. The mill
in this Super Hugger fired right up and I was off to the test track
while leaving my decoder in a cloud of dust and gravel. On the
track this car performed well with good acceleration, nice
handling, a comfortable ride, and excellent bias free braking. A
great test drive overall but not without a few frowns. The heat
does not work as the heater core has been bypassed, the wipers fail
to wipe, the reverse lights do not illuminate, and the speedometer
reads a bit off due to a gear change for the rear.
At first glance a run of the mill Z28 style Camaro, nearly looks
pliable, a sleeper grocery getter. But if we dig deeper, there is
plenty of extra blood , sweat and tears that went into this car on
the mechanical front as well as the body and interior. Very well
done and looking exactly the part. Shall I kick your Mustang ass
now, or later?!
1Q87H3N148273
1-Chevrolet
Q-Camaro
87-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
H-350ci L65 V8 2bbl 165hp
3-1973
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
148273-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
ST 73 1FQ87-1973 Camaro 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BDY N061282-Norwood Body #
TR 775 A51-Standard Black Vinyl Buckets
PNT 74 74-Dark Red
03A-1st Week March
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
