Vehicle Description
We'll admit that Camaros have always been high-profile performance
cars with a reputation, but this 1971 Chevrolet Camaro RS could
probably qualify as a sleeper as well. A freshly rebuilt 350, a new
5-speed manual, a low-key color combination, and a whole bunch of
performance to catch everyone unaware. Isn't that the fun of owning
a fast car? Nobody will ever see it coming.
The second-gen Camaros are gorgeous to look at, but nobody expects
them to be fast. Even better, this one is wearing a very
high-quality paint job in its original Placer Gold, which has the
perfect 1970s look to go with the low-key demeanor. Bodywork is
exceptionally good and even though it was finished nearly 10 years
ago, it's only been driven about 2000 miles, so the paint is crisp,
clean, and bright. It's a California car, so no worries about the
usual metalwork issues and it's unlikely that any car coming out of
a GM factory looked this good in 1971. Panel alignment is excellent
and it's nice to see that it's a real RS with the split front
bumper, but they avoided adding a the Z/28-style spoiler out back,
keeping it very stock-looking. Besides, that low-profile spoiler
always looked more effective. A black vinyl roof is a rare find on
any second-gen F-body, but it works rather well here, adding to the
unthreatening look. All the chrome was refinished, the blacked-out
grille looks great, and original-style "Rally Sport" and "350"
badges were reinstalled on the front fenders.
The interior is no less remarkable, being completely stock but
otherwise not attracting attention to itself. High-back buckets are
correct factory vinyl, the steering wheel should look familiar to
GM fans, and the back seat looks completely unused. Everything
appears to be new or restored, thanks to that frame-off job 10
years ago, and there's' virtually no sign of use since. Original
gauges only cover speed and fuel, so a pair of vintage-looking
Stewart Warner dials were added down on the console, just ahead of
the Hurst shifter for the 5-speed manual gearbox. The original AM
radio is still in the dash and it still works correctly and this
car is equipped with factory A/C, which blows ice cold thanks to a
rebuild and R134a refrigerant. In back, the trunk is correctly
outfitted with a reproduction mat and a full-sized spare tire with
jack assembly.
That is indeed the original, numbers-matching 350 cubic inch V8,
but it isn't the same wheezing 175 horsepower engine it was when it
was new. No, it's been fully rebuilt for combat with more than
$6000 worth of top-end work to make it run like a vintage LT1.
There's a Comp Cams roller valvetrain, a pair of AFR aluminum
heads, a QuickFuel 4-barrel carburetor, electronic ignition system,
and a set of ceramic-coated long-tube headers. All told, it makes
325 horsepower and 375 pounds of torque at the rear wheels; serious
numbers for a vintage small block. It's detailed for show with
Chevy Orange paint, a correct dual snorkel air cleaner, and proper
fittings throughout, so nobody will notice that there's anything
different. The Tremec 5-speed makes it wicked around town but it
cruises effortlessly at highway speeds with a deep overdrive and
fresh 3.42 gears on an Eaton limited slip. There's a new Magnaflow
dual exhaust system, rebuilt suspension with a rear sway bar added,
and absolutely spotless floors. The stance is exactly right and it
sits on a set of correct Camaro wheels and a set of BFG
radials.
So is it a sleeper or a show car? With documents like the original
build sheet, a reproduction window sticker, and a lot of paperwork,
all we know is that it's one heck of a Camaro. Call today!
