Vehicle Description
Don't bother building your own resto-mod Camaro, this 1972
Chevrolet Camaro has already set the bar and is available for a
fraction of the price. With an awesome vintage look and the moves
of a brand new car, it's exactly what every guy dreams of when he
starts talking about engine swaps. Read on and find out what
awesome really looks like.
Hugger Orange is probably the definitive Camaro performance color,
and if you're going to build a car of this caliber there's no point
in trying to hide it. Second-gen Camaros don't get the full
treatment as often as the early cars, and that's a shame because
not only do they handle better, but they just look fast even
sitting still. A tall cowl-induction hood certainly helps, as do
the white Z/28 stripes, but beyond all that you'll also find that
the workmanship is quite good throughout this car. Good panel gaps,
lots of block sanding for a first-rate finish, and two-stage
urethane all give this car a bright finish that looks great now and
would really pop with a professional buff. The Z/28 spoilers fore
and aft give it a factory high performance look, and you won't have
any worries about rising to the challenge should someone want to
give you a go at a stop light.
At first glance, the interior is pretty stock, but then you start
to see where the upgrades happened. The high-back bucket seats are
authentic and probably barely sufficient for the cornering forces
you'll experience but they look right in the vintage F-body, so
they remain in place. A custom center console looks like it comes
from a late-model and includes a storage compartment and cup
holder, not to mention the all-important 5-speed manual shifter.
The original dashboard was filled with Auto Meter gauges in a trick
carbon-fiber panel and there's a modern A/C system that's just as
effective as the original. Entertainment that isn't delivered by
your right foot comes courtesy of a JVC AM/FM/CD stereo head unit
powering a pair of big 6x9 speakers on the rear package shelf. The
back seat looks like it's never been used and the trunk is properly
finished with a reproduction mat.
But the biggest upgrade in this car is the hardware, a 376 cubic
inch LS3 V8 from a late-model Corvette. Rated at 430 horsepower,
the all-aluminum powerplant offers a tantalizing combination of
modern tech and retro simplicity. There's an Edelbrock intake and
Holley carburetor, so you're spared the complexity of a fuel
injection system, but the factory ignition system, complete with
MSD controller, manages the spark. Up front there's a factory-style
serpentine belt drive for improved reliability and NVH, and a
slick-shifting Tremec 5-speed manual transmission that totally
transforms the car. A custom exhaust system with Flowmaster
mufflers offers the most spectacular sound this side of Daytona and
with 3.55 gears out back, it's plenty punchy around town but
cruises effortlessly at highway speeds and beyond. The suspension
and brakes are fairly stock, so servicing them should be easy and
the big 17-inch Torque Thrust wheels add grip and an old-school
look that's exactly right for a car like this. Giant 275/40/17
front and 285/40/17 rear Nitto radials provide both an awesome
stance and impressive grip.
You couldn't duplicate this car for twice the asking price and once
you experience the incredible torque of the late-model V8, you'll
be hooked for life. Call now!
