1971 Chevrolet Camaro RS

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!