1973 Camaro is a Perfect Turnkey Street and Strip Car

Monster motor, worked suspension and a custom interior make this Camaro the perfect weekend toy.

Have you ever found yourself at a car show, admiring a classic Chevrolet Camaro that has been customized from top to bottom, but thinking about how you couldn’t imagine undertaking a project like that? There is no question that driving a built muscle car has its advantages over driving a stock car, but not everyone has the mechanical abilities or the connections to create a good street and strip car.

Fortunately, this 1973 Camaro listed on Bring-A-Trailer has all of the work done for you, including a big engine, a modified suspension setup to handle the extra power and a modernized interior that makes this Chevy comfortable for long drives. Best of all, the pricing showcases that this type of build is attainable to most.

Dressed-Up Exterior

On the outside, this 1973 Chevrolet Camaro has not been heavily modified, but the owner has added a cowl induction-style hood and a set of American Racing Torq Thrust wheels, with fat drag radials out back helping to give the car a much more powerful stance than it had when stock. It also has the RS split bumper up front and a molded rear spoiler, all working together to make one great-looking muscle car. The bright yellow paint is said to have some stone chips up front, but in these pictures, this Camaro looks show-ready.

Big Engine

Under the hood is a 502-cubic inch GM Performance V8. We don’t know what kind of power it is making, but we know that it is fitted with an Edelbrock intake manifold, a Holley four-barrel carburetor and a set of Hooker headers that empty into full three-inch exhaust.

That crate engine is connected to a three-speed Turbo 400 transmission via a 3,200 RPM stall convertor and the power is sent to the wheel via a set of 3.50 gears. That isn’t a particularly aggressive gear set for drag racing, but it should make for a nice street and strip gear, offering solid acceleration while keeping revs low on a highway cruise. For those hard launches, a set of CalTracs traction bars has been added while the factory front disc brakes coupled with rear drums handle the stopping.

Modern Interior

On the inside, this 1973 Camaro has modern Flo-Fit adjustable bucket seats, a fully digital dash with gauges from Dakota Digital, a CD player, a B&M shifter and the mandatory five-inch racing tach mounted atop the dash board.

The car is also set up for air condition, but the components under the hood have not been installed.

This Camaro has about just a bit of time left for the auction, but that’s not the point. It’s great to see that cars like this are out and able to reached by people not adorned with the silver spoon. A second generation Camaro in this good of shape, with a custom interior and a big block crate motor is well worth the price. Check out more over at Bring a Trailer.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com