LS1-Swapped 1967 Camaro is the Perfect After-Christmas Gift

Early Camaro could use some paint work, but the build details make it sound like a fun cruiser.

While flipping through the LS1Tech Marketplace, we came across this 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, listed by “pontiackid”. The paint job is 25 years old and it is showing its age, but the built LS1 and the extensive chassis work make this an awesome street-and-strip car. A little body work and a new coat of paint would make this a sweet restomod show machine, but for someone looking for a straight first generation Camaro to drive and race, this could be the best Christmas present that you will ever give yourself.

The Introduction

When the OP listed his 1967 Chevrolet Camaro for sale earlier this month, he started with a basic introduction followed by extensive detail into the key modifications.

“1967 camaro ls/t56 swapped. 19k on it when I got it in 2014. Doors shut like new. I Have original cluster to prove miles when was it bought. Interior is pretty nice. The Cars paint is older and from 83. Does have a fiberglass front clip. Must see to appreciate. Just had it appraised in August. Now this doesn’t have heat or ac. Has maybe 300 miles on it since ls swapping it. Could be tuned more yet.”

The OP also included 10 pictures of the classic muscle car inside, outside, under the car and under the hood. As you can see, the paint is far from perfect, there are some odd ‘80s graphics on the rear quarter panel and it is hard to tell whether the paint is beat up behind the wheels on the passenger side, or if the seller didn’t bother to wash the car before taking these pictures. In any case, this Camaro doesn’t look bad by any means, but the paint is rough enough to turn off a car show buyer who doesn’t want to get into body work.

On the other hand, the undercarriage and engine bay look incredible. The inner fender wells have been removed, but all of the custom work appears to be very cleanly done. The underside is just as clean, with everything finished in silver or black. Really, the undercarriage looks factory-clean, although there is very little on this car that came from the factory.

The interior looks pretty solid in the pictures, with a factory look aside from the Dakota Digital gauge cluster.

The Drivetrain

The heart of this 1967 Camaro is an LS1 that has been upgraded with TMS cylinder heads, a TMS custom camshaft, ARP head bolts, an F-Body oil pan, MSD ignition components, a ported LS6 intake manifold and many other accompanying parts. Also, helping this engine breathe and announce its presence is a set of SpeedTech headers and a full Magnaflow stainless steel three-inch exhaust system. There are no power numbers offered, but in this lightened-up first generation Camaro, this LS1 should make for a quick street car.

The power is sent to the rear wheels by means of a T-56 manual transmission with internals from a Dodge Viper and a “Spec stage 4 clutch”. A 9-inch rear end that has been narrowed 1.25-inches on each side and fitted with 4.30 gears helps put the power to the ground with help from a set of Weld 177 wheels measuring 18-inches by 9.5-inches.

In addition to the new differential, this Camaro also features Wilwood front brakes, tubular A-arms, Viking coilover front suspension, Viking rear shocks, Hotchkis 1.5-inch lowering leaf springs in the rear and subframe connectors.

This 1967 Camaro is listed in the marketplace for $32,000, so it is far from a budget-buy, but if you have some money left over from the holidays and you are looking to get into a new cruiser for next season, this classic Chevy muscle car could fit your needs.

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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