Hybrid Tech: 1990 Camaro RS w/ LS1 Swap

 The 3rd generation of Camaro wasn’t the brand’s greatest: cars in the 80s were slow. Even hundreds of ft-lbs of torque won’t make me forget the sub-200 horsepower figures brought about by smog restrictions and fuel shortages. Today’s V8 engines are as efficient as ever, but back then they were like a volcanos plugged by the moon.

I never loved the look of the 3rd gens either. They’re just so 80s. The decade of angles and graphics turned the Camaro into a car whose shape can be replicated with 2x4s. But, as a race car? Now that works. It’s a very functional looking car. A bit angry too. It doesn’t style it’s hair, it just wins fights. If it had any muscle, that is.

Let us give thanks to the era of the engine swap that is now. Yeah, people have been swapping engines forever. You could argue that putting a fast horse out to stud was the first form of it. But right now it’s “in”. As soon as a new car comes out, someone is swapping in a bigger engine.

And that is why this 1990 Camaro RS, currently for sale on eBay, is one of the good ones. It has an LS1. I know it’s not the greatest of the LS lineup, but it’s definitely better than anything that was offered from the dealership. Put a manual in it and you have yourself a fun little track/canyon car.

Zack Klapman is a Senior Editor for The Smoking Tire, and  produces “TUNED” and “BIG MUSCLE” on the /DRIVE Network. He can be found on Twitter.