I heard it before I saw it…the whining that to my novice ear screamed “gear drive”. Being that we were across the road from Gateway Motorsports Park at the Pilot truck stop filling up on ice, it was likely that what Chad and I were hearing could have very well been a reasonably built, blown vehicle. Driving across IL-203 to the gas station isn’t that much of a reach for a race car with plates, and might even be good enough for a warmup for most cars. But as the car came into focus, I realized there was no blower coming, and I was quite alright with that.
I’ve got a thing for 1974-77 Camaros. Blame it on childhood. It was the car that started my whole automotive hobby. A thoroughly rusted 1976 was my first car. And I’d own another in a heartbeat…it might not have the pure sex appeal of a split-bumper, but I don’t care, it’s close enough. And there’s one other reason why these appeal to me: the more “wrong” they are, the more I like them…that doesn’t work for most cars.
Hoodless, showing off the engine for all to admire, painted primer gray with blacked-out railroad tie bumpers, and quarter panels adorned with only the finest rubber spray. Yes, please. This could be a perfectly restored 1977 Z28 four-speed car and I wouldn’t be that interested, but as this monster crept through the pits, the want got stronger and stronger. Yes, those doors weigh a metric ton. But it isn’t a Bumblebee clone (thankfully), but more of a throwback to the Camaros I grew up with: shackled up in the back on an otherwise stock-height car, ready to go make a whole lot of noise at the drop of a hat. This Camaro rules. It’s easy to pick apart what is wrong with the car from a technical standpoint for racing, or to offer up how to make it better as a well-rounded street car that is optimized for being a well-rounded modern machine.
I’m not bothered by that at all. From the gear drive whine to the hoodless attitude, this car wins everything.
Could be the devil himself.
It must be generational, Reminds me of my 77′ Firebird in high school and my friend’s rides. We all had ladder bars, air shocks, and glass packs. I’ve thought about going pro-touring over the years, but every time I get in the bird it’s 1997 all over again.
Always thought it would be fun to built one like that and hide a full built roller 434 under moroso valve covers and brag about my ‘corvette’ motor and 3/4 race cam… would be a joe dirt sleeper..