The second-gen GM F-car held a performance torch through some of the darkest times in gearhead history. When they debuted for the 1970 model year, the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird started off strong, and by the end of the run in 1981, were among the very few left standing, and two out of three that hadn’t taken a break…the Mustang II had kept the name alive, and AMC’s AMX badge had jumped from the Javelin to the Concord before settling on the Spirit for it’s final seasons. Regardless of what year you pick from, there’s always a solid reason for the second-gen F-body. Yes, even the mid-disco ones…Pontiac kept the performance flame alive as long as possible, and while Chevrolet did put the Z28 on hiatus for a couple of years, they soon realized that was a bad move and brought it right back.

While digging through the treasure trove that is the 2018 Mecum Kissimmee auction, we found two very high points of the second-gen that would make for a perfect choice. One was the dream of an engineer who was known for pissing off the padded-roof club within Corporate, and the other is a semi-clone of a one-of-one build that nobody is going to see in the United States anytime soon, we suspect. Here are your two options:

1. 1974 Chevrolet Camaro Baldwin-Motion Phase III tribute

Officially, there is only one 1974 Baldwin-Motion Phase III Camaro. It’s this color blue, with black stripes, the lower L-88 style scoop, monster slot mags, side pipes and a black vinyl roof. If you ever want to see it in person, it’s somewhere near Tehran, Iran, where it’s been since it left the United States in 1974. Good luck. 1974 was the beginning of the “shovelnose” Camaro and the last year of the small rear window, and was well after any real hot Camaro was available on dealer lots. So why is this phantom build have our attention? A 350 sporting a B&M 174 blower, a four-speed and a brand-new full Type LT interior combine to make a decent offering. It still needs slots or Cragars, and about three-quarters of lift in the back for the right look, but it’s not a bad start! Just because the Feds shut down Motion doesn’t mean you can’t act like they didn’t.

2. 1980 Pontiac/VSE Fire-Am

Herb Adams is a name you need to know. He’s the guy responsible for the engine program that became the 1973-74 Pontiac Trans Am Super Duty, and he’s the guy that got second-gen F-cars to handle via the WS6 suspension system. He’s also the guy behind VSE, the company that cranked out Cheverras and this gem, the Fire-Am. We’d tell you about stock details, but with this car, we won’t bother. It’s better than new: a 1971 block that is now displacing 469ci is hooked to a TH350 with a 3,100 stall converter and a 3.73 rear that will spin both tires all day long. You get all of the suspension goodies that VSE could throw at it, a powerplant that makes you forget the bad parts of the 1970s, the looks that bring back the good parts, and a soundtrack that is timeless. Get in, grab that wheel with one hand and the Hurst Dual-Gate with the other, and go lay some rubber.