’71 Chevrolet Camaro – £17,495

Standard Equipment

Blue with White Stripes, Blue Vinyl Seats, Front and Rear Seat Belts, 3 Speed Automatic Gearbox and a Wood Rimmed Steering Wheel.

Additional Equipment

This car was fitted with a 650 CMF Holley 4 barrel carburettor, Edelbrock performance intake, camshafts and lifters, tubular headers bringing it up to Z28 specification.  There is a full stainless steel custom exhaust system with adjustable flaps inside the car. The car is fitted with a full set of chrome Vintique alloy wheels.

Model History

The Camaro was launched in September 1966 in a direct response to the run away success of the Ford Mustang and its creation of a new ‘Muscle Car’ sector. Before any official announcement, reports began during April 1965 within the automotive press that Chevrolet was preparing its competitor, code-named Panther.

On 21st June 1966, around 200 automotive journalists received a telegram from General Motors stating, “…Please save noon of June 28 for important SEPAW meeting. Hope you can be on hand to help scratch a cat. Details will follow…(signed) John L. Cutter – Chevrolet Public Relations – SEPAW Secretary.” The following day, the same journalists received another General Motors telegram stating, “Society for the Eradication of Panthers from the Automotive World will hold first and last meeting on June 28…(signed) John L. Cutter – Chevrolet Public Relations SEPAW Secretary.” These telegrams puzzled the automotive journalists.

On 28th June 1966, General Motors held a live press conference in Detroit’s Statler-Hilton Hotel. It would be the first time in history that 14 cities were hooked up in real time for a press conference via telephone lines. Chevrolet General Manager Pete Estes started the news conference stating that all attendees of the conference were charter members of the Society for the Elimination of Panthers from the Automotive World and that this would be the first and last meeting of SEPAW. Estes then announced a new car line, project designation XP-836, with a name that Chevrolet chose in keeping with other car names beginning with the letter C such as the Corvair, Chevelle, Chevy II, and Corvette. He claimed the name, “suggests the comradeship of good friends as a personal car should be to its owner” and that “to us, the name means just what we think the car will do… Go!” The new Camaro name was then unveiled. The Press asked Chevrolet product managers, “What is a Camaro?” and were told it was “a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.”

The Camaro was first shown at a press preview in Detroit, Michigan, on September 12, 1966, and then later in Los Angeles, California, on September 19, 1966. The Camaro officially went on sale in dealerships on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year.

There have been a total of 5 generations of the Camaro.  This particular car is an early Generation II. Introduced in February 1970, the second-generation Camaro was produced through to the 1981 model year, with cosmetic changes made in 1974 and 1978 model years. The Camero had been heavily restyled and became somewhat larger and wider but the Generation II Camaro was similar to its predecessor mechanically, with a unibody structure, front subframe, an A-arm front suspension and leaf springs to control the solid rear axle. Road & Track magazine picked the 1971 SS 350 as one of the 10 best cars in the world in August 1971.

Exterior

It is quite rare for us to have a yank in stock and that is usually because they just don’t cut the mustard when you come to give them a close inspection.  This car has been in the UK since the mid 70′s the body is in exceptional condition with a very good paint finish.  She had an extensive restoration in 2003 which brought the outside back up to spec, but it is the underside which is really impressive.  Finished in Red Oxide (as per factory finish) it has never been under sealed and there is no signs of welding or corrosion. The White stripes are painted on and have crisp edges and set the car off a treat.  The chrome, windows, lights and other brightwork are all in very good condition being free from scratches or other unsightly marks. Knowing these cars as we do we have been very careful to check the body over thoroughly especially in the rear arches, boot floor and going as far as removing the rear window, an area which is the Camero’s Achilles heal.

Wheels, Tyres and Brakes

The car is fitted with a full set of chrome 15 inch Vintique alloy wheels.  These are clothed in a brand new set of 235/60 R15 tyres.  The Camaro has discs up front and drums at the rear.  We have checked the friction parts through and they are in good condition and stop the car very well.

Engine and Transmission

This car has got the 350 cubic inch (5.7 litre) V8 and was treated to an Edelbrock conversion which we believe brought the car up to Z28 specification.  These upgrades included a 650 CMF Holley 4 barrel carburettor, Edelbrock performance intake, camshafts and lifters and tubular headers giving the Camaro circa 330 BHP.  The factory performance upgrade sticker can still be found on the slam panel.  These were a compulsory addition to confirm the output and emissions in the USA at this time.  The engine is very healthy, starting easily and making the 400 mile journey back to base with amazing ease. As with most Camaro’s it is mated to GM’s 3 speed automatic gearbox which changes positively and kicks down quickly when you poke the throttle.

Interior

The interior is a pretty amazing place to be.  There is plenty of room for 4 adults and the bucket seats give good support on a long run.  There is a rally pack which gives you extra gauges and a rev counter bolted to the top of the dash.  The vinyl seats, carpet set and headlining are in good condition as is the rest of the trim.

Road Test

We have had an extensive test drive of the Camaro having brought it down from Aberdeen.  The trip down passed without a hitch using two and a half tanks of petrol at a steady 70 odd all the way.  At this sort of speed the Camaro is hardly breaking a sweat and a stab on the throttle proves that there is plenty of performance under the long hood.

History File

As with all of our cars we have given the Camaro a thorough inspection and found it to be in very good health.  The engine fires from cold easily and keeps an even temperature even when pressing on. On the trip down she did not use any significant amount of oil or water either.

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