Expanding the success of Chevy’s first-generation Camaro pony car meant delivering a successor that tempted existing Camaro fans to upgrade while attracting new buyers as well. This 1970 Camaro SS/RS combined vicious performance with at least one surprising luxury rarely found in a big block four-speed with 4.11 gears: air conditioning! The never-restored Celeste, Texas classic needs a complete overhaul, but it’s pretty close to a Holy Grail for 1970 Camaro fans. Check out more pictures and details here on eBay where one click on Buy It Now and $42,000 inks the title in your name. If that’s too high, try your chances with the Make offer button.
Horsepower numbers in the classic muscle car age generally peaked in 1970, and this car’s original L34 396 cid (6.5L) Mark IV big block made 350 HP and 415 lb-ft of torque. While the solid-lifter L78 version came in at 375 HP, the L34 would have been the top choice for most street-driving Camaro buyers. The seller describes this 396 as a “counter exchange” block without listing which L34 parts survived the transplant.
With no spoilers, flares, or body cladding, only SS 396 badges call out this Chevy’s high-powered potential. Factory Soft-Ray tinted glass combined with air conditioning suggest someone ordered this original California car for cruising in between doses of tire-melting acceleration.
The sun-cracked dash and tired interior call for a complete replacement, but the metal looks mostly solid. Here we see some of the original code 75 Cranberry Red paint.
Nothing underneath will frighten potential buyers more than the Buy It Now price, but this car already runs, drives, and stops, according to the listing. Other than COPO cars and L78s, this L34 big block four-speed car ranks high on lists of most valuable second-gen Camaro packages. Hagerty has the L78 cars over $80,000. With its RS (Rally Sport) package, four-speed, factory 4.11 gears, and air conditioning, this L34 should rival lesser-equipped L78 cars.
The RS split-bumper front gives an aggressive look, though some prefer the standard SS grille. If that’s self-etching primer, you’ll have fun salvaging any chrome or plastic that caught the overspray. It’s painful to say, but don’t delay your restoration, because values are more likely to go down than up (relative to inflation) as buyers who lusted after these cars in their youth age out of the market. Would you roll the dice on this interesting SS/RS project or save your money for one in better shape?
Wow, a true split bumper Camaro SS!!
Love this generation of Camaros!
While this is a desirable car, it will take serious money to bring this car back to it’s former glory. Even Helen Keller could see that $42k is way off. $30k would be about right, not to mention, the original engine is gone. A “CE” is the next best thing, but it’s not the original, which detracts from the price. Other than that, with the solid sheet metal, floors and truck, this is the perfect project for a resto, if you get it for the right price.
Dream a little dream of me…. We can all dream, and the seller is dreaming on that price. Non original motor…