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…
I’m dreaming of when this was just a used gas guzzler in the ‘80s being sold for $3,000….
Stick, 4.11s, and a big block .. equaled replacement motor. Would’ve loved to seen a pic when it rolled off the lot. That 4sp. option was a pricey number. Really enjoyed the article, thanks Fitch 👍
Don’t believe the sellers claim of 4.11’s, the window sticker shows positraction, but there s no reference to optional gear ratio. They’ve had plenty of opportunity to verify the partial VIN stamped on the transmission and checking the code on the axle tube, but have done neither. Chevrolet also didn’t list 4.11 gears for 12 bolts, only 4.10. You also wouldn’t expect that short of a gear with AC. Best case scenario, they are being lazy.
The price is high for an L34 car in this condition, maybe you could see it with an L78, but based on how they price their inventory, it’s not surprising.
Steve R
The writer and some readers on here need to go back and reread the listing. No where does the seller claim the car has a 4:11 rear. Included in the listing is the 1970 order form for the car showing the buyer tried to order it with M-22, HD clutch and 4:11 rear, but this has been circled by someone at the dealership and marked “N/A” – aka Not Available.
All 396/350’s (actually 402) in 70 Camaro’s came with an open 3:31 rear, with or without AC. Positraction was optional but the ratio remained the same. The 4:10 (not 4:11) was only available in the Z/28 (the standard rear in Z/28’s was the 3:73). The M-22 was also only available in the Z/28.
Does anyone else think this was likely ordered by a soldier, possibly just returning from Viet Nam? The car was bought for cash and with no trade in, which was pretty common at that time for people upon discharge from the service, and/or at the completion of their overseas tour. I had two friends who ordered 70 SS 454 Chevelles in California as soon as they returned to the states, not even waiting until they got back to NJ. Other friends waited until they returned home to order their new Camaros, Mustangs, GTO’s, etc. The common denominator was they all had cash and no trade in after being in the service serving outside the US.
Agree….they are always high price at American Steal Clasics and short a window ! Pretty sure the HP 350 of this year would walk all over that big block….or around it…..
Damn! Should have on to that one! Picked one up in 1985 for a thousand bucks and it looked 10 tens better than this 42k car , no engine, black prime on entire car. Interior was almost perfect. True SS/RS 4spd with split bumper and rear spoiler 12 bolt Camaro. Picked up junkyard 325 HP 396 for $250 and drove entire Summer before selling. The good ole days. One thing I do recall was it had the worst understeer of any car I never had. 2 sand bags in trunk to prevent the nose from dipping and the rear raising when taking corners.
Love the 70-73 Camaros. 396, 4 speed, 4.11s…can’t imagine what happened to the original big block. LOL
According to the Power Teams chart contained in the 1970 Camaro sales brochure, the only available rear axle ratio for the 350HP 396 was 3.31:1 (4-speed and Turbo Hydra-matic)
It’s not listed on the sticker either.
we have another 1 from this overpriced dealer. 42k to get in the game then another 50k to get to look new. it’s neat and has paperwork but that’s a lot of time and money to get the finish line. for that money you can buy 1 done.
Non matching numbers in a car like that is a instant value kill to purists. Mind as well be a roller with the paperwork.
Glad others have cited the axle ratio descripency. Even if offered you wouldn’t have gotten a 4.1 gear with a/c. The car is otherwise a candidate for restoring. Not many big block 4-speed Camaros were coming out of the factory in 1970 with the strike and all.
It does have a nice drivetrain with A/C and the floor pans are clean but price is a little high.
Best years but I hope that’s the price with a restore ? Just asking lmao maybe 25 at best it’s a big block car but not original motor hmmmmm?
Might not be the original rear end either
When I first saw the asking price, I thought that these cars are now out of reach of mere mortals.
Then I saw the seller’s name – so much of their stuff, at least the stuff we see here at BF, is vastly overpriced. I guess that’s the norm these days. Start impossibly high and take an offer, or sit on inventory for an awfully long time.