After being rudely rolled into the harsh sunlight, this 1974 Chevrolet Camaro comes to market with optimism and minimal rust. The Denton, Texas classic features white paint, some ’80s upgrades, and a two-tone white and black interior. The listing here on eBay features an admirable array of pictures and a spartan description, but the V8 automatic Chevy looks largely complete and undamaged, with some non-structural rust. The motor “turns over,” and the seller confesses their lack of expertise, evidenced by the farcical VIN submitted to eBay. Two bidders have the Camaro’s value over $1500 so far.
The windshield shows a “$3800” asking price, perhaps from the previous sale, two years ago according to the listing. Credit the seller for washing this Camaro to reveal this slice of ’80s awesomeness. Jazzed up during a time when GT stood for “Goofy Tape,” this big-bumper pony car does not disappoint. Weld-style aluminum wheels with fake knock-off centers and pink-to-purple stripes tell the world that a suave player pilots this hairspray-era cruiser. You’ll be as fresh as Wonderbread behind the wheel of this sweet ride. Crank up Ratt or Poison and ignore the crackle from those department-store 6x9s.
Though thoroughly roached out from the Texas sun, the white-and-black interior shows a hint of its former glory. What looks like an air-conditioning dash suggests the car came with a chiller, though the compressor has flown the coop under the hood. These two-tone interiors look sharp when well-kept or refreshed, adding a touch of class above the oh-so-common black void of many sporty car cabins. You can almost picture the former owner’s satisfied smile after carefully layering electrical tape over the torn-up arm rest on the center console. Bitchin’ tape fix, dude!
A nondescript V8 probably lost more than its air conditioning compressor during the days when eliminating 50 or 60 feet of vacuum tubing and emissions equipment was often thought to be the miracle cure for smogged-up low-horsepower motors that never idled right and bogged when you hit the gas. This is probably the 305 cid (5.0L) version of Chevy’s venerable small-block V8, and nothing will put a grin on the new owner’s face faster than replacing it with one of myriad available crate motors.
A tall rear spoiler completes the look. Rattle can primer shows that someone cared enough to spend $6 and five minutes splattering gray paint on this Chevy before returning to their Knight Rider marathon. Other pictures show a black spray attack in the trunk and engine compartment. While Second-Gen Camaro greatness faded before this unit hit the streets, it could make a comeback as an entry-level DIY project. Investors will immediately pass, leaving the door open for a retirement or multi-generational project car. How would you build this second-gen project Camaro?
This Camaro is rougher than it looks in the pictures. The trunk and area under the rear seats have signs of rust which means a leaking rear window. Signs of rust on both rear lower quarter panels under the primer as well as rust on the front fenders. Rust on the floors. As mentioned AC dash, but the heater box in the engine compartment is for a non-AC equipped car. Center bolt cast iron heads, manual windows, fake Centerline wheels, the bidding shouldn’t go much higher.
Steve R
I noticed the center bolt valve covers right away! Those are around 1986 and newer heads /engine.
who really cares your not buying it anyway so shut up ford lover .
What’s the point of your comment? How often do you see someone whose aspirations are bigger than either their wallet or skill set? I’ve owned several early second generation Camaros and Firebirds, when starting out bought mistakes bigger than this one, that’s always been something easy to do, especially when a car appears to have a low entry price point.
Steve R
Kinda harsh , dude. Not to mention most folks on BF aren’t buying the car discussed. We’re here because we’re motorheads and we like to look at cars and discuss them. Maybe you ought to roll down your t shirt sleeves and relax. :)
Put the dirt back on it, plus a little more dirt.
Maybe a high school shop project Fitch. Glad to see some of your articles again.
$1500 is way to much for this scrap metal. There are more than enough Camaros out there. This one is ready for the crusher.
Basket case.
The crusher ?!?
a straight, US made, complete Camaro ..
whats the problem ??
Its not junk AT ALL .
What IS junk is all the toyotas and kias too many so called americans are so quick to sell out and buy.
This car is very straight, and dsspite so e minor rust, its solid. Put a 5.3 in it and it would be all fun, smiles, and converstion. That ’86’ motor is likely a 350.
Despite the “big” bumpers, theyre not that big, well designed and placed. Really nice looking grill and tail lights.
One cant buy a used civic for 1500, this is worth much more and will sell for more ; we will all see so soon.
Not a 305 unless a former owner put a 305 in it, the 305’s were not put into Camaros until 1976.
I absolutely love the write up Todd. My 75 Camaro was absolute disco as well. Pink with two-tone blue wave-like Graphics going down both sides. Weld Racing Wheels all the way around it. That was a really nice car and I really liked it a lot. It even had a pink roll bar inside. I ended up putting an LS small block in it and it turned into a really nice little hot rod when I was done. Had to sell it to save my home. Might sell my Dodge Magnum and have a go at this one. Try to relive those days again for a minute. I like the smaller back window of the 74 better anyway although some people complained that they couldn’t see because of the blind spots. As far as I’m concerned those are the people that don’t know how to use side mirrors. Just my opinion. Not sure about the motor in this one though as it has the vortex style heads on it. It’s definitely newer than the car. With the stock four barrel and all it might be a pickup truck 350 small block which still doesn’t push any horsepower in reality because of the era. But anything can be upgraded.
Those are not Vortec heads, just run if the mill center bolt heads. The bolt pattern is Vortec for the intake manifold it’s a common mistake, than can turn costly very quickly when someone orders a bunch of parts or does a build without proper research.
If the block is an 86 or 87 and newer block it can support later model factory style roller cam at a significant savings over converting an early block.
Steve R
Steve R ur a regular annoying know it aren’t you?
Thank you for the info Steve R. Learn something new everyday.
Some of us wish we could relive the old days with one we foolishly sold. Never forget the old timer traded his old pickup for a new one. Then went back to get his old one back only to find it sold. Hang on to them for a while. Stop the regrets.
I wish I could be the buyer as well but would be on the back burner for a long time with my other projects. I’m a camaro lover and 3rd gens are what I own and like the most ,however 74 is my favorite non 3rd Gen, I also love the small back window. I’ve had a “popular” 71 camaro,2 -’74s and 3 -’75s . I hope someone doesn’t buy this car and molest her by swapping out the rear taillight panel with a 70-73 . I also have 2 magnum wagons , my rt is sitting waiting for me to pull her hemi and Trans to start her LS swap my 3.5 is my cruiser but put an LS in this car clean up her interior,put vette ralleys and make her a weekend cruiser. Doesn’t need restored but if she was a 1st Gen or early 2nd Gen everyone would say omg restore completely no matter the condition. Those are beauties but I’ll take a 74-77 (prefer the 74) over them any day as I dont buy anything for its value only what I personally like
I had a 1974 Camaro LT with 350cu.in 2 barrel carb, auto Hurst”duel-gate” tranny. I was still in high school and this was my “dream car”.
Coolest car around. Black with red side stripes like “Starskey & Hutch” car. All red interior. I loved it, at that time even though it was plagued with mechanical problems. Almost 50 years later, now I’ve had a 1968 SHELBY GT 350 California Special and now have a 1996 SHELBY COBRA GT500 SVT convertible that I bought from Carroll Shelby himself. He was a friend of my Dad’s. But I still have dreams about that ’74 Camaro. Go figure!!
That’s not the original motor…it’s a 1992or 91 305..vortec head motor..probably a truck motor..this whole car has been ripped apart with non…orig parts.just to make it run..has a whole lot of needs..r
No 74 camaro has 1992 heads on the motor..this is a truck motor vortec head motor..it’s small prob a 305.motor..people try to hide stuff for a quick sale on a kid with some money..nothing in this motor is real camaro..it’s truck parts.
I appreciate the knowledgeable comments above. I don’t have the experience to identify one GM V8 from another…but the overriding conclusion is that this one is a bit of mutt, a “Bitsa” (“bits o this, bits o that…”) as they used to say about the old British motorcycles that had been around a long time and had parts from various different models and years improvised to keep them on the road. …
not a good economic candidate to restore then….. I was just thinking it might make a good start point for a 24-hours of Lemons racer, if it were closer to me…??
For a car to be eligible to race in any 24 hours of Lemons race the purchase price and preparations must not exceed $500, excluding safety equipment. This car, even if free wouldn’t make that cut.
Steve R
Good article and great comment volley!
Put the dirt back on it and add more. What a hoot.
Matt, from SD ?, had a Torino ?..
That would be one of my doppelgangers. I visited SD once, but I wasn’t sober.
Seriously though, I grew up in Michigan.
I purchased a 1974 Camaro brand new back in the day. It was white with a red vinyl interior. That red interior was so bright that it would blind you at night when the door was opened and the dome lights came on.
Mine had the 350 4 bbl, TurboHydro automatic, sport mirrors, hidden wipers, HEI delete, AM radio, and rally wheels. IIRC, it also had a 3.08 rear axle and because it had the 4 bbl it also had dual exhaust outlets coming out of the transverse muffler. I got about 16 mpg with that combo.
I still have the window sticker around here somewhere.
Hello, Derek Bieri.
Car Bob yes….u nailed it feller….
Thanks. Love his show Roadworthy Rescues.
🤣🤣🤣lmao.