It is rumored the Luciano Pavarotti might bid on this 1973 Chevrolet Camaro that can be seen here on eBay that is fitted with opera windows. The Buy It Now Price is $15,500 with 15 days left in the bidding. As you might expect, this car is a Los Angeles, California car and, as reflected by the pictures, is rust free and very clean. Check out this time capsule.
The Camaro is loaded with air conditioning, power brakes, power steering and automatic transmission. The hydraulic lifter 350 cubic inch V8 engine for 1973 generated only 145 horsepower in its base version. Two optional versions of the 350 cubic inch V8 engine generated 175 horsepower and 245 horsepower. Other optional motors were a 250 cubic inch 6 cylinder engine and a 307 cubic inch V8 engine.
The green vinyl interior is in excellent condition and looks spectacular. The console appears to be black which matches the steering wheel and vinyl roof. Does anyone know if the console should be green? My first car was a 1973 Camaro that I bought for $900 in 1980. It was maroon and the car was already worn out in its short life. It was a three speed standard transmission and, when I pushed in the clutch, the whole subframe moved forward! I put every week’s paycheck in it and sold it a year later for $700 and it was still running around town 10 years after I sold it.
For 1973, Chevrolet built over 96,000 Camaros during the year which is pretty impressive considering GM officials were thinking of ending the production of the Camaro and Firebird. If you had a car like this, please share your story below.
I guess it’s a case of to each their own. The Opera windows do make it unique and the car appears to be in excellent shape. The Windows just don’t do anything for me.
Built for the man who can’t decide between a Camaro and Lincoln Continental, i guess?
I’m assuming this was a dealer-installed option? In any case, despite my general love for early 70s Camaros (my first car was a ’71), this is a really unfortunate modification.
I would like to know more about the opera window as well! Is it factory? How many were produced? Also, Luciano Pavarotti died 13 years ago. Maybe he’s putting ghost bids in?
no!
Now thats funny !!!!!!!!
Yes! Factory option. When you ordered this in 1973 you got the handlebar assist steering wheel attachment as seen here, plus the opera windows. Very rare.
Looks like a nice clean Camaro, 350-145 was and is a disgrace, welcome to the smog era. It would be much work to take those awful windows out, shame. sure reduces the value. stay safe.
cheers
GPC
You have to remember that GM changed the way they rated horse power in 1972, going from a gross to net rating. The 73 L-65 2 bbl 350/145 is nearly identical to 1971’s L-65 2 bbl 350/245, except for the way it was rated.
I think that issue still persists with some car owners stating chassis dyno numbers, and others stating engine stand dyno numbers.
A relatively inexpensive solution to “repair” the opera windows would be a new vinyl top. Just cover right over them, nobody would be the wiser. I owned a 1981 Dodge Mirada CMX with the simulated convertible top. This is how American Sunroof Corporation did it.
Man, I LOVE Miradas! Was it an awesome car? What color? I saw a fantastic restored deep blue colored one at the Iola old car show last summer, I was in love, still am I guess.
I love Miradas!!!!
Some of the large triangle quarter windows on the Colonnade GM cars had a thin plastic panel that covered all but the square windows and were topped over with a vinyl roof .I’m guessing it was to use of the larger glass quarters as I’ve seen the quarter panels with just the small square hold too .I’ve seen the 75-79 Novas and Volares have the same thing. Though I’m not a fan of the crayola green interior, I would just cover up the opera windows, replace the interior pieces where the glass was and leave the rest of the car alone
I actually laughed out loud when I saw those opera windows. What a ridiculous modification to make to an otherwise very plain Camaro.
Well I would say it was functional, having owned a 1970 Camaro those giant C pillars (B pillars?) did create huge blind spots. I’d like to know if it was a factory option though.
It’s not factory-installed. It’s similar in size and shape to the opera windows used on the Lincoln Mark IV.
Sail Panel I think would be the better term. Yes, I too had a 70 1/2 RS and big blind spot.
My somewhat educated guess is these windows were NOT a factory option. I have been wrong before.
My brother had a 1971 Vega Panel Truck (the wagon but the rear windows were panels) and he put these same windows in the panels. I am not saying it was his best idea, it was one of those 60’s van ideas that bled into the 70’s.
He (my now late brother 10/19) probably would love these. That is why they don’t just make Vanilla ice cream my friends.
Not a factory option. You didn’t see many of these, but they were available aftermarket on any make and model.
Don’t care if it’s a 1 of 1, those opera windows kills that car! Crap like this is why a man shouldn’t let his wife help him order his car.
I don’t think it’s one of one. I recall seeing at least one of these back in the day. This was the personal luxury era so something like this wouldn’t have been surprising.
I imagine it was custom installed when the car was new or near new. GM did not offer this as a factory option.
meh
Obviously not factory, maybe not even dealer installed, but I remember seeing these portholes advertised for sale by JC Whitney. These portholes were probably installed by a convertible top/upholstery shop.
I am not sure that I would agree with other comments here. To my view these holes are akin to the aftermarket sunroofs that appear on many now classic cars. In fact, they give this car a unique look. So maybe they “hurt” the value? Just buy at a price that reflects that but enjoy.
Quite frankly, I would consider that low powered engine a bigger drawback.
A roommate of mine back in 1980, bought a ’71 or ’72 RS with I believe a 307 cid and turbo hydamatic. Blue, black vinyl roof (no portholes) and black interior. She loved that car! She also sold me her ’68 Nova–my favorite car.
Ok about the opera windows. Not everything has to look the same. I like the way it looks PERIOD
Just a trivial FYI. It would be interesting to see Pavarotti bid on this car as he would have to do it from the beyond.
(Luciano Pavarotti b: 1935 d: 2007)
Quirkiness, yeah somewhat. But oh well. It is a nice clean car. As one person said just cover them up, and no one would ever know who didn’t know.
Wow, that’s some crazy A/C line routing. I know it’s factory but how about GM working harder to fit the compressor on the same side as the evaporator box?
Opry windas probably installed at the first used car lot this thing landed on.
Good thing they stopped there! The storm door style style sun roof era was just starting. Installers tended tended toto pick on ugly green cars…
I can see why someone would do it given the huge blindspots these cars have. Chevy went to a curved rear window later on to try to fix the issue or at least make it a little better. That said, I’d rather deal with the blindspots. Wow, that’s ugly.
Actually a very pretty car, inside and out. It would be fun to just cruise around it. Easily worth $3000
:)
The second generation Firebirds could be optioned with factory vinyl tops, but not the opera window. In both cases accessories that do not add an attractive quality to the timeless design. I owned a plain jane 1971 Firebird with a black vinyl top…the only upgrade. Made up for the six cylinder and automatic on the steering column with no console. My dad ordered a 73 Camaro new…green over green. Darker than this example though, and I believe the console in his dark green interior was green not black. Maybe it depended on the build location?
I hate the look of the rear end of this style of Camaros it looks incomplete. I think it needs the rear spoiler added on to the car to make it look better and complete or finished. It’s like adding the stripes on the hood and trunk lid and not on the roof if it’s a hard top it needs the stripes on the roof also if it’s a hard top to look finished or complete.
My Grandpa bought a new 72 Pontiac Firebird with silver exterior, black interior, center console, black vinyl top, 350 cid. When he passed away, my mother had parked it for awhile before giving it to my brother. He eventually had to sell it. I believe it had around 50k when he sold it for about $9,500 back around 2003. I believe it went up to Oregon or Washington from LV, Nevada. The car was originally bought in Albuquerque, NM.
Opera windows were an option, saw several around the area on plain jane Camaros in the late 80’s.
They were only optional by taking the car to a local trim shop to have a van part installed. None came from the Norwood, Ohio plant like that. And that was the only place a 73 Camaro was built.
The console was black. I have a ‘73 from Arizona. Same color. Unfortunately the green interior was trashed from the Arizona heat. But oh man, the car is totally rust free. It’s currently getting a complete interior redo, but the original console was black.
If Luciano bid it would be the first case of from beyond the grave buying but stranger things have happened so some would tell us, cue Twilight zone theme
Fugley .
Odd someone would order wheel covers, vinyl roof, racing mirrors & get the opera windows, but not the optional hidden wipers. Hard to believe that’s a federal required 5 mph front bumper for ’73 – compare it to the one on the ’73 torino!, for ex.
& that the RS front end was not discontinued for ’73 – how could THAT be a 5 mph bumper.
Everybody talking about the opera window but not about the huge asking price.
These were the cars we paid $500 – $1000 for.
Why would the owner think this plain car is worth this, I don’t know.
We paid that kind of money for them in the early 1980s ; you wont find a good one or ever a crappy one for that price anymore. As for the plain jane look- When was the last time you saw one that hasn’t been molested ? So many of these (and other poplar cars) ended up with different engines , wheels , paint ,etc. so finding an original one today is harder to find than a reliable Yugo .
Don’t get me wrong, I love the original hub caps on it, but a plain car does not command big money, like the seller is asking.
Karl wrote: “When was the last time you saw one that hasn’t been molested?” Exactly, Karl! I have a ’72 Sport Coupe that looks just like my first car, which was a ’71. I parted it out in 1983 and everything sold except for the rear bumper and trunk lid which I kept and are now on my ’72. I’ve never been tempted to turn mine into a Z/28 tribute. Not many unmolested Sport Coupes are still around so I enjoy folks checking it out at car shows.
fugly
Howdy from Germany. I really like those portholes, frames fits perfectly to the other chrome trim. Off duty at present “thanks” to Caramba Corona. Now I finally have time to install a sunroof in my ’63 Cad. Top cond., true survivor. Will be 1 of 1 then, just do everything for my future ex-wife.
Wow, I am so far apart from everyone else on this car. I agree with most of you, the opera windows are not a desired variation, but I think this car is a bargain. All the options you could ask for, and yes, a under powered 350. Parts to wake up that 350, are at every parts store, and automotive catalog on earth.
Take off the hubcaps, put them in your garage, and find some used rims to your liking on Craigslist, and the car goes from boring to awesome.
I might try to black out the opera windows, or replace the vinyl top covering them up. Tadaa, you now have a $30,000 Camaro
Just my thoughts, wish I was looking for another car, would definitely look closer at this one.
Can you show us an example of a base Camaro of this vintage commanding $30,000?
I don’t think I have ever seen it approach even close to that number.
Autotrader. Com 5 1973 Camaro’s from 25k to 49k
Nobody is jumping on this at $15,500 buy it now because it is a pig in a poke, a real “acquired taste” type of vehicle. You’d be in it for another $15k just to do the things you suggest BRAKTRCR correctly. That color won’t be easy to blend when fixing the gouge behind the rear fender, not to mention sourcing the interior sail panels in the proper color. Used will be chalky and falling apart, new would have to be dyed to match. Then there is the matter of replacing the wheels with good rolling stock and engine details. You’d spend $30k then and still not have a Rally Sport, Z-28 or even an LT.
1973 called and said stop making fun of their Blind Spot Monitoring System
operamaro