When was the last time you saw a six cylinder 2nd generation Camaro Rally Sport? To top it off, the inline 250 cubic inch 6 cylinder engine in this Camaro is backed by a 3 speed manual transmission and is report to have only 15k miles since new. The 1975 Chevrolet Camaro Rally Sport is a stunning looking car. Even if you don’t like the big chrome bumpers, the two tone paint job is striking. This Camaro RS is located in Torrance, California. The seller is asking a strong $25,500. Many thanks to Rocco B. for finding this rare car.
The interior is all Camaro with the 4 spoke steering wheel, driver focused dash and cloth insert seats. Everything looks stock on the inside and well kept. This car was probably purcashed as a driver with economy in mind with the 6 cylinder base engine and manual transmission. I am glad it has been saved. The fender tag shows Z85 which is the code for a Rally Sport. The car rides on color coded factory Rally II wheels.
This car is equipped with the base 250 cubic inch inline 6 cylinder engine (4.1 liters). This engine was introduced was back in 1966 and in 1975, GM introduced an integrated cylinder head whereby the intake and cylinder head were a single casting. It was rated at 105 horsepower and 185 lb ft of torque. This is also the first year that the catalytic converter as added to the GM passenger car. The optional engines were both 350 cubic inch V8 engines. The first only produced 145 net horsepower and the second was rated at 155 net horsepower.
If you have been looking for a clean 2nd generation Rally Sport, this might be the car for you. It is listed here on Craigslist. This is the first year for the wrap around rear windshield for the Camaro and Firebird. Despite the Z28 option being discontinued, Chevrolet sold 145,700 Camaros in 1975.
I love this Camaro. This was a great write up and Im really glad you folks found it here on Barn Finds. I honestly love everything about this one. Its an RS, the two tone paint, the super clean 250 straight six under the hood, the original 3 speed manual. The interior looks terrific. Im with you Bruce, this one NEEDS to be kept original. This is a Unicorn, how many straight 6 manual trans non base model ( or for that matter and trim level) will you come across in this condition and in this day and age. Id keep it exactly as it sits and enjoy it carefully. Hope it goes to a good new home.
This is the type of beast I spend more time looking at and talking to the owner about at shows. I really appreciate seeing these with rare option combinations and kept as they were when new. I believe the 305 became available a year later (?) which didn’t offer much more power than the 250 I-6.
Driveinstile, I am glad we have the same taste! This is such a great looking car with a unique driveline and nice driver + condition.
Sweet find Rocco! I would definitely keep the straight six, but might upgrade to a 5 speed to keep up with today’s 80 mph highway speeds. Chevrolet six cylinder performance upgrades can be found at 12bolt.com.
I agree with Pat L. Keep the 6 and upgrade the transmission. There’s enough V8 Camaros running around
The only thing that would make this better would be if it was a 3 on the tree. I suspect that feature was long gone by 75, but having had a truck with that setup, I think there is a certain charm or even a mystique about it. And a but of a theft deterrent even beyond having a 3rd pedal
I THINK,I could be wrong, the wrap around rear glass went into production half way through the ’74 model year.
Uncle Ed, you may be referring to the first generation Camaro that was offered with a column shift 3-speed. Although second gens had the automatic selector on the column there was no way to actuate the manual lever with the wrap around dash.
A bit pricey, but I doubt that you would ever find another one any cleaner than this.
I bought a 6 cylinder camero back in the late 80’s, don’t remember for sure what year it was but it was a 76 or 77. The motor didn’t run but I couldn’t pass it up for a 100 bucks. I kinda forgot that I hated camero’s and that one reminded me quickly. Took one hell of a bath on that one before it was over
I’ve said it before. 292 and a five speed.
Has anyone done this swap? 292s are a tall deck block and may have clearance issues in this application. Otherwise I get the idea of a torquey slow turning engine and more gears.
Really nice, but way overpriced. This is the price range of a nice late-second generation Z28. The my raker is starting to soften, makes and models without a strong following are dropping in price and sitting for longer. This car falls into that catagory.
Steve R
With row upon row of small block and LS powered Camaros, you know this six banger is going to get a bunch of double takes.
Nice looking, but pretty ho-hum to us otherwise. I’m sure it’s just what someone out there is looking for, however. We’re still mind-saturated with the over-run of these cars back then.
IMO, too heavy(5 mph bumpers, etc) a car for this 6 cyl & that restrictive cat behind it & emission carb to deal with. Better off in a 1st gen with non emissions carb & turbo muffler & no cat.
Add a turbocharger to the turbo mufflers and this six cylinder would certainly wake up.
Clean! Keep the 6 & warm it up. Not hard to get 250-300 hp out of those 250’s. Had one in a 68 Camaro as my first car & my first engine rebuild.
Very snappy with a stock bottom end, cam, 4 barrel intake, Carter AFB & headers into dual exhaust.
Agree with all regarding the price. Especially since it was likely originally acquired to just be an economy, low speed daily driver. If you’d be able to acquire it at a reasonable price and considering that most here acknowledge that something would have to be done to the engine and transmission to allow it to manage contemporary road speeds, here’s what I’d suggest.
Admitting first of all that I have a lead foot, to make this car fun to drive for me, I would put the six banger on an engine stand and drop in a chesty big horse 327 and five speed transmission and this car immediately becomes a blast to drive. You diminish right away the concerns of some about the weight of the car. I’d be sure that the tires on it would handle high speed travel and that the posi rear end would do the same.
I’d indulge my lead foot in a few off the line challenges and also launch myself onto some open highway from an on-ramp somewhere and find out where the top end of the new drive train was. I’d definitely attend a few car shows.
If I grew tired of driving it and decided to sell it (highly unlikely), I’d put the 327 on the engine stand and the five speed on it’s own stand and replace the six banger and three speed and the car is in it’s uniquely manufactured condition again. Then I’d look for another mid-size bow tie to re-insert my big horse GM drive train and have some new fun.
I remember this Camero. Great looking car. So l guess it comes down to if there’s a buyer out there willing pay the ask for what it is.l personally would understand and have no problem with that if it is.
It’s nice to see one of these so well preserved and documented. Most probable to be the only one like it left.
Wonder why it has so few miles? Probably bought as a 2nd car, or a graduation gift. No older person would’ve ordered this color combo, and no young person would order a 6, back then. A true white elephant.
I can’t believe Chevrolet even offered a six cylinder engine in the Camaro. After all it’s supposed to be a sporty car. For $25,000 the only model I would consider is a 1970-73 RS split bumper. In 1999 I bought a perfect 1972 RS from my brother for $3500 and 25 years later people are asking ten times that. The classic car hobby has really gone off the rails.
Nice Camaro! Price is reasonable to the right buyer and pretty much guarantees no one with intentions to cut it up and drop an LS in it will buy it. You won’t see another like it.