Let’s face it, 1974 was a rough year for sport cars. Emissions had stripped them of horsepower and crash standards mandated big ugly bumpers. I guess in the end it was all for meant for good, but it’s taken 40 years for technology to enable a rebirth of the horsepower wars. One positive thing about the cars built from this era is that you can typically get them far cheaper than their pre-emissions predecessors. This ’74 Camaro LT might have the new and supposedly safer front-end and emission equipment under the hood, but it’s still a V8 powered Camaro. It even has a 4 speed and a fantastic houndstooth interior. The best part though is the current bid of just $1,700 and no reserve! You can find this pony here on eBay in Henderson, Nevada.
For the ’74 model year, Chevrolet installed a new slopped grille and an aluminum front bumper with rubber padding. I’m not a huge fan of the change, but it isn’t the worst thing ever! As a matter of fact, it’s a lot better than some of the other bumper upgrades that came out that year. I also appreciate Chevrolet’s decision to update the Camaro rather than introduce a completely new car, like say, Ford did with the Mustang.
This car is equipped with the good old 350 V8. At this point, it was good for up to 185 horsepower in none Z/28 form. Sadly, this car was equipped with the base V8 with the 2 barrel carb and just 145 horses. Of course, being a 350, upgrading it a bit won’t be a problem. I imagine that’s the same thought that helped sell so many of these. If you were looking to buy a pony car in ’73, why buy a Mustang II with a weak V6, when you could be a Camaro with a 350 V8 that you could back date to pre-emission performance?
Here’s my favorite part of this car, the interior! Look at those houndstooth seat covers. If you ask me, it actually makes this Camaro look more sporting. The blue carpets are bit odd, but it can be changed out easily enough. The seller claims this car only has 20k original miles and while I don’t see any excessive wear to the interior, I’m having a hard time believing the claim. Unless they have some documentation to prove it, I would assume this has 120k miles.
While it isn’t perfect, this Camaro looks like a great buy. We’ve seen the values of second generation Camaros/Firebirds really go up lately, making this seem like an even better buy. Well that is if bidding doesn’t go crazy, but I doubt it will. Even at $3k, this would be a decent buy! I’d want to inspect it carefully for rust, but if it’s as solid as the seller claims, this would be a fun driver and won’t break the bank. Plus, how much fun would it be to climb into those bucket seats and row that 4 speed?
Agree about blue carpet. First thought was to go black but then thought a tan color would really set off that interior. Awesome deal at first glance!
I like it
I’m a big fan of 2nd Gen Camaros and currently own an ’81 Z/28, however, the big bumper era years except for the ’74 Z/28 due to its rarity, seem to be less popular. I have never seen a factory houndstooth interior on a 2nd Gen Camaro and that is quite appealing.
You could back date to pre-emission performance or upgrade to 2016 performance eg. fuel injection and/or turbocharger.
I actually thought about the modern performance while I was writing this up. It’s an appealing option, with more power and better fuel efficiency. If I had a couple extra grand to spend, that’s the route I would go. If your budget doesn’t include that kind of upgrade though, you really can do a lot with the 350 and not have to spend crazy money to get it there.
An LS6 would be cool, but I think a V6 or turbo 4 would be more interesting! So if you went with modern power, what engine are you thinking?
I was a camaro fanatic in my younger days. Had several different ones like this. NEVER heard of or saw one with a houndstooth interior!!
Cool!!!!!
Loads O fun! Great car, nifty styling, and a killer kool interior. Also, not covered in screaming chicken decals is a design plus. This is, clearly, a bow tie bonanza!
Hmmm, I don’t quite know what to think of this.
I realize that EVERYTHING in MN can rust, but there seems to be quite a bit of “lurking” rust on this one.
The other item is the wear at the heel pad; seems excessive for such low mileage.
The tires do look like they could be original though.
But, the “nail in the coffin” is 5 neg. feedback in the last 6 months, all for cars this seller sold…
I agree with Paul. For some reason, my BS detector is bouncing off the needle. Momma said “if it sounds to good to be true…”. And momma is always right.
I took a look at the ebay reviews. Most of them were positive but for those that were negative, didn’t the buyers go see the car in person before they bid? I’ve bought a few old cars that were a pretty good distance from me and rather than believe what the sellers said (they all lied somewhat), I flew out to see and drive the cars myself. I wouldn’t buy a brand new car without seeing it first much less a 30-40 year old car.
Seller says 20K miles, car seems to disagree. Jesus loves you though right? Must be an “honest” seller to use such a moniker…right?
That is actually a “custom” interior and is NOT factory. I currently own a ’74 Z/28 that is a painted rolling shell(with stickers) ready to be assembled that would be a great candidate for an LS motor if someone is interested in building a car. (Yes I would sell it). But yes agreed, this is a good buy even if it does got to 3k.
Interested
Uhm… did anyone else notice the Phillips head cap screws holding the data plate on? I’ve restored a few Camaros (although, admittedly, never a ’74), and I’ve never seen this.
That is normal for a ’74.
Those pointy bumpers were big at Bowman Gray Stadium in the Street Stock and Sprotsman classes. Made the “bump & Run” work very well, cause you dang sure can’t give a racer a flat tap to let them you;re back there. A good shot with this bumper and they are going somewhere besides where they were going.
Those bumpers were everywhere in circle track, years ago. They were very sturdy, but didn’t weigh a thing (thick aluminum). The trick we found was to use the hydraulic shock absorber-type bumper brackets behind the rear bumper on the race cars. The guys behind you would take turns trying to whack you out of the way, and couldn’t do it.
this is a mold pit—-anyone allergic to any type of mold—stay away….take a close look at the steering wheel and other plastics on this—the engine was pressure washed which is NEVER good for any engine-low miles tell me LOTS of issues ,new alternator too,electrical gremlins will follow/as a matter of fact i’d rather have a ‘gremlin-x’ than this machine-the tires were not even inflated properly -this guy seems to be a typical used car waste product-i’d be very cautious if i had a stiff one over this sled-looks like buyer beware
Rather have a Gremlin X? Got one, but it’s not for sale!
Apparently the Seller has a connection in MN for some of his cars. Here’s another MN car.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pontiac-GTO-RARE-BARN-FIND-SITTING-SINCE-1983-PHD-MUSCLE-/172303133929
I had a neighbor back in the late 80’s that one of these, it was a bone stock base model car but it was in really good condition. One day he pulls up in a Honda prelude, he tells me that he traded it in on the Honda. That was a sad day as I would have loved to have it. Oh well life goes on. As for this car there’s lots that can be done to get the horse power and the mileage up on it, shaved heads, dual exhaust, hotter cam, recurved distributor and yes an electronic fuel injection kit ( I’d go with a tbi system. ) I’d also go with an auxiliary over drive gearbox on the tail end of the 4 speed that is already in the ca
Call Jack Reacher
At first look, it looks pretty good. The 350-2bbl 4-spd combination is rare, by itself, but should have a 3.08 rear axle ratio, IIRC. Which makes that trailer hitch a little troubling to me. That “box” on the rh fender skirt, too! Underhood looks about right, but no factory a/c! The way the insert in the seat covers is sewn-in makes it look “non-factory”. I believe that ’74 was the last year for the short-lived leather option. Original tires would have been Goodyear F78-14 tires, probably.
IF the 2bbl is the “big” Rochester 2bbl, it’ll run almost as good as the QJet 4bbl. 1.69″ throttle bores, if that’s what it has.
Lots of potential, especially for the price. If it’s that cheap, you can afford to spend some extra money on it. Everything you’d probably need is in the repro/replacement marketplace. LS powertrain might yield more power, but probably not a lot of additional fuel economy unless you go to a lot of expense for the electronics and such. My 77 LT 305 2bbl 2.56 PTrac would do 22mpg on the highway, stock w/o the a/c running. Some additional things might get it to the middle 20s, but probably not much more. EFI (of any type) with normal manifolding would help drivability but not a big increase in mpg. BUT it would make a “good pallet” for an interesting vehicle.
The ’78+ “soft bumper” cars are still cheaper than the “alloy bumper” cars, according to the price guides.
Trailer hitch and a 4-speed? Minnesota and now in dry air Neveda? You know dam well it’s got rust. Hounds tooth did come in ’69 Camaros!
Hidden damage and rust. It is also almost certainly a flood car. Look carefully especially the last couple Pix on ebay page. There is rust and muddy sludge OOOZING from the seams and crevasses. Note the sludge in the corners of the trunk lid water channels. Look at the spare tire, jack, and other parts. Note the hood hingers, MC and Booster.
Looks like someone at one time rattle canned parts of the engine bay and now flaking off. Same with interior and exterior has been 1/2 assed detailed BADLY. At the right price its still a deal, and good core for a full resto or hot rod, but currently is over $5k and so based on actual condition in photos is already well above retail, or near it. Early 70s and even up to plastic bumper cars are all sharply jumping in value but you couldnt give them away even a few years ago. Still a ways from desirable-collectible though.
These respond to performance mods quite well. I had a few Camaros, There is a reason they are still commonly used for hot rod donors, front clips, or probably the #1 choice for circle track racing today
I’d leave it bone stock and I wouldn’t touch a thing.
Correct interior just not for a Type LT
74 was a one year only emblem and LT trim. Interior is DEFINITELY NOT Type LT, standard door panels and seats tell that story. The f bodies of 73-74 had some weird contrasting carpet options.
If the VIN doesn’t show an LT code, it could have been a plain Jane and they WERE available with that interior
Too lazy to check the codes
The only thing Type LT about this car is the wrong year (76-77) tail panel trim.
Emblems DO NOT make a model. Much like the WAY too common overuse of “Z28” emblems on plain Jane Camaros. You are only fooling yourself.
I flew from Sacramento to Nevada to see this car before bidding and it is a disaster. Yes it is a original mile car but it was stored terribly and it shows. It has rust in the pass lower quarter and really needs everything. The interior has holes in it and the headliner is hanging down and it is full of mildew. Even inside the gauges were starting to pit. This was a really nice car but was stored wrong and in a very wet cliamate. It wouldn’t go into reverse and has massive exhaust leaks. This could be a driver with some work but really needs to be gone through. The owner did say he rebuilt the engine. He does buy and sale cars, buy understand that this car is nothing like the pics show it to be. Too bad as this would have been a really cool car to have
Lots of negative feedback on this dude. But Jesus loves you! :-)
I saw that. Isn’t that a cheap escape for some people. I really feel sorry for whoever ends up buying this car as it is so so totally different of the pictures. I really wonder if the pics were not of the car some years ago when it wasn’t so bad. This thing really is a pile. Good point from one of the other comments left is if it was a flood vehicle as it may really be just that. Oh well. I am happy I spent the money to go see it as I was prepared to bid up to 10k on lt. big mistake…huge. Guess Jesus pointed me in the right direction 👍👍👍. Lol
Seems mis-represented. And this gentleman will likely rack up another negative feedback…Murray, sorry you had to take the time and $ to see it in person.
Paul…believe me it was money well spent. If I spent 10k for It, I think I would have shot myself in the head once I saw it in person. Spending a grand but saving several I think it was a good call. Anyways Barrett Jackson auction it taking place so I decided to stay and check it out. Never know what I will come home with. Lucky for me my wife is soooo understanding 😀😀😀