Family Hand Me Down Camaro

[Tropical Snowstorm]

This 1970 Camaro RS was my aunt's first car, at 15 in 1972 she and my grandfather found it on a car lot in Knoxville, TN. Originally set up with a 307/TH350 and Classic Copper/Black Interior. It was her only car well into the 1990s, followed her to Atlanta, Indianapolis, Detroit, then Dallas.

When my cousin (her son) turned sixteen it was restored and set up for him to drive to school and work, that was 1997 and it took on it's current personality. It was painted with the current red, had a 350 crate engine installed (still doing research to see which one, I think it's a ZZ3) and the interior was refurbished.

Fast forward to today, my cousin lives in NYC and cannot do anything with the car. He sent it to his brother's house for storage (my other cousin) when he left Texas and now that he is looking to move as well it needs a good home. Lucky for me, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon and have extra garage space!! It does need a bit of work (doing a trans rebuild as we speak) but it's my new project and I am excited to get to play with it! This car has everything to do with why I am a gearhead, it's been a staple in my family since before I was even born. I'll keep updating as the car progresses.

First pic is my aunt sitting on the hood in the 70s at some point and the next are from me picking it up in Tennessee. I guess the Orche 72 in my sig gets pushed even further to the back burner... all in due time!

[flashed]

You lucky rascal ,that is one of my favorite years ,it looks great too .I have an extra set of those wheels in my shop that I had planned on using on my wife's 72 Malibu convertible but she said no. Im in for this one to see what you do with it .

[babs]

Nice looking Camaro, body looks good also !

[alsriv2]

My favorite Camaro body style/nose.
Enjoy your time with it!

[67ChevyRedneck]

That's one hell of a hand me down!!!

If it doesn't already have it, all I would do is fix that trans and install A/C.

[rambler]

one of my favorite years ! a roommate of mine in college had one, we had a blast fixing it up.. my other roommate had a VW Bus... and I had a Rambler,, we were always wrenching on one of them between beers on the weekend... good times !

[Bishops Trucks]

Very nice, I just got rid of a 70 last winter. I kept the LT1 for my truck. Gotta love that body style. Will be watching this build.

[Tropical Snowstorm]

A/C is on the list, even at 60 degrees today it was quite warm! Unfortunately with a 9 month old there's little room in the budget so it'll be windows at least for this summer.

It's back up and going, still needs a LOT of little things. Lighting issues, 7 volts to an HEI coil, posi additive to the rear end, go through the brakes... normal old car stuff. I did drive it to work today, has a pretty significant vacuum leak I am chasing but off idle it is QUICK!! No idea which crate engine or what rear gears got put in but it feels as quick as my old bolt on LS1 f-body.

Here she is mid-surgery. I'll try to post some clean pics if I ever get around to detailing.

[chevyrestoguy]

I am a huge Camaro fan, and have owned a bunch over the years. I still have a '71 RS that I have owned since 1986. My car was built in the first hour of production on the first day of production in the 2nd week of August 1970 in Van Nuys. I have not been able to prove it yet, but I believe that my car was the first Rally Sport built in 1971. The car is numbers matching from front to back, but needs a complete restoration. It's Placer Gold (code 53) with a Sandlewood interior (777) . 350 (245 horse), th350, P/S, P/B, A/C. When I finish the '64 truck, the Camaro is next, and it'll get a full nut and bolt rotisserie restoration, down to the torque paint and chalk marks.

I like your '70 a lot, especially the fact that it's been in the family since 1972. That's awesome!

[Tropical Snowstorm]

It's back up and running. Had a few successful trips to work, haven't washed it yet but it is a downright blast to drive! I'll post pictures once I get her all cleaned up.

[Tropical Snowstorm]

Still haven't cleaned her up unfortunately but I was digging through old paperwork and found the protecto-plate, original sales invoice, and the registration from 1972.





My little helper hanging out!

[chevyrestoguy]

Originally Posted by Tropical Snowstorm

Still haven't cleaned her up unfortunately but I was digging through old paperwork and found the protecto-plate, original sales invoice, and the registration from 1972.





My little helper hanging out!

Finding those documents are like finding buried treasure. They are worth their weight in gold, and will definitely add value to your car.

[flashed]

What a cute little future driver you have there .

[K10Scottsdale78]

Very nice camaro, always good to see classics stay in the family. Next year I will be inheriting my dad's 1969 Pontiac Firebird! Hes had the car since the 80s and never finished working on it (raising a family and marriage got in the way), so hes giving it to me for my college graduation present! Probably the only thing that has kept me in college this long

[Tropical Snowstorm]

Finally had a chance to do some clean up and drove it to work today since it is so nice out. The carb still needs a little more work but it is much better than before. Cleans up pretty good for a 44 year old driver

[flashed]

Man that is SHARP ,love it .

[slowcpe]

Very nice Camaro! I've always been a big Camaro nut and have owned two, a '79 and '88 Iroc 350. Wish I would have bought an early 2nd gen years ago as the value on them lately are crazy!

[ssxty8]

Wow, that's definitivelly a keeper. Love most of the Camaros, specially the 1st, & 2nd gens. Dig the looks of the Z28 wheels on your Camaro. Let me recommend you Team Camaro, @ Camaros.net. Best place for the Camaro enthusiast. Been a member there for a long time.
Take good care of that toy.
ssxty8 (orench @ Team Camaro)

Here's a pic of mine, a 68 SS.

[litew8]

@Tropical Snowstorm
Great history. My uncle had a silver one like that. Sharknose

[Tropical Snowstorm]

Finally getting settled in to Tennessee, used the beautiful weather over the weekend to enjoy a cruise by the lake! No updates except the car has made it through 3 houses in two years and hasn't missed a beat, definitely nice having a hassle free cruiser.

[MP&C]

Camaro looks sharp! Nice that it's been kept in the family all this time.

[Daddy'O]

Great looking car!

[Advanced Design]

Very nice looking Camaro! The family history with the car is pretty cool too.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Tropical Snowstorm

Finally getting settled in to Tennessee, used the beautiful weather over the weekend to enjoy a cruise by the lake! No updates except the car has made it through 3 houses in two years and hasn't missed a beat, definitely nice having a hassle free cruiser.

Are you in the military?

She still looks great.

[Tropical Snowstorm]

Thanks for the compliments, it is definitely a fun ride!

I'm not in the military, I left my gravy tourism job in Alaska when my son came into the picture... My wife did not want to raise kids so far from our families in the Atlanta area. Luckily I was offered a great opportunity in corporate sales starting in Atlanta, was promoted with a move to SC and then again to TN. We're hoping we stay here, it's only a 3 1/2 hour drive back to Atlanta and we have a great extended family up here... We'll see what happens as the job progresses.