Thread: 1971 Camaro RS

Tweet

I've had a soft spot for these cars since I was in high school. One of my best friends had a 72 RS he bought from his brother when he was 16. I was 15. It sat in front of one of their sheds on their farm until he got it. Him and I built a 355 for it and got it running before he actually got his license. (Jon and his youngest brother drove all over creation before they had licenses. They had a K car and it was known as the Poochy car ) Jon didn't want to drive the Camaro before he had his license because we convinced him once he left his town, he would be in jail. Haha That car was pretty farmer rigged. It had chicken wire in place of cotter pins, bailing wire on the shift rods, and the wiring had house nuts and you name it in it. We got all that straightened out and put many miles on it. He'd take my truck, at that time I had a pretty sweet 94 Dodge Cummins 5 speed 4x4, and he'd let me take the Camaro. I took the Camaro on many dates.

One day when I just started college, Jon called and asked if I wanted to buy the Camaro. (He was on of those guys that knew where everything was but wouldn't show you proof of it. But this time I knew he wasn't full of it because he showed me it.) He said the owner of the 70 Cuda he had been trying to buy for years, finally decided to sell it. I took him the money for the Camaro after I got off work that night. Jon did get the Cuda, and we got it running good. I used to work at a body shop so I'd take the Cuda to work and work on it after I got off. That car was a mess too. But it was one of the coolest cars I drove back then. It was just a worn out 383 with a 4 speed. But it had a Hurst V-gate 2 inline shifter. That was absolutely awesome to run through the gears. (That car got me hooked on mopars )

Anyhow, I got in some trouble street racing the Camaro and the judge demanded the car be torn apart if I wanted to keep it. Of course I did, and I did ripped it apart. The judge even sent out a deputy to take pics and get a statement from my boss at the body shop. I got the body work done and the car was in DP90. I put it back together with a 396, tunnel ram, and a TH400. About that time I was hanging out with a guy that had many corvettes. I ended up making a deal to trade the Camaro as a roller for Corvette parts. (Stupidest thing I ever did) So the Camaro was gone.

Ever since I tried to find another one to get and build. I had a few non split bumper cars, but sold everyone due to bad rust mainly. Finally, a good guy on this very site had one he wanted to let go of, and now I am the proud owner of a 71 RS Camaro. Thanks Seth!

I don't even feel bad about modifying it. It was just a 307/PG car. It's getting a 5.3, Super T10, and maybe a turbo. The turbo will happen, I just don't know if it will happen this year. My main objective is to get the 40 driving this year. So if I can get the 40 driving, and get the Camaro running and driving, it'll be a win win.

I've already collected some good parts for it and it's on its way.