| 1973 CamaroZ28  (motorheads car) You deserve a car this good  11,575 Camaro Z28's were produced in 1973, more than any other second generation Z28. You would think you would see more of them on the road. The 350 engine was now rated at a dismal 245 horsepower. Gone was LT-1 with the solid lifter cam, aluminum hi-rise intake manifold and Holley carburetor. The 350 now sported a new hydraulic cam and Rochester Quadrajet carburetor on top of a cast iron, low-rise intake manifold incorporating an EGR valve. Also changed, was a new 17 quart cooling system which replaced the 15 quart system that had been in use since 1970. These cars still ran pretty good. I had the opportunity to drive a stock 1973 Z28 and I was impressed. It had good low to mid range acceleration and could still pass most of the cars I came upon while cruising the local freeway. This was, of course, within the posted speed limit. (Sorta of) The 1973 Z28 was one of the first vehicles to be affected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Safety concerns played a greater role in the design of the Camaro and the most noticable result on the 73 Z28 were the big vertical guards on the front bumper. That is one of the easiest ways to distinguish a '73 model from the earlier year Z28's unless you had a Rally Sport Z28. The 1973 Z28, like the 1972 also used a foil decal for the rear Z28 emblem. The 1973 Z28 was the first Z28 available with air conditioning. I can't tell you how many 70-72 Z28's I have seen with air conditioning. If your going to make a fake or clone Z28 at least do your homework. |
| The sun was setting on the muscle car era, and buyers were left with very few performance car options as many once proud muscle cars were little more than stickers and fake hood scoops. Despite that, overall muscle car sales actually rose a bit. Now that the SS option was lost for the Camaro, the only performance model available was the Z-28. You could, however, order a base Camaro with the 350 cu.in. 4-barrell V-8 option that gave you 175 NET bhp. The Z-28 350 cu. in. offered 245 NET bhp, and lost the Holley carb and aluminum maifold it had for years. Prices were lowered for the Z-28 which resulted in the best sales since 1969- 11, 570. |
1974
The Arab Oil Embargo of October 1973 helped put out any fire the upturn in 1973 muscle car sales may have kindeled. Americans would never look at muscle cars the same again as long gas lines and prices that never recovered made fuel economy more important for most than performance.
The Camaro had a major restyle in the front and back end. The Z-28 still had the 350 cu. in. small block with 245 NET bhp. Sales were good, but Chevrolet decided to let the Z-28 die rather than continue it under the tight federal safety and emission laws.
1974 Camaro Z28
Fun at 55 mph
In 1974 151,008 Camaros were produced, 13,802 of them were Z28's. The Rally Sport was no longer offered in 1974. The basic coupe could be optioned as a Z28, Type LT or both. New body changes included spring mounted aluminum bumpers, new black grille, new taillights which wrapped around the sides eliminating the need for rear marker lights, and the new Z28 graphics (RPO D-88) which were actually decals. The engine was rated at 245bhp @ 5200rpm with a 9.0:1 compression ratio. Camaros produced mid-year were equipped with HEI ignition. The Muncie M21 was still available except with an air conditioned car. A new 21 gallon fuel tank was standard, bigger than any previous year Camaro. Those huge Z-28 stripes on the hood and trunk of the Z-28's were actually supposed to have see-through sections with white surrounds in between the stripes so that the the color of the car would show through but some sort of error in printing screwed it up and these sections were painted white. So, if you want to see how the 1974 Z-28's were supposed to look, you'll have to find a white one.
All the 1974 Camaros were equipped with advanced exhaust emission control systems were designed to operate on low-lead or unleaded fuels of 91 octane. Also equipped on these Camaros as required by law, a seatbelt ignition interlock syatem which prevented the car from being started until the front seatbelts were buckled.
To sum thing up Chevrolet designer Jerry Palmer was quoted "Chevrolet took the position that we'd rather kill the car now before it died a slow, lingering death. So we stopped the Z-28 after the 1974 model year"
1973
Model year 1973 proceeded better than expected. At a time when battering-ram front bumpers were tacked to the noses of many cars in response to Federal 2-1/2 mph front bumper regulations, Chevrolet engineers devised a bracing design that kept the Camaros sporty bumpers intact for one more year. They also saved the Endura-nosed split bumper RS for 1973 with hidden reinforcements that met crash standards. On the inside, the 4-spoke sport steering wheel was now standard. Available was a new soft vinyl padded console adapted from the Firebird that replaced the previous hard plastic version. When an automatic was ordered with the console, a new single-stalk shifter replaced the "stirrup" design used from 1968-72. Late in the model year optional power windows became available, the switches mounted on top of the new console. Full-foam rear seat cushions were introduced in 1973. Also, a molded hardboard headliner replaced the previous cut and sew cloth headliner. In response to a changing performance-car market, Chevrolet introduced an all-new luxury-touring Camaro model, the Type LT. They launched the Type LT with a full compliment of standard equipment. Included were previous extra-cost options such as a 145-hp 350-cu in. V8, variable-ratio power steering, extra sound insulation, 14x7-in. Rally wheels, hideaway wipers, dual sport mirrors, full instrumentation, deluxe seat and door trim, woodgrain accents, bright exterior accents, black accented rocker panels and Type LT identification. The Type LT could be combined with both RS and Z/28 option packages, the resulting car carrying Type LT interior and exterior trim and identification, but with RS split-bumper nose treatment and Z/28 chassis, drivetrain, D80 3-piece spoiler and 5-spoke wheels. These cars were true sleepers because the Z/28 badges and runway stripes were deleted. The Z/28 survived (unlike the dropped SS350 and SS396), and could be ordered with air conditioning for the first time. Power was down to 245-hp SAE net. For 1973, the Z switched to hydraulic lifters and Quadrajet carburetion on a low-rise, cast iron intake manifold. These changes plus the introduction of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on all 1973 engines drained another 10 hp from the previous years output. The Powerglide 2-speed automatic was dropped for 1973, but a new standard coolant recovery system and optional inflatable spare tire made their debuts. Chevrolet produced 96,751 Camaros in 1973.
1974
For 1974, the Camaro finally had the battering-ram bumpers to meet Federal crash standards. But rather than tack the squarish bumpers and their bulky leaf spring energy absorbing zones onto the Camaros flowing body, stylists crafted a new front and rear appearance. Up front, a long sloping nose made of sheet molded compound (SMC) tied the hoodline and the bumper together. The deeply recessed headlamps with "sugar scoop" bezels and Rally Sport-type parking lamps flanked a steeply raked grille. At the rear, the previous concave tail was replaced with a flat panel and triangular wraparound tail lamps, requiring a new rear quarter panel design. Inside, new three point front seat and shoulder belts with roof mounted inertia retractors replaced the clumsy separate seat and shoulder belt design. Also, 1974 marked the year of the federally mandated seat belt interlock system. In order to start the car, the driver and front passenger had to have the seat belts fastened. But the system sometimes prevented the car from starting even when both passengers did what they were supposed to do. So Chevrolet put a bypass switch in the engine compartment which would let the car start regardless of the passengers being belted or not. The system was so unpopular that Congress repealed the law requiring the interlock and by mid 1974, Camaros were rolling off the assembly line without them. With the bumperettes and Endura nose legislated into nonexistence, the RS was canceled for 1974. The Z/28 enjoyed one more year in the sun, 4-bolt mains, forged crank, baffled & cast aluminum valve covers, dual snorkel air cleaner and all. The 245-hp Z/28 engine was the first Camaro to be equipped with breakerless high energy ignitions (HEI). And to make sure everyone knew you were driving a Z/28, huge block letter Z/28 decals covered the hood and deck lid where the runway stripes lived. The Type LT was back with more luxury touches: extra sound insulation in the doors, firewall, rear deck and under floor, plus a color coordinated lower instrument panel. As in 1973, the Type LT could be combined with Z/28 mechanicals to make a luxury touring sleeper. The 307-cu in. V8 was dropped. Front disc brake wear sensors and lower ball joint wear indicators became standard equipment, as did a larger 21 gallon fuel tank adapted from the Nova. Radial-ply tires and AM/FM stereo radios became optional for the first time. 151,008 Camaros were made in 1974
