1971 Chevy Camaro
Kurt Bryant Morgan, UT
The number you’re looking for is “11.50,” as in that’s how quick Kurt Bryant’s ’71 Camaro is in the quarter-mile—at a 4,200-foot elevation no less. So where does Kurt get enough snot to run 122 mph in the quarter at that altitude you ask? That’d be a ProCharger-blown 6.0L LS that Kurt built on a skinny nickel with a boneyard motor and scraps picked up from eBay. Heck, even the wheels were lifted from a late-model Jaguar—and, by the way, they twist the dyno rollers to the tune of 596 hp. The bargain hunting continues with re-covered seats from a Honda Prelude, pistons from a ’06 GTO, and plenty of sweat equity that Kurt invested in his own garage. He even knocked out all the body and paintwork at home. Yeah, the tech sheet looks pretty sparse, but don’t let that fool you—there just aren’t a lot of blister-packed parts on Kurt’s car.
Engine: 6.0L LQ4 with L92 heads, COMP cam (232/246 duration at .050, .595/.613-inch lift), LS3 intake, 92mm throttle body, P1SC supercharger
Trans: 700-R4 four-speed automatic overdrive with 3,500-stall converter
Rearend: stock 8.2-inch 10-bolt with 3.73 gears
Suspension: stock, Summit 1-inch drop spindles, CE drag shocks
Wheels & Tires: Jaguar XKR 18-inch wheels with 245/35R18 and 275/40R18 Toyo tires
1974 Chevy Camaro
Julian Johnston, Langdon, ND
Engine: 350ci small-block Chevy with COMP hydraulic cam and 650-cfm Holley carb
Trans: stock Turbo 350 three-speed automatic trans
Rearend: 10-bolt with 4.10 gears
Suspension: stock front and rear suspension with Monroe gas shocks
Brakes: stock front disc and rear drum brakes
Wheels & Tires: 14x7 American Racing Black Modular wheels with 215/60R14 and 275/60R14 BFGoodrich Radial T/A
Cool Factoid: Julian bought his Camaro when he was 14 and has done much of the work himself, including rust repair and paint and body.
1978 Chevy Camaro
Geri Lee Reynolds, Knoxville, MD
Engine: 350ci small-block Chevy with stock cast-iron heads, “off-road” camshaft, and Edelbrock Torker intake
Trans: Turbo 350 automatic three-speed with shift kit and 3,200-stall converter
Rearend: stock 10-bolt with 2.43 gears
Wheels & Tires: stock 15-inch Rally wheels (powdercoated purple), 225/60R15 tires
Cool Factoid: The Camaro was a “thank you” gift from Geri’s brother, Kregg, who she helped nurse back to health after a work-related train accident.
1981 Chevy Camaro Z28
Craig Barkhouse, Stellartown, Nova Scotia
Engine: 502ci Chevrolet Performance ZZ502 big-block Chevy crate engine, roller cam (.527/.544 lift 224/234 duration at .050), Edelbrock intake with Holley 850-cfm carb
Trans: Turbo 400 three-speed automatic with 2,500-stall converter
Rearend: 10-bolt with Auburn limited-slip and Richmond 4.10 gears
Suspension: stock, front and rear
Brakes: stock discs and drums
Wheels & Tires: 15x7 and 15x10 Centerline Convo Pro wheels with 26x8.00R15 and 28x12.00 Mickey Thompson Sportsman tires
Cool Factoid: Craig bought the Z28 new and has been treating it like a prized possession, continually upgrading it ever since.
1980 Chevy Camaro Z28
Darren Wood, Barkhamsted, CT
Engine: 383ci small-block Chevy with double-hump heads, Edelbrock Torker intake, and Holley 750 double-pumper carb
Trans: Turbo 350 three-speed automatic with 3,500-stall converter
Rearend: stock 10-bolt rear with 3.73 gears
Suspension: stock with 2-inch drop spindles, cut factory springs, CE traction bars and subframe connectors
Brakes: stock factory discs up front, stock factory drums in rear
Wheels & Tires: stock 15x7 steel rallies with 235/60R15 BFG tires
Cool Factoid: Darren’s Camaro was originally a primered basket case that would never have gotten finished without the inspiration and help from his friend Mike Farrell.
1969 Chevy Camaro
James Wheeler, Aiken, SC
Engine: 350ci small-block Chevy with Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, FAST EFI, “camel back” heads, COMP camshaft
Trans: Tremec TKO 600 five-speed manual trans
Rearend: stock 10-bolt with 3.73 gears and Moser axles
Suspension: stock with 2-inch drop spindles, Global West rear control arms with drop leaf springs
Brakes: stock front disc brakes, stock rear drum
Wheels & Tires: 15x8 chrome rally sport wheels with 225/60R15 and 235/60R15 BFG tires
Cool Factoid: As long as the money holds out, James says he wants to update the engine to an LS, add a coilover suspension, and upgrade the wheels to a more Pro Touring look. He and his wife also did most of the work in their garage.
1977 Chevy Camaro
John Mastalerz, Niles, IL
Engine: 350ci small-block Chevy with ’66 vintage 327 heads, Edelbrock intake, COMP Cams 292 Magnum cam, and Holley 800-cfm double-pumper carb
Trans: Doug Nash five-speed manual trans
Rearend: 8.5-inch 10-bolt with 3.73 gears
Suspension: stock with Lakewood “slapper” bars
Brakes: stock front disc brakes, stock rear drum
Wheels & Tires: Cragar SST 14x6 front and 18x8 rear wheels, 185/80R14 Pirelli and 275/60R15 M/T Drag Radial rear tires
Cool Factoid: John is the original owner of this Camaro, which he special ordered 35 years ago. With only 24K on the odometer, it’s still almost new.