LS3 1973 Classic Camaro Produces 511 Screaming Horsepower
This Camaro will go, turn, and stop as well as any modern muscle car but retains all of its retro coolness.
The One That Got Away
Ryan Lowe poured his time and money into creating a dream-like custom Camaro, but this wasn't his first attempt. At just 15 years old he bought his older brother's 1973 Camaro. After this Lowe joined the army and sold the Camaro, and he's regretted that decision ever since. Luckily for us, Lowe couldn't escape his love of custom muscle cars and ended up building the beautiful Camaro pictured above.
Photos courtesy of Super Chevy.
Engine Swap
This Camaro has gone through two engine upgrades since Lowe took ownership. It originally came with a 4-speed 350 ci unit which didn't provide enough power for Lowe's liking. He took care of that problem by dropping in a new Chevrolet Performance LS3 powerplant which produces 511 horsepower and an eye-watering 495 lb-ft of torque. All this power runs through a TREMEC TKO-600 5-speed transmission sourced from American Powertrain. So, not only did Lowe get the power upgrade he wanted, he made the Camaro a more practical on the highway too!
Photos courtesy of Super Chevy.
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The Job Goes On
Custom projects often come to a halt when there's a blip in the road, and are often left unfinished; this could easily have happened when Lowe was deployed overseas, but he ensured that it didn't. Lowe handed the car over to Anchors Aweigh Paint and Body where this Camaro continued to take form. When Lowe returned, the Camaro had a new RS style nose, custom three-piece rear spoiler, and a stock hood which replaced the hood cowl it came with.
Photos courtesy of Super Chevy.
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Not The Norm
We see countless 1973 Camaros in the classic Hugger Orange paint job which is what this car originally had. But Lowe strayed away from this paint scheme in favor of a sleek Anvil Gray body. The body is complemented by Charcoal Gray metallic stripes and bumpers. It's definitely not as loud as the Hugger Orange but, in a way, its understated look makes it stand out even more.
Photos courtesy of Super Chevy.
>>Join the conversation about this 1973 restomod Camaro right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
The Ride
This is a 1970s muscle car but, thanks to Lowe's work, it certainly doesn't handle like one. Under the body lies RideTech four-link rear suspension, CPP front tubular control arms, and QA1 front coilovers. Wilwood disc brakes ensure that this model slows down just as well as it speeds up.
Photos courtesy of Super Chevy.
>>Join the conversation about this 1973 restomod Camaro right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Interior
Inside you'll find seats from a fourth-gen Pontiac Trans AM which have been reskinned by Stitched by Slick. The custom work inside this model extends to the center console, dashboard, and door panels. The exterior gray paint job is mirrored by the custom AutoMeter gauges housed in the dash. Personally, this writer thinks that Lowe continued the Camaro's classic yet modern look perfectly throughout the interior.
Photos courtesy of Super Chevy.
>>Join the conversation about this 1973 restomod Camaro right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Finishing Touches
There are a number of stand out features which complete this car's look, and one of them is certainly the custom front spoiler from D&Z Customs. The custom-made halo-style LED headlights and taillights bring this model's style into the 21st century. This Camaro is clean and crisp but the satin-black, mesh-style bronze wheels never let you forget that this car could be a menace in the right hands.
Photos courtesy of Super Chevy.
>>Join the conversation about this 1973 restomod Camaro right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
For help with service and maintenance on your car, check out the how-to section of LS1Tech.com.