1970 Camaro: 3 Things You Didn’t Know!

[@bennyc6694]

My dads always referred to that as the 70 1/2

[@robertjones1709]

Because they weren't Available until Mid year (spring / summer) and My Dad worked at a Dealership then, and also not mentioned here is in 1970 there was Also a UAW Strike during that Time Yuge ball of Wax, Awesome Year with the LT-1 350 V8

[@gmrducks1543]

First car at 16 yr old,yet being a true red headed stepchild, it was amazing to be able to ride around town and be as cool as possible!!! Candy apple 🍎 red black ss stripes , Mickey Thompson 50's ,Crager ss magss skinnys on front ,350 4 -bolt main ,12:5 -1 trw Pistons,Eldebrock high -rise intake,750 holly double pumper,accell dist.,,,,way,way,way more than I needed ,a guy swindeled it away from me a few years later making it a major regret in life but hey I did own one so it was good 👍 while it lasted!!!

[@skxj]

Yep that is the Camaro I always wanted but never found when It came time to buy a car. N50-15's on 15 x 10 Cragar SS fit those cars perfect. Thanks

[@jimmynester1216]

I had always heard the 70,s were late in production because they were selling so many 69,s and I have heard them referred to as 70and a half I had a 71 rs and I wish I had kept it 😢

[@johnpopoff7950]

Not true about the reason for 69 model being built into December of 69 it was production problems and a labor dispute.

[@specialroy6087]

Always liked that year Camaro...The REAL DEAL was GM's sister car PONTIAC FORMULA FIREBIRD that year. .

[@Dan-ez6dr]

YES. Amazing car

[@petesmith5092]

Compared to the formula the Camaro was more like the ugly ass cousin of the Pontiac!❤ but I like them both anyway😊

[@notmillionaires]

​@petesmith5092 I'm with ya on that but as I've gotten older I've really started liking those early second gen Camaros. I softened my earlier opinions. Amd I blame growing up with Smokey amd the Bandit as my favorite movie. Lol. Might still be. But those early firebirds are just gorgeous. In fact The Bandit Firebird and on really turn to crap. Will still always love the 76/77s. But the early 70s are when they truly shined. My Uncle in Law just got a 70 Camaro. He has some amazing cars. This one's the only not stock he's got but it's pretry freaking cool!

[@petesmith5092]

@@notmillionaires yeah Brother+!! The '70-'72 Fomula, with the wide flare/chip guard treatment plus the decklid/split chin spoiler, with the fattest tires you can get on it and still turn the corner over the already wide track body....Mmmm.! Now, add the Ram Air IV package (looks better than a shaker, i think) and stand back & hold yer ears!! Oh hey, if your uncle ever says he's gonna take the nose cone off the '70 1/2, GET HELP,.⚠️.. that thing will make ALL your babies be born naked!+!! 😏😖😝😛😆☝️🍺🍺🍺⚠️🍺🍺🍺👌 STAY UP Pete

[@michaelirizarry5037]

best body style of all the camaros.

[@garysarnowski3113]

Introduction of 350 LT-1 for Z/28 plus turbo 400 automatic for Z/28.

[@svtinker]

My first car ‘70 Camaro RS 307ci 411 rear end. Maybe the best car I ever had.

[@johnsmith2598]

O that small block screaming on the big end across the line! Love it

[@Mr._Flunky]

That 307 was one of the weirdest engines ever in the 70s muscle cars. It was a low compression mule engine that seemed to keep on going past 120mph when the throttle was just held down. Not a real barn burner out the gate, and that worked very well for traction with the factory stock suspension.

[@Rev22-21]

307's (in my circles) were considered bad and progressively worse as time went on. No one who ever wasted the time and money to rebuild one were happy with the end results. For a stock plain Jane family car/ "grocery getter" Camaro or Nova, they were okay......but never a high performance engine.

[@OFLHLGZ28]

@@Rev22-21 exactly… That’s why I thought it’s weird that the poster had a 4:11 rear with a 307 😧

[@kskip4242]

​@testimony101 stop making it out like it was such a weird strange engine it was just a 283 Chevy with a 327 crank bro. They put out 200 horsepower and 300 foot pounds of torque stock with a 2 Barrel. It was a Chevy small-block V-8 at the end of the day and could be built to make good power and still get good gas mileage. You just have to make sure you do not over rev them.

[@Probablyso-w3y]

Love mine. 427 big block with 4 speed ! Still fun to drive

[@thetruthspeaker1978]

Oh really..I mean I hope your not but...yeah why not, I'll play along, cool car😂

[@Probablyso-w3y]

@@thetruthspeaker1978? Not sure what ur getting at

[@lesbratton]

​@@Probablyso-w3yHe's insinuating that the 427 was never installed in the 2nd gen Camaros, had to be an aftermarket install.

[@Probablyso-w3y]

@@lesbratton it was. If I had the 427 it would have been in the 69 lol All aluminum. My car was originally a 350 auto. It’s now a big block 4 speed with a ford 9” under it with 31 spline axles. Lot more done but that’s should let him know it’s not stock lol.

[@petesmith5092]

​@@Probablyso-w3ythe 69 wouldn't have been either with an aluminum 427 in it, unless you call a Yenko stock. In the 1969 Camaro, the hot engine was a 302 Crossfire. Z/28 only!....1969..ONLY!!

[@Matt-xv2cp]

First car was a 69 SS 350, then a 67 RS 327 then, a 70 1/2 RS and a 71 Z28. Of those 4 the 71 was the perfect Camaro in my opinion; quick, nimble, comfortable, and reliable. The 69 I owned for 29 years, wish I had kept the 71 as long.

[@madpauper]

There was also a supply chain strike that made some parts unavailable.

[@robertjones1709]

My Dad was working at a Dealership then as a Line tech, and was also mentioning the Parts Supply issues as well as "Bugs" from UAW guys purposefully adding defects ie., Like screws through 12V power Circuits. Blown fuses off the assembly line.

[@petesmith5092]

Supply chain breakdown was not the issue😮

[@clydebethatway7485]

Awesome car so many different things you can do with it

[@OFLHLGZ28]

I did know….. because I have one.

[@markkalkwarf4520]

Me to.

[@timflannery9150]

Small details ❤. I always loved the "70 1/2 " now we know

[@dickraw7442]

I love the front bumperets ! I did the same thing to my seventy three vega g t after I put a sixty nine corvette engine in it ! I use the stock saginaw transmission with a 309 1st gear and left the rear end all factory stock ! It was so light , You just let up on the clutch , & hit the gas , Didn't have to power shift it , plenty of power , And not a lot of weight ! Like in a corvette that the engine came out of ! Drove it to work on a friday with the four cylinder in it , Drove it to work on monday with the corvette engine , I did put a nice sounding cam in it , High rise aluminum manifold , 750 holly carburetor , & hooker headers , It was hooker who made the conversion kit For the engine swap ! They made it so easy !

[@Dan-ez6dr]

How long before you replaced the trans and rear end?

[@dickraw7442]

@@Dan-ez6dr never , The transmission was the same they put in the big block Chevys and camaros , Saganaw transmission , Cast iron, Not a muncie

[@Rev22-21]

Nose heavy and scary to stop at times no doubt. An acquaintance had one with a 350 in it along w/ a 14" Nova rear-end under it. It sounded good, but was more bark than bite.

[@BoostedS650]

Still my favorite camaro ever built

[@michaelguziak4680]

>>>> 70 Camaro Production Problem IN The > Camaro Van Nuys CA. Plant and in The Other Camaro Plant in Ohio was Due To A Strike. End of Story.. The 396-402 Engine was Reported As A Production Mistake in The Bore Maching IN The CYLINDER Block.. GM.. Was Not Going to Scrap So Many Blocks. So.. GM Just Used Them!!!

[@petesmith5092]

HARDLY "end of story".... General Motors got into a lot of trouble over sweeping that shit under the rug! I don't blame them, I would have used them also! But I would have been straightforward about it (maybe not the mistake part) and called them a 402!! If you had a Chevy pickup from 70 to 78 with a 396, 400, or 454 badge in the grill, it could have been a 402 but if it was a fat block with a 400 badge, you know damn well it was!!😮 Here's the thing, they put Corvette heads intake and ignition on them because they didn't want them failing prematurely. So that's why everybody wants that 402 now because they finally figured out that it was a Corvette engine pretty much. And it ran strong too. the 402 would out pull the 454. Really! END OF STORY...

[@garrisonnichols807]

I already knew all this. Did you know 1970 was the first year for the 350 LT1 in the Z28 and also the last year for high compression V8s. 1971 GM detuned their engines to run on unleaded gasoline. The 350 LT1 replaced the 302 V8 from the first gen Z28 Camaros and actually had 375 horsepower same as the Corvette's LT1. Chevrolet underrated the Camaro to make the Corvette look more powerful on paper. The RS split bumper was only an option and could be ordered on the Base V6 Camaros. It was discontinued in early 1973 because the federal government passed a 5 mph bumper law that year.

[@edmiller5248]

v6 in a 1970 Camaro ,.(?)

[@fishingafterdark]

never knew the had a V6 in the early seventies. I did see just ONCE a I6 Engine.

[@stevenwebb2295]

That would have had to have been a 250 I 6. Camaro never had a V6 until 1980.

[@Rev22-21]

That split bumper in 70 could be ordered on Z's and SS's all day long. The only reason the full one piece bumpers were popular with GM was because of the original public & buyers outrage. That quickly quieted as time went on.... and split bumpers became a highly sought after "after purchase mod" for those who didn't with them.

[@mrwp819300]

No V6 in 2nd gen. Straight 6's

[@larrycaldwell3493]

My dad and uncle worked the norwood plant. They were there from 67 until the plant closed. The 70 was always my favorite. Same with the fire bird.

[@Eric-gi9kg]

Truly miss my 71

[@user-vl8sw7kg7y]

Hey man I had a 396 but sold it, because of gasoline embargo, I bought a Ford pinto.

[@brianr5665]

It's kind of funny that people would give you grief about your decision today. But back in the day it was a logical choice. Our government convinced us we were running out of gas and the only way to keep cars running was to have fuel efficient cars. We did our part by making sure we would not run out of gas and bought the fuel efficient low horsepower cars and sold off gas guzzlers for whatever we could get for them. It wasn't much. They are trying the same thing with electric vehicles. We aren't out of oil, we just aren't producing any and are buying less. We weren't sold on running out of fossil fuels, but we are buying into climate change.

[@petesmith5092]

@@brianr5665 and since day one hot-rodders have argued that power IS economy! Squeezing the last little bit of explosive power from that one little droplet of fuel is the basis of high performance engines. ALL of them. My uncle told me about the prohibition years when you had to have a card to get gasoline and you can only have a certain ration of it. You could get virgin gasoline, or for the same price you could get half again the the quantity of what was called "black" gasoline. It was re-refined used motor oil. Why the hell don't they do that now? It seems to me it would beat the hell out of burning all that so-called waste oil. Funny (peculiar) thing is oil does not lose its lubricity. Once it's refined and used, the chemicals that they put in it to enhance its properties and the dirt and the contaminates that are caught in it and travel in suspension, it all will fall to the bottom of the barrel if it sits long enough, and you have clean straight weight oil! By the way, if it costs more to refine a quart of gasoline, than it does to refine a quart of oil, how come a quart of oil cost more than a gallon of gasoline? I'll tell you, are you ready? It's the same reason they quit selling 93 octane unleaded gasoline. And that's another touchy point with me. We are at the mercy of the API to assure the octane (volatility) rating of the fuel we buy is as advertised! They just say it is, and don't have to substantiate it?. My engine knows the difference, and tells me right away, but trouble with that is, my engine uses 50-60% more to go the same distance...yes, the API probly LOVES when that happens... think about it... if we actually had quality fuel available we could go 50 to 60% further with fewer emissions! Who's robbing who?. Global warming my wide white butt! Bureaucratic FatCats pocket stuffing program is what it is. I didn't start out to write a book, and the next time I blow this shitstorm at you I'll try to have fresh towels hahaha

[@t.l.robinson2162]

I love a '70 as long as it is an RS.

[@petesmith5092]

Nnaah, ...⚠️Z/28!...for me..

[@alchampion340]

Yes, the 402, just punched over 396 out just a few thousand

[@Rev22-21]

Those 375 hp. 396's were beast, but they could not pass a gas station. Yes, be it an Impala, Malibu, Nova, Camaro or even pickup they could go sideways @ 60 mph if you stepped on it....but their longevity wasn't their long suit either. But if not for them, the Big block 400 may have never happened.

[@stephencostello3174]

The 402, was a truck motor. Found in quite a few 396 cars. Ask me how I know😂😂😂

[@halweilbrenner9926]

Great looking car, but so was the 69'

[@johnnix862]

I had a 70.5. When I got it in a trade, ( It was a 77 monte carlo, which wasn't that great either ) it definitely, had seen better days. But, it ran good enough to bring my only new born son, and wife from the hospital in late Dec. 1983, In 18 below zero late afternoon weather. Hands down, the best car, I ever had.

[@DelgueAdventures]

I did know... and totally regret selling my Camaro

[@Rev22-21]

I didn't really regret getting rid of mine, it was a 74 model....one of the worse screwed up years & models "the goberment" shoved down our throats. But then...I later moved to a 78 TA .

[@Daveyboy919]

I had a 70 years ago. Very powerful. When I power breaked it , it would dig into the street and smoke the whole block.

[@truthandfreedom885]

Split bumper Camaro is my favorite Camaro. Those of you born in the '60s should remember Gary Busey in the Gum Ball Rally.

[@GrandpaJams]

I had a 70 1/2 rally sport. Forest green. It was the nicest car I ever owned.

[@koldosodupe9363]

I've always wanted a 70s split bumper!!😢😢

[@paulmahon1613]

It's called a Rally Sport. Stop calling it split bumper.

[@larrygandy4161]

Totally digging the one piece rear spoiler 🌈

[@markharris1473]

I have a few models of the 70, 70 1/2, 71, 72 but can't find a 73 yet. And my mom's 2nd husband had a 72 SS. Moss green metallic with moss green interior, 4 spd with a high performance 350. It was sweet!! But from 69 to 73 are my best years in the Camaro

[@danielpriestley7170]

I think that the rarest junk, the shackle mounts always write it out for 1 floorboards and the suspension up front along with the steering was a joke

[@jakefriesenjake]

I have an 81, where the side marker lights do blink. I recently re-wired it and the whole car, so that is does blink now. Used a 5 pin relay for each marker light

[@mr.mckinnon5680]

No. The 70 and a half refers to the split bumper version. The original 70, had a solid front bumper.

[@lesbratton]

It was a Rally Sport option.

[@johngoguen361]

My friend had a 69 396 convertible race pace car what a beautiful car problems with shifter bushings only problem once fixed the right way it was great

[@garys9694]

I had a 68 Firebird HO with Muncie 4 speed and Hurst shifter. I had the same problem with shifter bushings.

[@kernkuhlman8492]

Seen a 402 truck the other day. She was pretty

[@petesmith5092]

😂 still running?😂

[@kernkuhlman8492]

And looking sexy as ever. Square box forever

[@mikecollins1205]

My absolute favorite Camaro 70-70 1/2. Best looking in my opinion. In T/A trim it’s the Bandit. 1977/78.

[@ricktotz4078]

The boss mustang is called the boss for a reason

[@dr66ss396]

There was no 69 body style titled as a 1970

[@jimmynester1216]

They said exactly that they were some 69,s titled as 70 if I heard that right!

[@jimmynester1216]

It says in the video that some of the 69 ,s were titled as 70,s

[@carlstephens1532]

I owned a 70 1/2 as well

[@Rippleman5974]

Cut the bumper on a “72” Vega & looked like mini “70” Camero, I had one with 283 & turbo 350 trany. 👍🇺🇸

[@keltechindustries20901]

My instructor in college used to have one of these. He had a 70 with a 1995 LT one engine out of a old caprice cop car. It was very fast.

[@mitchelkane2641]

The whole damn car is different

[@silentassassin7175]

Miss mine, beautiful cars

[@geoffreymills9932]

The L78 is a rare breed but the best was the Baldwin motion 427/rock crusher combination

[@petesmith5092]

I like the Macco "shark" kits you could get for the Corvettes that Baldwin motion put out❤ back then😊

[@MrChevelle83]

well my 70 chevelle dont count here. im just glad im there in the time frame :-) i love classic cars

[@LBCB94025]

my dad had the '73 sport coupe (or wtvr?) it had the single/solid bumper and the vertical pushers like cops cars..? it had a 350 ..

[@stuartb9323]

Chevy built Corvettes into December of 69 as well...I know, I have one 😊

[@jasoncleveland8021]

My first car. Thanks dad!

[@Mark-vd8oi]

THESE DROVE NICE. THE ONLY BAD THING IS SO MANY RUSTED OUT

[@scoobyroorogers]

I always wondered why some mentioned certain Camaros 70-1/2'.

[@ronniedefelice8743]

Thing had more horsepower in 1970 than most Subarus have today lol

[@katkilr7685]

1970 Chevelle SS also was posted as a 396 but is really a 402.

[@williepelzer384]

73 s had 10 bolt diffy even Z-28 I bought mine new 373 gears were factory.

[@skeetert101010]

I know the doors are so heavy if u open them they will break the hinges off 🤔

[@AllCelebzNElitenNeckMaskz]

MANDELA EFFECT ANYONE OVER 50 WOULD REMBER CAMERO !!! I KNOW MANY WHO THOUGHT CHEV JUST CHANGED THE NAME 😂😂

[@brinkee7674]

had a gold split bumper 70 z28 350 and loved it wish I kept it along with my 66 chevelle ss396 and 69 Mach1 Mustang. Also wished I kept my 78 Ford Bronco as it was one of my favorite vehicles

[@scoobyroorogers]

Great rides.

[@paulmahon1613]

Rally Sport. Not split bumper. Makes me think you didn't even have one if you don't know that fact.

[@teamalexfam170]

No better lookin car than a split bumper camaro but a few are close

[@petesmith5092]

The "402" Chevy was a machining mistake in the engine production. I don't remember exact numbers, but there were tens of thousands of the "396" blocks finish bored 0.006" over std. before the mistake was caught, they remedied it by opening them up to 0.010" overbore of a 396 std. and they were put in anything they could put them in to cover them up. GM got into trouble over it when people were having engine work done and could not seem to get the correct parts for the engine they had. If you had a 1970 to a 1978 half ton or 3/4 ton pickup with a 396 400 or 454 badge in the grill it could have very easily been a 402. And if it said 400 in the Grill and it was a fat block you know damn well it was a 402!

[@mattstauble1666]

I wish I didn't sell my 71 I loved that car

[@cloakedgt]

Also there was a strike at GM that slowed the process even more, there is no such thing as a 1/2, no title ever says 1/2 same with the 65 mustang, there was never a 64

[@wesfoulds47]

I love Camaro

[@boa-sgt_reaperlivestreams5998]

My grandpa had a 70 1/2 with black striping that only came from a factory that didn’t have the proper striping and it was cherry red with black stripes instead of cherry with white.

[@markmcg6426]

I have one .

[@justlistening9463]

i loved my 2nd gen camaro

[@raylycan2871]

Question is was there ever a L89’s made. There is one 1070 nova known of. It’s ligit

[@richhauxwell7848]

402 cubes to use the bad blocks?

[@davedawe2420]

It's a disgrace that GM is discontinuing the Camaro...Again!

[@Samthemule2003]

I feel like from the 289's to the 409's are really small blocks. Thats how I view it. I see it as the 400 cubic inch to 409 cubic inch motors they had the big block weight and torque but not the big blcok power. The big blcok power didn't really come into the motors until you got to like the 426, the 427 and up. Which my grandmother currently has a full size motorhome with a Chevrolet 427.

[@williamdawson3792]

Had to stop production because no one wanted crap, and sales numbers show they still don’t

[@kernkuhlman8492]

Where's the love for the Impala?

[@user-ti7yt9vj2f]

Did some 70,s have a split front bumper or were all two piece ? In the video it shows both

[@svtinker]

Mine was split bumper.

[@timmyers1006]

Even Firebirds were delayed.

[@jeffgordon9103]

The last one I actually knew 😅

[@brucem6442]

Love to have a 68ss and a 70 z28

[@kaedeschulz5422]

Such a huge engine and so little power? what!?

[@lynnmcmullen3157]

My favorite camero but never cared for those cut down spoilers, almost like pulling its teeth

[@user-ew4pn3og7t]

I had a 72 with a 396 💪💪💪💯💯💯😃😃

[@Raynedog00]

My uncle has (or maybe he sold it, i doubt it) a 1970 Camaro with the 396. He fully restored it to OEM decades ago when it was way more affordable. And i mean he paid 100 bucks for a 1970 ashtray insert in the fuckin 90's because it was still in the factory packaging. He paid 50 bucks for a bag of rusty bolts, but they came off of a 1970 specifically. He was really anal about it being all from a 1970 only. Candy apple red paint, it was the only thing not from 1970 on the car, besides tires obviously.

[@daleschultz2640]

A 12 bolt rear end. 😯👍👌☺

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

I think I have owned 3 different gems of Camaro...dude loose the hip hop crap and put on some classic rock..those are classics.

[@shvenfoster]

Only knew it as 1/2

[@413x398]

#4 - Crazy Auto Mechanics And Repairmen Only!

[@markw208]

Interesting quickie. I didn’t know the reason for the 1970 production delay, but I thought and still think the 1969 is a beautiful, classic design. And I was a Mustang guy. Also, I didn’t realize the 396/375 was so rare.

[@Rev22-21]

They really weren't that rare. Now being popular was a different thing.

[@Donny.C.wlWilliams]

Always thought it was a really nice car and I haven't seen to many of them in real life

[@kaleb5426]

1st gen is best looking in my opinion

[@stevesalmons1803]

Only year of the 12 bolt dif.? My 69 SS has a 12 bolt.

[@user-wd7fo9dp4z]

mustang and camero competed

[@Chicken83895]

My dad has a 68’ Camaro is that good?

[@mach5jeep]

My title reads 70.5 for the year

[@henryknedel5683]

How many Z-28 350 325hp M-21 4-speed ?? Inherited one garaged bout 40years black on black odometer 38545. Motor apart blowed up pieces valve piston rod in a coffee can lol.

[@davidmolaison2933]

Who owns that orange track car ?

[@brian395]

wrong It didn't come out to mid year due to the lawsuit by the e p a against g m

[@donfronterhouse4759]

Thank you for speaking in a normal voice instead of using a fake and annoying robo which I have no idea why people do it.

[@BIGERTZ]

🔥

[@Motor-City-Mike]

I didn't know about the sun visors, otherwise you're off.

[@bigboybuilder]

still rode like a lumbr wagon.

[@thhall459]

Yep, I had a 1972 Camaro RS purchased brand new in November 1971. It was an ox cart, but I only know that now, because I drove a show-car-beautiful one "again" in 2005. I was astounded at how bad it is compared to modern cars. Of course, even in 1972 I was aggravated by all of the rattles and squeaks that I spent many hours trying to silence. That was the car I learned how to do touch-up body work due to the many rust holes that developed in just the first 2 years. However, I loved it anyway.

[@bigboybuilder]

@@thhall459 i had a 69 charger and it road nice and would burn down Cameros on the interstate with 2.45 gears. I would just stay ahead of them for a few miles and then open it up. 183 was my top hi-po ticket.

[@Rev22-21]

I take it you never rode in a Mustang on a long road trip for a comparison, right? Neither of course were built for comfort.😅

[@Rev22-21]

​@@bigboybuilderTwo complete and different animals. Chevy's (especially back then) were built for quickness & the 1/4 mile, Ford's (like the Mustang) were for the 1/4 & 1/2 mile, but Mopar was built for the mile + . Like I said, two different animals.

[@bigboybuilder]

not true, all big 3 were competing on the same tracks ... 1/8 and 1/4, where on earth did they drag race on 1/2 and 1 mile tracks?@@Rev22-21

[@jonstewart588]

Missed that the floor is different also it deeper

[@davidmolaison2933]

Now how did I know all 3 of these? Oh by the way anyone need a 12 bolt ?

[@stephencostello3174]

My first car. 1970 RS/SS. Bought in 78 when I turned 16. 42k miles. 350, 4 barrel and duel exhaust. At 16, first thing i did was trade my 350 for a 427. Tore out the A/C cuz it hurt HP. Finally wadded it up at 18. Will always be my favoite.