This 1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS represents the beginning of Cindy’s relationship with her late husband, Larry, who took her on their first date in the car, and it carries memories that no restoration can recreate.
Larry bought the Camaro in the early 1980s and eventually decided its worn engine needed attention. Around 1985, he removed the V8 with plans to rebuild it into something better. It was the beginning of a project that would remain unfinished for decades.
Over the years, he continued working toward that goal but never managed to reunite the engine with the car before passing away a few years ago. The Camaro stayed in his workshop as a reminder of the plans he never got to complete.
When Dustin and Brito from Hagerty’s Driveway Finds heard Cindy’s story, they decided to help finish what Larry had started. Their mission was to get the Camaro running again and, if everything went well, put Cindy back behind the wheel.
Finishing the Engine Larry Built
Larry had spent years assembling a rebuilt 350-cubic-inch Chevrolet small-block, complete with aftermarket Edelbrock cylinder heads. Dustin and Brito prepared the engine, refreshed the engine bay, and installed the V8 alongside the Camaro’s original automatic transmission.
They suspected the engine might also be original, although machining had erased the identifying numbers needed for confirmation. One particularly touching detail was their use of the same engine hoist believed to have removed the V8 four decades earlier.
A Frightening Noise Threatens the Revival
The Camaro fired up, but an alarming knocking sound quickly raised fears of internal engine damage. After investigating, the mechanics discovered that the exhaust manifolds weren’t sealing properly against the aftermarket cylinder heads.
Clearancing the manifolds and fitting thicker gaskets eliminated the noise. They also tackled seized rear brake wheel cylinders, ignition issues, and other problems before attempting the Camaro’s first road test.
Cindy Finally Gets Her Turn Behind the Wheel
After roughly two and a half days of work, the Camaro was driving on public roads again. The rebuilt V8 delivered strong performance, and the automatic transmission shifted smoothly enough to make the long-awaited reunion possible.
Cindy then climbed behind the wheel for her first drive in approximately 40 years, returning to the same streets where she and Larry once cruised together. She described the experience as her final tribute to him, imagining how excited he would have been to see the car running.
Instead of immediately pursuing a complete restoration, Cindy wants to enjoy the Camaro as it stands and eventually take it to car shows. Larry never got to finish his project himself, but the woman he loved is finally making new memories behind the wheel of the car they shared.