Aside from a seven-year production hiatus that started in 2002, Chevrolet
has been building Camaros since 1966. The model is in its sixth generation now. But we’re most interested in the unique styling of the split bumper Camaro that was on the showroom floor from 1970 to 1973. This car has been competing with another pony car, the Ford Mustang
, for over five decades now. There’s a reason the Camaro is a staple of American car culture. The split bumper Camaro design
Car enthusiasts agree that Chevrolet really hit the mark with this one. According to HotCars
, it was wider, bigger, and lower than its predecessor. But it was the midsection that pointed outwards which had people turning their heads. The grille was its trademark, especially in the Rally Sport variants. The 1972 and 1973 models were slightly restyled with larger, fewer rectangles. A pair of small chrome bumpers flank the sides below the headlights. Bumper support was larger in 1973.
Variations of the split bumper Camaro over its short four-year production include the 12-bolt emblem. It read simply as Camaro in the final years, but started out as Camaro by Chevrolet in 1970.
That first model also came with bucket seats, dash knobs with images on them, and side marker lights that did not flash when the turn signals were on.
MORE: Take a Look at This Forgotten Classic: The 1971 Plymouth Barracuda
Other features of the split bumper Camaro
We can’t mention a muscle car without actually talking about its power. The split bumper Camaro was equipped with a new engine every year. It started out with a 4.1-liter inline-six engine. The L22 made 155 hp.
It got a straight-six motor of the same size in 1971. This one had a reduced output of 110 hp. Same goes for the six-cylinder engine that followed. And finally, in 1973, Chevrolet restricted the motor to 100 hp in response to new fuel economy regulations.
The split bumper Camaro was available with a three-speed and four-speed manual transmission.
Why is it so special?
This second generation Camaro was only styled with the split bumper for four years out of its 12-year run. Autoevolution
reports that only 12,000 were manufactured in 1970, and even less had the Rally Sport appearance package. Camaro SS models from that year are classically styled in orange paint with dual stripes running up the hood. If you can find one, it’s worth $110,000 in mint condition today.
If you manage to get your hands on a beautiful piece of American car history, the split bumper Camaro or otherwise, Jerry
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