Redesigned for 1970, the Chevrolet Camaro of the early Seventies was a damn good-looking car. And I don’t mean just exceptional looking, I mean, one of the best-looking American cars of all time. The Camaro’s corporate cousin at Pontiac, the Firebird, was, arguably, even a little better looking. My point, I guess, is that I love these cars. Sadly, by 1973, things had gotten a little tough for sporty coupes–and performance cars in general.
1973 Chevrolet Camaro LT
As the muscle-car era ended, tailpipe-emissions rules became more stringent, and auto-insurance rates climbed, the market for sporty cars quickly dissolved. Another problem for the young shoppers most interested in purchasing a fun car—like a Camaro—was decades-high inflation and related high interest rates.
Marketing
And, as the buying public backed away from performance-oriented vehicles, manufacturers responded by repositioning those cars as, of all things, luxury models. Well, sporty and affordable luxury cars.
The crazy thing was, the strategy sometimes worked. The Camaro, the Firebird, several Dodge and Plymouth models, and even the Ford Mustang, were suddenly being advertised as sporty stylish luxury rides—and car shoppers bought in.
Camaro LT
The Camaro LT, seen here, was new for 1973, and combined a fairly compelling combination of old-school muscle (a V8 engine) and reasonably luxurious upgrades.
Sales
Chevy listed sales for three Camaro models for 1973, the 6-cylinder coupe, 8-cylinder coupe, and the Type LT. The seriously sporty Z28 was not a model, but an option package offered on the non-LT V8 models. For ’73, the 6-cylinder models accounted for 3614 sales, the non-LT V8s 60,810, and the LT 32,327. A pretty good showing for the LT in its first year out.
Luxury Features
As for luxury, the ad seen here lists a number of features, which by 2025 standards probably don’t strike as especially premium-level stuff. Those upgrades, per the ad, included: (click here for more classic car ads)
- “Full-foam” cloth and vinyl seats
- Power steering
- Woodgrain vinyl accents
- Hide-away windshield wipers
- Sound insulation
- Rally wheels
- “Sport” mirrors (2)
- Turbo-Fire V8
- Special Instruments
- White-sidewall tires
One wonders what less-than-fully-foam seats are like, but a few of the other items listed are actually of some value. The additional sound insulation would make the Camaro LT a better long-trip conveyance, and the Rally wheels look good. And, for the most part, the extra instruments found in sporty cars usually include things like an amp meter, which no American commuter has ever made use of.
Engines
But, the really nice add here is the Turbo-Fire V8. The 350-cubic-inch engine produced 145 horsepower in standard trim, but an available 175-horse variant could be had. While neither engine made the LT a rocket, both delivered plenty of smooth, reliable torque, and set the car off as something reasonably special. Also, neither engine was likely to raise red flags with insurers. For serious muscle, Camaro shoppers would need to go the Z28 route, and avail themselves of that model’s potent 245-horse mill.
Prices
The LT didn’t come cheap. While the base 1973 V8 Camaro started at just $2872 (about $20,250 today), the LT started at $3208 ($22,500), and in most cases was probably equipped with a number of extra-cost features including automatic transmission, air conditioning, and some stereo equipment, likely an 8-Track setup.
Well equipped, though a little pricey, the Camaro Type LT would have been a classy and capable touring car that was something more than just a sporty coupe. And, as the LT accounted for around a third of all 1973 Camaro sales, consumers seemed to agree. And as the Camaro was—and remains—one of the best-looking cars of all time, we’d call any ’73 ‘Maro a bargain.
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1973 Chevrolet Camaro LT Pictures
Click below for enlarged images