Photo: RM Sotheby's
Just when you think you've seen every Camaro model year, every headlight and bumper combination, this thing comes along. It's the 1976 Camaro "Europa Hurst" by Frua and it's going up for auction next month.
The Camaro is one of the first muscle cars ever made, and thus a styling icon. But it's obviously struggling in the looks department right now. Likewise, Chevy wasn't too sure where it wanted to take muscle cars in the 1970s.
That's probably how this thing came along. It was built as a one-off styling exercise by Italian coachbuilder Pietro Frua at Chevrolet’s request. Now, I don't like the 1976 Camaro that much, but this isn't much better.
And it does have a certain European thing going on. The front features a new look thanks to the black face and four round headlights. From certain angles, it resembles the Ford Capri.
Meanwhile, the rear now has a giant hatchback and what look like Firebird taillights. It's technically a fastback, but more like a Ferarri Daytona or Lamborghini Espada. Either way, RM Sotheby's will put it up for auction towards the end of September, and we think it's going to bring at least $100,000. Would you guys pay that?
Sadly, you won't find some exotic 3.5-liter V12 under the hood. The Europa Hurst has kept the stock 350 small-block V8 engine, which is hooked up to a four-speed manual. At least you're going to find parts for it cheaply.
It doesn't have a lot of miles on the clock. But like anything from the 1970s, it probably drives slower than it looks. A 1976 Camaro 350 wasn't worthy of being called a muscle car, as it only made about 160 horsepower. The interior looks like a couch from the thrift shop, with its teal leather and velvet upholstery. Also, check out the T-tops.
That's probably how this thing came along. It was built as a one-off styling exercise by Italian coachbuilder Pietro Frua at Chevrolet’s request. Now, I don't like the 1976 Camaro that much, but this isn't much better.
And it does have a certain European thing going on. The front features a new look thanks to the black face and four round headlights. From certain angles, it resembles the Ford Capri.
Meanwhile, the rear now has a giant hatchback and what look like Firebird taillights. It's technically a fastback, but more like a Ferarri Daytona or Lamborghini Espada. Either way, RM Sotheby's will put it up for auction towards the end of September, and we think it's going to bring at least $100,000. Would you guys pay that?
Sadly, you won't find some exotic 3.5-liter V12 under the hood. The Europa Hurst has kept the stock 350 small-block V8 engine, which is hooked up to a four-speed manual. At least you're going to find parts for it cheaply.
It doesn't have a lot of miles on the clock. But like anything from the 1970s, it probably drives slower than it looks. A 1976 Camaro 350 wasn't worthy of being called a muscle car, as it only made about 160 horsepower. The interior looks like a couch from the thrift shop, with its teal leather and velvet upholstery. Also, check out the T-tops.
Google News