Mean Green: Paul Rivard's 1974 Chevy Camaro Type LT

“A lot of people come up to me and say, ‘You made an ugly car look good.’”

Wait…what?

“It’s kind of flattering, actually, because that’s what I wanted to do. I didn’t like the look of it, either!” Paul Rivard said, laughing.

The 1974 Chevy Camaro is unique. It’s a one-year-only style that features the smaller rear window of the 1970-73 cars, and new-design impact bumpers that stick way out there. Paul set out to correct the unsightly bumper issue and weighed his options. “I actually was trying to figure out a way to put ’70 front and rear bumpers on it,” he said. He settled on a set of aftermarket bumpers intended for oval-track racing and used his self-taught metalworking skills to massage, tweak, and tuck them in.

Going far beyond replacing the bumpers, Paul ended up massively restyling both ends of the car. Up front, the fiberglass valence panel was reworked and a lower grill was added. “The lower grill is an upper grill flipped upside-down, and it fit right in. It literally dropped right into place and I’m like, ‘It can’t be this easy,’” Paul said. A 1977 Z28 chin spoiler completes the low-slung look. Out back, the license plate was moved below the bumper to a modified valence panel, and the space between the taillights was filled in. A Ridetech fuel filler intended for 1967-68 Camaros and 1970 spoiler provide the finishing touches.

Even more involved was the installation of flush front and rear glass. While they create a much smoother, more modern look, they didn’t exactly drop right in. Paul put about 30 hours into each window to get it to fit just right.

Of course, all that metalwork and the beautiful GM Emerald Green Metallic finish would be little more than window dressing if the Camaro didn’t have the goods to back it up. A Holley-injected 427-inch LS3 sends its 610 hp and 574 ft.-lbs. through a TREMEC Magnum 6-speed and on to a 3.55-geared Moser 12-bolt rear end. Ridetech suspension and 3030 Autosport wheels wearing 275/40R18 Firestone Firehawk rubber round out the package and make the Camaro an autocross weapon with road trip manners.

Visit OnAllCylinders.com to learn more about this show-winning ’74 and the second-gen Camaro fanatic who brought it to life.

Photography: Jenna Gonzales
Art Direction: Kate Wolfram
Story: Aaron Dolezal

FAST SPECS

Chassis
Frame rewelded, smoothed, and powdercoated
Global West subframe connectors
Borgeson 12.7:1 ratio steering box
Ridetech StrongArm tubular front control arms and HQ Series coilovers, 1 1/4" sway bar
Ridetech StreetGrip composite leaf springs and HQ Series shock absorbers
Wilwood 6-piston front/4-piston rear calipers, 12.19" drilled and slotted rotors, and master cylinder with proportioning valve

Wheels and Tires
3030 Autosport G05Y 18" x 9 1/2" forged aluminum wheels (front/rear)
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 275/40R18 tires (front/rear)

Engine
GM LS3, bored and stroked to 427 cu. in., built by Golen Engine Service, Hudson, NH
COMP Cams® custom-grind camshaft, lifters, pushrods, valve springs, and trunnion upgrade
Mahle forged 11.0:1 pistons and rings
Callies Performance crankshaft and rods
Clevite bearings
LS Classic big block-style valve covers
Holley mid-mount accessory drive system

Fueling
Holley Terminator Stealth EFI, single-plane intake manifold, and Sniper EFI fuel tank with 400 lph pump
Summit Racing™ air filter

Ignition and Electrical
LS3 ignition coils
MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor spark plug wires
Powermaster starter
American Autowire wiring harness

Exhaust
Hooker Blackheart headers
Pypes Race Pro mufflers
Custom 3" stainless steel tubing

Cooling
Cold Case radiator and dual fans
Silicone and aluminum hoses with Allstar Performance PowerGrip heat shrink hose clamps

Drivetrain
TREMEC Magnum 6-speed transmission
McLeod RXT twin-disc clutch
Moser GM 12-bolt rear end with Auburn Gear limited-slip differential, Moser 3.55:1 ring and pinion and 30-spline axles

Exterior
Low-profile bumpers, reworked front and rear valence panels, relocated rear license plate, Fesler flush-mount front and rear glass
Metalwork and modifications by Paul Rivard
Ridetech fuel filler
Paint and final bodywork by Mike Beaulieu, Mike’s Auto Body, Merrimack, NH
2015 GM Emerald Green Metallic paint

Interior
Upholstery by Ace Upholstery, Salem, NH, and Paul Rivard
TMI front seats and rear seat covers
Vintage Air A/C
Modern Classics Interiors fiberglass dashboard and console
Holley EFI 6.86 in. Pro Dash
Alpine stereo head unit, JL Audio amplifier and subwoofer, Custom Autosound and Kicker speakers

Special thanks to: My wife Tanya for her patience and understanding; Dave Simoneau and John Rowbotham for their machine shop skills; Mike Beaulieu for years of bodywork class