1973 Chevy Camaro Z28

The second-generation Camaro is what happens when GM's designers got ambitious. Where the first-gen Camaro was a Mustang fighter, the second-gen aimed higher — European GT car proportions wrapped around American V8 muscle.

The 1970-73 'split bumper' cars are the most desirable, with that aggressive face GM would never build today. The Z28 badge meant business: the LT-1 was a legitimate performance engine, even as emissions regulations started strangling horsepower.

By 1973, the muscle car era was dying, but the Camaro's styling made it look fast even when it wasn't.

Second-gen Camaros age beautifully when they're driven, not garage-queened. The long hood shows rock chips with character. The split bumper chrome can pit, but that's honest wear. Original Rally Sport stripes fading into the basecoat tells a story.

These cars were meant to be driven hard — let them look like it. Avoid the cars that have been 'restored' to a shine they never had from the factory.

Parts support is excellent but not quite first-gen levels. The subframe is the same vulnerable point. Interiors are harder to restore correctly — the plastics haven't been as well reproduced.

The steering is slow by modern standards (unless you find a Z28 with the quick-ratio box), and the rear suspension is primitive. But a sorted second-gen Camaro is still a legitimate driver. The aftermarket has every performance upgrade you'd want. Budget for subframe connectors if you're going to drive it hard.