Elvira: The ’73 Camaro With Big-Block Bite And Seductive Dark Looks

There’s something about a second-gen Camaro that gets the blood pumping. Chevrolet took their success with the first-generation and refined it into something with an entirely different attitude. The first three years, the car was new, sleek, and a little bit intimidating. But the redesign was something bolder, badder, and downright mean.

Elvira looks good from every angle. The black and silver color scheme really helps this car stand out.

We want to introduce you to Elvira, a 1973 SS Camaro that truly lives up to the legacy, and makes a bold statement about what it means to be a muscle car. Robert Way of Spanaway, Washington, knew what he was getting into when he built this big-block-powered ride. “When I got it, it was yellow and brown, It was a major project,” Robert said. “For what it looked like, most people wouldn’t have done it.”

The Weld Racing wheels are a nice touch on this resto-mod beast.

“My old man had a body shop while I was growing up. That experience helped me see the potential in it,” Robert continued. When he bought it, not only was it a major project, it came with a drivetrain that didn’t really do it for Robert. It was just a small-block 350 cubic-incher with a Turbo 350 transmission. What it really was though, was an opportunity for Robert to build a car just how he wanted it.

It’s been 9-years since Robert bought the car, and it’s come a long way since then. Instead of the lack-luster small-block, Elvira now has the heartbeat of a 496 cubic-inch engine with Edelbrock E-Force heads, an Edelbrock RPM Performer air-gap intake, and an 850cfm Quick Fuel carburetor. With an 11:1 compression ratio and oval-port heads, performance at the low-end and mid-range RPM is great.

This car looks as good under the hood as it does outside of it. The engine bay is cool, clean, and satin black.

Shifting duties have been upgraded to a Turbo 400 automatic with a 3,000-rpm stall converter, and the rearend is the stock 10-bolt housing with Auburn positraction and 3.73 gearing. Other enhancements under the hood are a Champion Cooling radiator, MSD Street Fighter ignition, an Optima battery, and a March Performance pulley kit. “I’m still working on it,” Robert told us. “It’s never done.”

The interior is a custom design by Ron Wilson of Spanaway Upholstery. He did the front seat, back seat, and the custom-wrapped center console. The interior does a really nice job of rounding out the look of the build, as the soft, supple vinyl really compliment the black and silver exterior of the car.

This beauty looks good inside and out. The upholstery accents the look of the car, and the Hurst shift knob really compliments the theme and the car's namesake.

Robert and his dad did all of the paint and bodywork on the car as well. The duo did quite an impressive job, and we’ll tell you, this car looks as good up close and personal as it does flying by you down the road. It’s a work of art, pure and simple. We love this Camaro.

Make sure you check out the rest of the shots that we took of Elvira. She is a beautiful car and there is plenty in there for any Camaro lover to drool over. Don’t miss out, check it out!