1974 Camaro Restoration Information

1974 Camaro Specifications

The 1974 Camaro saw a few significant changes. The body was stretched to be even longer and GM pushed up production significantly.

Increasingly, the 1974 Camaro was finding itself more alone in the slowly fading era of muscle cars and their overall popularity. 1974 saw the Camaro finally bow to federal bumper guidelines. This required a major facelift on the Camaro. Rather than place an I-beam ram on the front of the car, Chevy was able to tactfully craft a bumper which met the requirements and still looked relatively stylish – to some people. In addition to this a new, now fiberglass front end nose was required. In the back, a matching aluminum bumper was used along with wrap around teardrop style taillights. This change required a redesign of the rear quarter panel and trunk as well.

You might notice a lot of the changes being implemented are due to federal regulations, some of which were met with severe disgust by the car buying population. One of these was the ignition interlock system requiring your seatbelt to be fastened before the car would start. Others were the increasingly restrictive emissions requirements which caused engine power to be strangled. In an effort to pass fuel mileage requirements, gear ratios were raised which killed the acceleration potential of the car, which was getting heavier & slower each year.

This is in addition to safety requirements/high insurance rates, the cost of gas in an uncertain economy… These are some of the reasons why some people believe the “real” Camaro ended in 1973 (or 1971 depending on how you look at things), and for many people this era Camaro is often over-looked or forgotten.

The SS was gone, the pretty RS model had been cancelled at the end of 1973, and rather than continue to neuter the legendary Z28, Chevrolet gracefully dropped it at the end of 1974. But as General Douglas McArther said – “I shall return”.

In the meantime, the 1974 Camaro saw the following additional changes:

• New extruded aluminum face bars supported on flat leaf springs.
• Front end, grille & head lights redesigned.
• New rear bumper
• Cut-in, wrap-around wedge-shaped tail lamps eliminated the need for rear side markers.
• Interior detail changes, including retractable inertia style shoulder belt
• optional AM/FM stereo radio debuts
• Only year seat belt interlock used (killed in mid-year actually)
• Power steering standard on all V8s.
• Bumper jack changed to a tab-in-slot type (due to bumper construction).
• Gas tank increased from 18 to 21 gallons.
• Z28 got HEI in mid-season.
• Borg-Warner 4 speed replaces Muncie in January ’74
• Baby moon cap gave way to aluminum cap shared with Nova and full size
• Optional radial tires debut
• 307 V8 dropped and replaced with 350 2 barrel
• New wear indicators on front disc brakes and ball joints
• Rally Sport option dropped
• Meridian Walnut applique on LT Instrument cluster

1974 Chevrolet Camaro OEM Brochures

1974 Camaro Model Options:

Engine Options:

• 250 cubic inch L6
• 350 cubic inch V8

1974 Camaro Production:

• 22,210 6-cyl
• 128,798 V8
• 151,008 total

Dealer Introduction: 9/20/73

Vehicle Identification Example: 1S87H4N100001

• First digit is GM Division: 1 = Chevrolet
• Second digit is model: Q = Sport Coupe, S = Type LT Coupe
• Digits 3 & 4 are body type: 87 = 2dr. Coupe
• Fifth digit is engine code:
  • D = 250ci
  • H = 350ci 2bbl
  • K = 350ci 4bbl
  • L = 350ci 4bbl
  • T = 350ci (Z28)
• Sixth digit is model year: 4 = 1974
• Seventh digit is N for Norwood assembly.
• Last six digits increased one with each car built at Norwood

Dimensions & Capacities:

• Length: 195.4″
• Height: 49.2″
• Width: 74.4″
• Wheelbase: 108.0″
• Track F/R: 61.6/60.0
•  Weight Distribution F/R: 56.1/43.9%
• Ground Clearance: 4.9″
• Fuel Capacity: 21.0 Gal
• Battery Capacity: 12 volt 61 amp/hr
• Alternator capacity: 854 watts
• Curb Weight: (in pounds)
  • 1FQ87 (L6) – 3413
  • 1FQ87 (V8) – 3554
  • 1FS87 – 3674

1974 Ending VIN by Month:

• Norwood
  • Aug – 103546
  • Sep – 111226
  • Oct – 122449
  • Nov – 132731
  • Dec – 140883
  • Jan – 155295
  • Feb – 169040
  • Mar – 183937
  • Apr – 197997
  • May – None built
  • Jun – None built
  • Jul – None built
• Van Nuys
  • None built in 1974