By Tommy Lee Byrd – Images by the Author
As car people, we tend to romanticize time periods because of certain positive aspects that stand above the negative ones. The 1970s is perhaps the most vivid example of this phenomenon, because even if you didn’t live through the decade, you know there was a mixture of good, bad, and just plain ugly. For Jeff Mumford, a longtime car guy from Taylorsville, Kentucky, he wanted to hand pick the goodness from the ’70s street machine days and apply those elements to his 1970 Camaro Rally Sport. The result is a car that he calls “Snot Rocket,” a period-correct street machine that has all the right elements without the gaudy details that often accompany these radical creations.
Jeff bought the car from a friend in 2003 and took it apart shortly thereafter. Family, work, and other projects rose on the priority list, so the Camaro went to the back burner for a few years. Jeremy Thompson of Thompson Hot Rods was instrumental in getting the project rolling, and many friends jumped in along the way to see this project to the finish line.
The ’70s build style presented a few challenges, as the Camaro was a blank canvas and there were many directions it could go. Jeff wanted it to be simple and clean, but undeniably ’70s, so he let the car’s stance and engine combination do most of the talking. He didn’t want wild paint or outlandish interior—he just wanted a tasteful car that looks like it belonged in that era.
Underneath, Jeff used Moroso Trick Springs up front and Calvert Racing leaf springs out back. He had the rear springs re-arched to dial in the ride height. Lakewood traction bars, 50/50 shocks, and a chrome differential cover adorn the 12-bolt rearend. Jeff paid special attention to the tires and wheels and used a set of ET five-spoke wheels, which feature machined lips and light gold spokes, as well as rare oval ET center caps. The 15×4 and 15×10 wheels are wrapped in bias-ply tires with skinny Moroso Drag Specials up front and Pro Trac Street Pro N50-15 rears that protrude out of the wheel openings just enough.
Horsepower is another ingredient in the street machine recipe, and Jeff’s right foot is responsible for managing more than 600 hp by way of a big-block Chevy, which comes in at 460 ci. The 0.030-inch overbore is filled with Ross forged pistons, giving the rowdy big-block a streetable 10.5:1 compression ratio. John Triplett built the engine using an Isky hydraulic roller camshaft and buttoned it up with a tried-and-true tunnel ram to complete the ’70s street machine package. Jeff upgraded his carburetor setup with a pair of ATM Innovation XRC carburetors, built and tuned by Doug Cross at ATM. Aesthetically, the engine looks the part, as it wears Chevrolet Orange paint, nicely detailed Mickey Thompson tall valve covers, and filtered velocity stacks that feature a custom-mixed paint to replicate the classic gold anodized finish.
The sneaky part of the engine bay is the Vintage Air system that’s hardly noticeable. The compressor and brackets are painted black and tucked under the alternator for a clean install. Jeff also installed a vintage Phase III ignition box on the firewall, which is a period-correct piece, but isn’t operational. Instead, he cleverly installed an MSD 6AL box out of sight to power the Pro Billet distributor. Another modern update includes an RPM Transmissions 4L60E automatic overdrive transmission, which allows for easy street cruising, even with 4.11:1 gears out back.
When it came time for bodywork and paint, Thompson Hot Rods straightened up the rust-free sheetmetal and added an L88-style hood, which is relieved and flanged to make room for the carburetors and velocity stacks. Otherwise, the body is stock. Thompson Hot Rods laid down the PPG Deltron materials, mixed in Code 43 Citrus Green. Inside, you’ll find a stock white interior, which features PUI interior components installed by Jason’s Upholstery in Louisville, Kentucky. The Lakewood-style three-point rollbar was built by John Triplett and painted satin gold by Jeremy Thompson. The only other interior modifications are the aftermarket radio, Vintage Air control panel, and the Deist Safety harnesses.
The color combo, the radical engine setup, and the stance makes this Camaro look like it’s for a Saturday night street race, but Jeff didn’t originally intend to race the car. However, his son, Dylan, talked him into taking it to the Tug of War no prep race at Ohio Valley Dragway, where he took home the win in the Street Driver class.
Thanks to Jeremy’s vision and the hard work of great friends, this car hits the high points of the ’70s without the gaudy side effects of the era. Tasteful, slick, and fast were on the agenda and that’s exactly what you get with Jeff Mumford’s nostalgic second-generation Camaro.
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
TECH CHECK
Owner: Jeff & Lisa Mumford, Taylorsville, Kentucky
Vehicle: 1970 Camaro
Engine
Type: Big-block
Displacement: 460 ci
Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
Bore: 4.280 inches
Stroke: 4.000 inches
Rotating Assembly: Stock crank, Ross pistons
Cylinder Heads: Rectangular port GM castings
Valvetrain: 2.205/1.610 valves, Brian Tooley Racing valvesprings
Camshaft: Isky hydraulic roller, 0.602-inch lift
Ignition: MSD Pro Billet distributor, 6AL box
Intake: Edelbrock street tunnel ram
Carburetors: Dual ATM Innovation XRC Race Series 750 cfm
Assembly: John Triplett
Exhaust: Hooker long-tube headers, 3-inch pipes, Flowmaster mufflers
Ancillaries: Mickey Thompson valve covers, modified velocity stacks
Output: 627 hp, 625 lb-ft of torque
Drivetrain
Transmission: GM 4L60E Level V by RPM Transmissions, 3,200-rpm converter
Rear Axle: GM 12-bolt, 4.11:1 gears, Eaton differential, Moser 35-spline axles
Chassis
Front Suspension: Moroso trick springs, Lakewood 90/10 shocks
Rear Suspension: Calvert Racing leaf springs, 50/50 shocks, Lakewood traction bars
Brakes: Original disc front brakes, 11-inch rear drums
Master Cylinder: Stock reproduction
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: E.T. Classic V, 15×4 and 15×10
Tires: Moroso 7.10-15 front, Pro Trac N50-15 rear
Interior
Seats: Stock
Steering: Chevy comfort grip steering wheel
Console: Stock
Shifter: Stock
Dash: Stock
Instrumentation: Stock
HVAC: Vintage Air
Audio: Stock look reproduction
Exterior
Paint: PPG Deltron Citrus Green by Thompson Hot Rods
Hood: L88-style hood
Grille: Stock
Bumpers: Stock
Lights: Stock
