When it comes to customs and restomods, there is no right or wrong way to configure a car. But one approach that’s bound to initiate a conversation is using an engine engineered for a boat application. Take this 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Custom Coupe as an example — it uses a marine-grade MerCruiser V-8. This pony car is listed for sale on AutoHunter by a dealer in Missouri.
Exterior features include black paint, dark blue ghost striping, sport side mirrors, black-finished grille trim, cowl-induction hood, Z/28 badging, one-piece rear spoiler, and 17-inch Budnik aluminum wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 tires.
The cabin features black vinyl bucket seats, lap belts, center console, manual-crank windows, MOMO steering wheel, power steering, AutoMeter Ultra-Lite gauges, Alpine AM/FM/CD sound system, and four-point roll bar. The battery and a fuel cell are housed in the trunk.
Under the hood is a 540ci fuel-injected “MerCruiser” V-8 mated to a TREMEC TKX five-speed manual transmission and 12-bolt Positraction rear end. Here’s where things get a little interesting. Mercury Marine is in fact not affiliated with Mercury automobiles (a FoMoCo brand that’s been gone since 2010). Rather, Mercury Marine is a division of the Brunswick Corporation, a manufacturer of marine engines and boating products.
The selling dealer says the powertrain started out as a 500ci engine that was bored out and is said to produce 625 horsepower. Features include an MSD Blaster coil, long-tube headers, Milodon oil pan, and aluminum radiator. The odometer shows 2,740 miles, although true mileage is unknown, and the title reads mileage-exempt.
Relatively few components of the original chassis remain to the car’s original build in Van Nuys, California in April 1970. Equipment includes coilover suspension, front tubular A-arms, custom rear suspension, and adjustable trailing arm and Panhard bar mounts.
Regardless of whether you are for (or against) using a marine-grade engine in a Chevrolet, the fact that this Camaro makes 625 horsepower is impressive, and we bet it’s a blast to drive. There could be a few other benefits to using a MerCruiser V-8, like superior corrosion resistance and high-load durability. You certainly aren’t likely to find a second-generation Camaro built quite like this one!
The auction for this 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Custom Coupe ends Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 12:15 p.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
