Many people love an underdog -- even model car collectors.

If you've hit the hobby stores lately, it seems almost everything out there is either a Mopar (Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth) muscle car, a Mustang or a 1969 Camaro of some sort.

But have no fear. With a number of new model car companies jumping into the fray, previously ignored cars will start hitting the market as companies try to avoid duplicating what everybody else is doing.

One cool car that never seems to get respect is the second generation Camaro that went into production in 1970, a car that won wide acclaim for its Ferrari like styling.

RC2 has some of the best models of the post-1970 Camaros available, including the ¹/₁₈ scale 1973 and 1970 models of Chevy's famed Camaro Z-28.

Thankfully, RC2 didn't take the easy way out and simply take the 1970 model and slap a 1973 license plate on it. Rather, the company paid close attention to the details that help distinguish between the 1970 model and the only subtly changed 1973 version.

The 1970 model, an ice blue beauty, has the wood trimmed steering wheel insert that most Chevy passenger cars carried that year. It also has a dual snorkel air cleaner for its 396 cubic inch engine, no chrome trim around the windows and only a modest spoiler. It also has a full- length wood trimmed console between the bucket seats. This one's a limited edition version with only 2,500 models available at $35.

The racy jet black 1973 Camaro has a much more flamboyant rear spoiler, a "snorkel-less" air cleaner with the visible filter element and a floor mounted gear shift with no console. It also has chrome trim around the back windshield and the side windows.

The body proportions on both of these model cars is done almost as precisely as the real cars, and they come with working doors, hoods and engines. Shut lines are nice and tight, and even the tires and aluminum wheels reflect what was available in each of those model years.

Also on the market is the ¹/₁₈th scale Camaro Z-28 from Franklin Minty, which represents one of the first forays into the larger scale for that company. I have not yet been able to locate one for review.

The second generation Camaro models are available at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Store in Carnegie, 412-276-5309.