1969 Chevrolet Camaro

RS Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Manual

Clear

Gasoline

There are nice cars, and then there are absolutely incredible cars like this pro-touring 1969 Camaro Z/28. Sit down, hang on, and shut up, because this car has enough “WOW!” packed into it for two bright red Camaros. Read on and be prepared to be amazed by this killer machine. First, it’s red. Really, really red. Viper red, to be precise, and with that silver stripe it captures the color combination used on a Baldwin-Motion Camaro that generated a ton of interest and sold for more than a million dollars at a recent auction. You can forget about keeping a low profile in this car, but don’t worry—you have the hardware to back up anyone who thinks red means “go!” The body is all-original 1969 Camaro steel, and it has been professionally straightened and prepped to create a perfect foundation for that blistering red paint. I spoke at length with the builders and they admitted that they were considering some body modifications at first, maybe some cladding on the lower rockers, but ultimately decided to let the original sheetmetal do all the talking. I always think that’s the right choice, especially with a car like this one where subtlety is not part of the equation. Although there’s a steel cowl induction hood, that’s the extent of the body mods—there’s not even a spoiler on the deck lid, and I like that a lot. The result is clean, uncluttered, and purposeful-looking. With its killer stance and big 18-inch rims, body modifications would have detracted from the overall effect, not enhanced it. Of course, there are little things that make a big difference, such as the polished billet tail and side marker lights that almost look factory, but not quite. The hidden headlamps with Detroit Speed electric RS doors look great and work better than the original vacuum units ever did. And did I mention how perfect all the stainless and chrome pieces; It’s show-car quality throughout. Under the hood beats 496 cubic inches of Mark IV big block power. The block is a 4-bolt main that was cleaned, shot-peened, magnafluxed, pressure tested, and sonic checked before it was allowed to become the foundation for this stout stroker. The crank and rods are forged steel pieces from Pro Comp, topped by a set of Probe/Keith Black pistons with Speed Pro plasma moly rings, yielding a totally streetable 10.25:1 compression ratio. The camshaft is a new hydraulic Elgin Industries E1143P driven by a true Cloyes double roller timing chain. It gives the car a nasty, lopey idle, and pulls hard from 2500 RPM on up. Sitting on top of that bulletproof bottom end is a set of fully ported Pro-Comp aluminum rectangle port heads with Manley 2.25” intake and 1.88” exhaust valves managed by a set of stainless roller rockers. It’s all topped by a polished aluminum Edelbrock intake and a Holley 850 carburetor, with a set of Doug Thorley headers handling exhaust duties. On the dyno, this killer big block cranked out more than 600 horsepower on pump gas. No, I’m not kidding.  Of course, that engine is fully dressed for show, with billet aluminum and polished stainless everywhere you look. There’s a March serpentine pulley system, a billet power steering pump, a polished A/C compressor and 100 amp alternator, plus billet valve covers, timing cover, and air cleaner. A Mallory ignition box is mounted on the firewall and ensures quick starts, hot or cold, with just a single turn of the key. This is definitely an engine compartment you’ll want to show off every chance you get.  The transmission is a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed manual modified by Keisler Engineering, which is one durable unit and easily up to the power produced by the big stroker. It features a .64 overdrive in 5th, which makes this car an effortless and comfortable highway cruiser, loafing along at about 2000 RPM at 60 MPH. The clutch is a hydraulic unit for low effort, and a Keisler steel driveshaft transmits the power rearward to a modified Ford 9-inch rear packed with a Detroit Locker and 3.89 gears.  If you think the guys who would build an engine like that would put a stock suspension under it, you’d better guess again. Knowing the limitations of the ancient Camaro’s underpinnings, the builders installed an all-new state-of-the-art TCI tubular front K-member with upper and lower A-arms and coil-over shocks. Two-inch drop spindles give the car a classic predatory rake, and a chrome sway bar and manual steering rack help this car carve corners as well as it eats long straightaways. Out back, there’s a matching TCI 4-link system with more coil-overs holding up the 9-inch axle.   For keeping it all under control, there’s a vented, cross-drilled Wilwood brake disc at each corner, neatly tucked in behind those awesome 18-inch Rocket Booster wheels.  So you have all this hardware for doing some serious road work, you need a suitable office, too, right? This car has you covered. The all-black interior is anchored by a set of custom black leather sport seats with a matching rear bench. The door panels are custom jobs by Marquez Design, and the center console is a fabricated item unique to this car. The dashboard is stuffed full of Autometer Ultralight gauges that mimic the original layout and design, but give it a 21st century spin. There’s a new headliner, sail panels, kick panels, dash pad and carpet, too. The tilt steering column is from Flaming River, as is the polished billet aluminum and leather wheel. The Sony Xplod CD player with MP3 capability sits in the stock location, right below the controls for the Vintage Air A/C and heating system. The A/C blows cold, the wipers work, the engine is tuned properly and starts perfectly every time, and there are no electrical gremlins hiding in there. This car hasn’t been shown and barely has been driven, so you can be the first to take home the big trophies with it—it isn’t someone else’s retired show car.