1968 Chevrolet Camaro Restomod

Description

This 1968 Chevrolet Camaro restomod is the kind of sinister, vintage beauty we'd all love to build given the time and money to do it right. With a powerful 383 cubic inch Stroker V8 under the hood that's been built-up to brawl, a 700R4 automatic assembled to handle up to 800HP, along with all high-end desirables like cold R134a A/C and power 4-wheel disc brakes, it combines the look and feel of the most legendary of F-bodies with an up-to-date driving experience. If you like the way this sinister Camaro looks (and if you don't, check your pulse), then you're going to love the way it drives.

This sucker could probably compete for trophies and pose for pictures all its life, but to be honest, it's too good out on the streets for that pampered existence. This Camaro was built to beat up lesser beings, caging it would be an affront against its muscle-clad nature. The sinister Cyber Gray Metallic paint is surely more appealing than anything the factory could have managed back in 1968, and as always, a dark, lustrous color looks fantastic on the classic F-body shape. The paint and body pros worked hard getting it into fighting shape, nailing the gaps and prepping the steel to make it look just right, and the depth of the reflections in the body's surface is proof enough that their work was first class. Custom tricks include a cowl hood, chin spoiler, smooth push-button door handles, and side-skirts with integrated exhaust cut-outs, all of which transform the classic Camaro shape into an attention-grabbing, modern restomod that looks like it just drove off the pages of Hot Rod magazine. Again, this Camaro was purpose-built to hit the streets, not to win all the blue ribbons on the national circuit, so a few minor imperfections could be found under heavy scrutiny (after all, the car has been driven since it was completed), but the finish is uniform, glossy, and high-quality overall that's certainly worth bragging about. The builders skipped the stripes in favor of a slick, monochrome presentation – color-matching the bumpers and side mirrors so the Camaro looks uniform from end-to-end. That means there's not a ton of brightwork and chrome, which isn't a bad thing at all, although the bling of the trim around the glass, drip rails, and out back encircling the taillights, combined with the sporty billet gas cap, really provides a killer contrast that draws in the eye. And of course, the shine of the oversized chrome rims gives this Camaro off-the-charts curb appeal.

Black is the only interior color you'd want on a Camaro like this, and the combination of vintage and new components inside does a great job to continue the car's performance theme. A sporty set of custom, sculpted bucket seats anchor the cabin up front, there's a stock bench in the rear, and a custom center console adorned with an engine turned façade splits the front seats and adds some flash (not to mention convenience) inside the cabin. Plush black carpets protected by black Bowtie mats fit snug atop the floors, stock-style door panels are at the flanks, and there's a thick, unblemished dash pad that looks practically new up ahead. And speaking of the dash, it houses stock-spec gauges just beyond a sporty, aftermarket steering wheel, along with controls and chrome vents for the aftermarket R134a A/C system. That purpose-built center console connects to the center of the dash and houses an AutoMeter tachometer and a pair of auxiliary gauges, switches for the power windows and door locks, a Pioneer AM/FM/AUX head unit, and a ratchet-shifter that manages the built 700R4 below. Everything looks fresh and super-clean and new inside, down to the taut headliner, cup holders, and even the seatbelts, further proof that everything was attended to during this comprehensive restoration. Out back, the surprisingly spacious trunk was finished in aluminum-style cladding and has plenty of room to haul-away all those "Best in Class" trophies this Camaro is bound to win from the local car show circuit.

Under the hood, a professionally built 383 Stroker V8 (built by the late-great Kermit Harper of Frog's Hotrods, a legend around our parts) that's been dressed for show and built to own the streets. It was quite a substantial build, with a $10,500 bill attached to it, and with bolt-on parts like a big Holley 4-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock polished aluminum intake, block-hugging headers, and an HEI ignition, it's incredibly powerful, fast, and reliable. Dressed in finned Edelbrock valve covers and a matching air cleaner, billet pulleys, and loads of polished pieces, it was obviously designed to show off, but it's got the hardware to more than hold its own on the street. A full MSD system and serpentine belt set-up helps the Camaro crank right on cue, while a big radiator with an auxiliary fan means no worries when you're sitting in traffic. The transmission is a Level 4 700R4 4-speed automatic spinning a 10-bolt rear end, all framed by a beautifully finished undercarriage that features a throaty Flowmaster dual exhaust system that exits out the side skirts and sounds downright erotic. Sway bars fore and aft, and air bags at the corners give it vastly improved handling (not to mention a killer stance), power steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes easily tackle the modern streets, and a set of flashy staggered American Racing Torque Thrust wheels wearing 225/45/18 front and 275/40/20 rear BFGoodrich radials round out the extensive list of modifications.

Sadly, we don't have enough room here to fully describe this amazing Camaro and all its killer modifications but suffice to say there's no question where the build cost comes from. Fortunately, to get all the details all you have to do is call!