Vehicle Description
This drop-dead gorgeous 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Restomod
is summer fun done right. A very impressive build in every possible
way, it's beautiful to look at and with all the right
modifications, it's downright amazing to drive. It may look like a
show car (and by several measures it's exactly that), but with the
upgraded hardware under the skin, you're going to have a hard time
staying out of the driver's seat.
Taken apart and rebuilt from the sheetmetal on up, this beautiful
and sporty Camaro is even better in person than it is in photos,
and that's no small achievement. Paint this shiny doesn't happen by
accident, so dozens and dozens of hours were spent sanding,
smoothing, and aligning the panels before even a drop went on. The
color itself is pretty close to the Chevy Camaro's Cortez Silver
that would be introduced just a year later (although it's a bit
lighter), and it has a subtle twist in the form of a slightly
darker silver stripe on the cowl hood and deck lid, which are aptly
separated by a red outline that matches the interior and really
pops. Instead of over-dressing the car, all the custom touches that
were added feel more subtle on the Camaro's classic body, including
the chin spoiler and aforementioned cowl hood, the blacked-out SS
grill, and the ducktail spoiler and SS gas cap out back. The expert
workmanship speaks for itself, and although it's not a trailer
queen to be gawked at a in a museum, this droptop is definitely a
top-end driver with off-the-charts curb appeal. At this point, it
doesn't really matter whether it is an original SS, but 'SS' and
'350' badges have been installed in all the usual spots and let
everyone know exactly what time it is. Nice chrome bumpers fore and
aft (including bumper guards out back) highlight the bright silver
paint and all the remaining stainless was either polished or
replaced when the car went back together during the
restoration.
If you're building a Camaro, you really can't go wrong with the
exotic look of silver-over-red, and in a convertible, bright red
vinyl seat covers are a welcome upgrade from the usual bland
all-black found in most 1st generation F-body cars. But don't fret,
it's not bright red overkill inside the cabin, as there's plenty of
black on the dash, center console, and door panels to off-set all
that vibrant crimson. Virtually everything inside this car is new,
including the upgraded front seats (borrowed from a late model) and
the beautifully upholstery that adorns them, the matching rear
bench, plush red carpets, custom black door panels with chrome
accents, and the gorgeous leather-rimmed steering wheel that
highlights the car's restomod attitude. The dash was painted black
and topped with a matching black pad, and a custom carbon-fiber
trimmed bezel was filled with AutoMeter gauges that keep a keen eye
on the hot motor under the hood. There's also a factory center
console adorned with woodgrain trim that houses a sought-after
horseshoe shifter, and it manages an upgraded 700R4 4-speed
automatic transmission below. Options include a full R134a A/C
system, tilt wheel, an AM/FM/Cassette stereo, and seatbelts fore
and aft. The black convertible top is about the only part of the
car that shows any age, but it still fits so well that it feels
wrong to put it down and wrinkle it further, but don't worry,
you'll likely prefer to keep it down and stowed away underneath the
red vinyl boot anyway, because after all, is there anything that
looks better than a droptop vintage Camaro? Out back, the
surprisingly spacious trunk was outfitted with replacement plaid
mats, further proof that nothing was overlooked in the build of
this beauty.
For power, there's a healthy 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood
that's running great, topped with QuickFuel 4-barrel carb and
aluminum intake, and what sounds like an upgraded cam that gives it
an awesome idle and plenty of mid-range punch. But perhaps more
significant than the engine's specs is the high-tech look of the
engine bay itself, which was carefully disassembled and each
component was painted or polished, right down to the super-clean
painted inner fenders and firewall. Plenty of billet aluminum and
chrome adds some sparkle and the overall look is modern and clean
with the serpentine belt system and chrome pulleys. The suspension
has been completely overhauled to help the car handle like a modern
sports car, including a C4 Corvette set-up in the front complete
with a big sway bar, custom A-arms, power rack-and-pinion steering,
and coilovers, and out back there's 4-link set-up with coilvers.
Stopping power comes via Corvette power 4-wheel disc brakes, while
the 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission mated to the engine is the
perfect pick for a Restomod built to cruise long distances.
Long-tube headers feed a custom X-pipe dual exhaust system give it
a great sound and the undercarriage was finished to match the level
of engine bay, so you should probably figure out a way to show it
off, because it looks fantastic. Cool staggered U.S. Mags wheels
have a modern look and wear 235/45/17 front and 255/45/18 rear
performance radials with plenty of grip.
Fast, fun, and incredibly good-looking, this droptop Restomod is a
dialed-in vintage cruiser with all the right moves. Cars like this
never last long, call today!
