Vehicle Description
Around the Streetside showroom, we hear a lot of conversations, and
those we hear about this 1968 Chevrolet Camaro restomod lead us to
believe it won't be on the market for very long. The buzz on this
transformed F-body has been huge since it came in, rumbling along
with the wicked cackle of its siren song enticing everyone out of
their seats. And with stunning curb appeal punctuated by a high-end
Cyber Gray Metallic paint job wrapped around a sporty, custom
interior, it's no wonder everyone gravitates to this restomod. A
383 Stroker V8 under the hood, beefed-up 700R4 automatic handling
the shifts, and a long list of performance/suspension goodies
working in unison to power one of the slickest 1st gen Camaros
we've seen in years. Yeah, this beauty's days under our roof our
definitely numbered...
You can't argue with this Camaro's stance, or the brutally
effective Cyber Gray Metallic finish that is the perfect antidote
to all the Hugger Orange Camaros running around. Panel gaps are
excellent and the top driver-quality paint (and for the majority of
people, this finish would easily qualify as show-quality paint, but
with a couple of tiny imperfections and a miniscule sign of use
here and there, we prefer to hedge our bets and let people be
pleasantly surprised) is very slick, so you'll be proud to show it
off everywhere you go. The clean look of the early Camaros is
popular for a very good reason: it simply looks awesome, yet it
lends itself to light customization. With the addition of a deep
chin spoiler, racing-style fog lights, a billet grille, LED
headlights, and a cowl induction up front, this '68 gets straight
to the business of showing off. Ground effects between the wheels
were added as well, complete with integrated rectangular exhaust
cut-outs that look absolutely trick, while the taillights were
smoked and frame a billet gas cap that looks like it was borrowed
from a Shelby (not to be sacrilegious here Bowtie fans, but even we
must admit that those boys in blue always knew how to make a killer
racing gas cap). All those sporty touches were expertly installed,
the bodywork is laser-straight, and the panel fitment and body gaps
are precise - a perfect backdrop for the high-end paint that came
next. Laid down by professionals in 2010 to the tune of $10K, the
Cyber Gray Metallic is incredibly uniform, miles-deep, and the
perfect complement to the theme of this build. Our studio lights
bounce off the sheetmetal with an unbelievable luster, and even
though the car's been finished for over a decade, it's been stored
among other collector cars inside an A/C controlled facility the
entire time so it's remarkably preserved. With a full Air Ride
suspension, there a couple different stances you can choose with
this beauty, but we prefer the predatory, low-slung crouch you see
in our photos, where the fender lips hug the tires and the car
looks like it's going 100MPH just sitting still. The bumpers were
painted to match the car, as were the aftermarket side mirrors, and
that was a wise choice as it only adds to the car's slick, uniform
appearance. The door handles were shaved and replaced with sleek,
flush-mounted hardware that only adds to the streamlined design,
and we actually love that they left of the rear spoiler because it
makes the car look like it's always going through a wind
tunnel.
Behind the wheel, there are no major surprises, but rather a
perfect blend of old and new that forms this restomod's cabin.
Sculpted front buckets were swapped in up front and a custom center
console was fabricated and dropped in between them, and those
elements alone transform this cockpit and give it a racy vibe. That
center console features a gorgeous, machine-turned overlay and
flows into the dash where it houses a set of auxiliary gauges, an
AM/FM/CD/SAT/BT head unit, cup holders, auxiliary switches, and a
towering T-handle shifter that manages the overdrive transmission
below. There's a sporty 3-spoke steering wheel, and just beyond it
a set of sporty factory gauges, and modern R134a A/C was cleverly
integrated and blows ice cold. Dynamat sound-deadening insulation
was laid down in the trunk and inside the cabin before it was
covered uo with plush black carpets, and it keeps things hushed
inside while the upgraded stereo (complete with subwoofers and
amplifiers) absolutely BOOMS.
If you're looking for streetable horsepower, look no further than
the 383 V8 Stroker under the cowl hood. Built by local classic car
legend Kermit Harper from Frog's Hotrods to the tune of $10,500, it
runs like a scolded dog, and with less than 10K miles on it, it's
still very fresh. With a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock
E-Tec-200 heads, an Edelbrock aluminum intake, an MSD ignition
system, and long-tube headers, it's got more pop than you'll ever
need and sounds menacing. The engine bay was finished to show, with
finned valve covers and a matching Edelbrock air cleaner, along
with a billet serpentine belt system and loads of polished
accessories that really make the engine pop. Underneath, it's quite
clean and was obviously built for combat, with a Flowmaster dual
exhaust system exiting out of the side skirts, and with an
independent front suspension, sway bars fore and aft, and an Air
Ride system setting the stance, it also handles like a dream. The
built Level 4 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission can handle up to
800HP, and it spins heavy-duty 10-bolt out back, while power
steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes drilled and slotted rotors
provide excellent stopping power. Polished Torque Thrusts are
staggered and wear 225/45/18 front and 275/40/20 rear BFGoodrich
radials with plenty of grip, finishing off the restomod look
perfectly.
Fast and well-executed, this '68 Camaro is a joy to drive and a
legitimate threat on the street. IT wont' last ling, call
today!
