Vehicle Description
If you want a classic car to drive but don't want one that's been
cobbled together or overbuilt so much that it's lost most of its
vintage spirit, then this recently restored 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
is a terrific choice. Although it may look like a sleeper at first
glance, it has the heart of a lion under the hood, handles like a
dream, and features off-the-charts good looks inside and out. From
the handcrafted 540 V8 big block to the quick-shifting 5-speed
gearbox it's matched with, this purpose-built 1st generation Camaro
may look like a standard classic, but it's a bonafide muscle car
through and through.
It's rare to find a no-stories Camaro these days, with all the
botched restorations, thrown-together basket cases, and
over-the-top resto-mods running around. Thankfully, the
comprehensive restoration that put this Camaro together was
finished to a high standard, and although it's packed with
performance parts/components, it loses none of its original spirit.
It looks like a well-behaved schoolboy at first glance, but after
closer examination, its sinister ways are quickly realized.
Repainting it back to its original Code G2 Ash Gold was an
excellent choice, as it's a bright shade that's not often seen on
Camaros these days, helping it stand out from the sea of black and
red cars at every car show. The finish is in great shape and still
fresh, with a deep luster, smooth uniformity, and bright shine that
looks even better in person than in our photos. Gloss black front
nose stripes were expertly painted on, matching the black vinyl top
out back - both of which do a great job of breaking up the paint
and providing some contrast. The curb appeal is through the roof,
and the bodywork turns heads, placing this coupe squarely in top
driver-quality territory, if not borderline show. Any imperfections
are very, very minor, most of which could easily be remedied via a
buff-and-wax, but even in its current state, this is one of the
nicer Camaros in our inventory. Other than the wheels and crouched
stance, this Camaro hasn't been loaded with accessories or done up
like a fake SS, and they left off any silly badges, gaudy spoilers,
or obnoxious decals that could detract from the car's killer curb
appeal. The workmanship is great all around, with no signs of any
major repairs in this car's history and the gaps are precise, the
body panels line up neatly, and the lines are laser straight. That
black stripe on the nose continues into a sharp spear that runs the
door length, breaking up the monochromatic look and adding a little
aggressiveness to the curb appeal. The front grille is stock spec,
all the badges are where they're supposed to be, and the chrome and
brightwork - including the bumpers, wheel arch molding, rocker
panels trim, and stainless around the glass is in great
condition.
There's practically no car where a light exterior with a dark
interior doesn't work, and in this Camaro's case, the combination
is a slam-dunk. With handsome black vinyl upholstery featuring
houndstooth inserts, it has an upscale OEM look and feels, with no
signs of use to be found, thanks to tender loving care. The
upholstery is in excellent contrast to the paint, and the plush
black carpets, matching drop-in center console, and sleek flanking
door panels have a uniform look. The factory gauges are crisp and
clear inside the dual pods beyond the 3-spoke steering wheel.
However, with all that extra blasting powder under the hood,
auxiliary units were incorporated to keep a closer eye on things,
including the big AutoMeter tachometer strapped to the steering
column and the trio of auxiliary units under the dash. Options are
fairly sparse, but you do get seatbelts, a heater/defrost unit,
power steering/brakes, and an AM/FM stereo inside the stock dash
slot. But for those who love the exhilarating thrill of driving,
the most important option is the cue-ball-topped Hurst shifter that
juts out from the floorboard and manages the 5-speed gearbox below.
The rear seat looks like it's never been sat in, while out back,
the spacious trunk was neatly finished with reproduction mats on
the floor and spare.
Under the hood is where the party gets started, where a beastly
Shafiroff Racing 540 cubic inch big block V8 was built to power
this lightweight F-body into the cosmos. Hand-crafted, blueprinted
and Dyno-tested by the owner approximately 600 miles ago, it's a
thundering crate motor that churns out a 9.75-to-1 compression
ratio and a 697 top-horsepower read-out on the Dyno. Built with a
healthy Comp hydraulic roller cam and nothing short of first-class
components inside, including forged aluminum pistons, aluminum
heads, a giant 4-barrel carburetor atop an Edelbrock aluminum
intake, and THICK Lemons long-tube headers, it runs strong and
sounds menacing. With those giant headers and 3.5-inch X-pipe dual
exhaust system, it snarls and burbles at idle and at any point on
the rev counter, just the way you'd expect, and looks great doing
it with chrome valve covers and an open-element air cleaner.
Underneath, it's incredibly well-detailed and was built for combat,
with an upgraded front suspension featuring newer A-arms, subframe
connectors, power steering, and power front disc brakes. At the
same time, out back, there's a set of QA1 adjustable coils and
Caltracs traction bars that help keep the car planted to the
street. A Tremec TKO500 5-speed manual transmission handles all the
power easily, spinning a built Moser 9-inch rear end virtually
indestructible. It rides on staggered Billet Specialties wearing
meaty 215/65/15 front and 255/60/15 rear performance tires that
finish off the killer look.
Offered with a stack of receipts detailing the build, this
dialed-in F-body is clean, mean, and ready for battle. Call
today!
