Vehicle Description
SUMMARY
377 cubic inch V8
Muncie 4-speed transmission
12 Bolt rear axle with 4.11 gears
Custom leather interior
PPG O'so Orange three-stage
Sony AM/FM/CD player
18'' front / 20'' rear Coys wheels
Once in a while, even here at RK Motors Charlotte, cars come along
that make us do a double take. Orange Camaros are nothing new, of
course, but when you take a closer look at this particular 1968
Camaro SS, you start to see a level of detail that you may have
missed at first glance. In truth, this is a nasty, snarling,
razor-edged beast that has been dressed up in some of the coolest
paint we've ever seen. Taking this car to your local cruise night
will draw a crowd like moths to a porch light, and on the road,
you'll need to bring some pretty serious hardware to outrun it.
BODYWORK/TRIM
The color is PPG O'So Orange, and it's actually a three-stage
urethane that is simply jaw-dropping in the sun. There's a pearl
effect, plenty of metallic, and, well, it just seems to have an
inner glow that will simply astound onlookers accustomed to
garden-variety Hugger Orange. Of course, if you're going to drop 10
grand on paint, you'd better make sure the bodywork is worthy, and
it most certainly is. The panels are straight enough to use as
mirrors, panel gaps are exacting, and it fits together better than
any factory F-body ever did. It's a nice touch to see a stock hood
with those cool chrome simulated velocity stacks instead of a
reproduction cowl induction piece-somehow it makes this car seem
even more custom, not less. You'll also note a subtle Pro-Touring
front spoiler from Rick's, as well as a traditional ducktail unit
out back, giving it traditional high-performance aesthetics.
Correct black stripes have been added to enhance the illusion and
buried under the clear for a seamless look.
This one has all the correct markers, from the SS grille up front,
to the dual-element tail lights out back, and all the badges in
between. The chrome bumpers are both in excellent condition, having
been restored during the transformation, and all the stainless has
been mirror polished to match. The glass is clear and carries
factory tint but nothing more aggressive, so you won't have any
problems with the local constabulary.
ENGINE
When you're sporting looks like this you also demand big
horsepower, and that power comes in the form of a 377 cubic inch
small block cranking out more than 400 horsepower. Nestled into the
beautifully finished engine bay, it features goodies like a Holley
carburetor, a polished Pro Comp Air Gap intake, and gorgeous Brodix
aluminum heads that have been fully ported to make the most of the
high-winding small block's power curve. A set of Hooker long-tube
headers handle the exhaust chores and look awesome wearing a
polished ceramic coating. Traditional Chevy Orange on the block
mirrors the O'So Orange bodywork, and everything that wasn't
painted was polished or chromed, including the Bow Tie valve
covers, cool air cleaner, and the stainless fan shroud. And a thick
aluminum radiator maintains drama-free operating temps.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Power is shipped aft through a Muncie 4-speed manual, just as the
General intended, and out back there's a bulletproof 12-bolt full
of acceleration-enhancing 4.11 gears on a Posi. The floors are
super solid, and it's obvious that this car has never been rusty,
and a uniform layer of undercoating material ensures that this will
always be the case. The front and rear suspension are stock,
although a set of high-performance shocks make a big difference.
The custom dual exhaust system sounds just right without being
obnoxious or annoying, and there's a new polished stainless steel
gas tank hanging out back. Brand new 18 and 20-inch Coys wheels
wear 225/40/18 front and 255/35/20 rear Nankang performance
radials.
INTERIOR
The black and gray leather interior has also won its share of
awards, thanks to some beautiful upholstery work that features
smooth hides on everything from the seats to the rear package
shelf. Modern buckets with integral shoulder belts are a big
upgrade over the factory Strato buckets, yet look right at home in
the vintage Camaro. Upholstered in black and gray leather, they're
comfortable as well as properly supportive for spirited driving,
with the rear bench upholstered to match. Custom door and side
panels were created using the same materials, tying the entire
passenger compartment together perfectly. The original gauges
remain in place and are fully restored, with a tachometer mounted
on the column and a pair of auxiliary gauges under the dash. A cool
Hurst cue ball shifter manages the Muncie, and a powerful AM/FM/CD
stereo with speakers throughout the passenger compartment provides
entertainment.
This car is nice way out of proportion to its price, and probably
cost twice this much to build. Stunning bodywork, aggressive
performance, and a top-notch interior make it a very cool early
Camaro with a lot of appeal. If you're looking for something a
little out of the ordinary, but with a lot of traditional
hot-rodding tricks built in, this is your car.