Words: Tommy Parry
In the middle of building a ‘55 Chevy, Shane chanced upon a Camaro for a very appealing price. As it was one of the cars he’d always had on his list, he decided to take the plunge and put it ahead of the old truck - not realizing the extent of work the Camaro needed. While it looked decent at the start, Shane noticed the cheap lacquer beginning to crack upon closer inspection.
He decided that since he was going to send it into the paint booth, he might as well do some of the necessary bodywork to bring it closer to the vision he had for the car. His basic vision for the SS involved ‘80s styling with modern features. Among the list of modifications were a set of mini tubs to house the American Racing wheels wrapped in 315-section Falkens, a 9” rear and a Speedtech torque arm setup, as well as Speedtech’s A-arms in front.
While he had the car up on the rotisserie, he decided to Raptor line the bottom of the car, then filled the seams on the front fenders and between the trunk and rear window. After adding a ‘68 grille, Fesler driving lights and mirrors and a coat of deep blue, the car had transformed into something show-worthy.
With the exterior largely sorted, he turned his attentions to the interior. There, he added a set of reclinable TMI seats, a one-piece headliner, a Gen 5 console and a layer of Dynamat for quiet cruising. Then came the motor. An LS3 mated to a 4L60E with a Hughes torque converter, an exhaust system from Stainless Works and a wire tuck were all this simple build required.
A shade of paint which changes drastically in the light make this an eye-catching car which ought to bring in plenty of admirers. Upon closer inspection, they’ll appreciate the presence of chrome, the stylish interior, and the athletic wheel fitment. The build is mostly complete, but you can expect a few tweaks to the trim on the way down the road.
To keep tabs on the progress of this incredible build, you can visit its thread here.