We are used to seeing wild performance cars in flashy colors, but there is something special about a muscle car that packs a 427-cubic-inch big-block under the hood, yet is finished in a simple white hue. It almost feels deceptive, doesn’t it? White is usually reserved for rental cars and fleets. Well, not anymore.
The Pick of the Day is a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by Precious Metal Classic Cars in Elkhart, Indiana. (Click the link to view the listing)
“This Camaro is the beneficiary of a no-expense-spared restoration and built,” the listing says. “Take a gander under this wicked F-body and you’ll find a detailed chassis that mixes new-age technology with old-school durability.”
It was June 28, 1966 when General Motors held a live press conference in Detroit at the Statler-Hilton Hotel when it was formally announced that Chevrolet would be entering the pony car market. The reveal was shared in real-time with 14 other cities via telephone lines – a testament to how “big” this news was anticipated to be. About three months later, the first-generation Camaro went on sale. The Camaro was well-received, and the muscle car wars raged onward for many years to come. Manufacturers clamored for market share by upping the ante each year with performance powertrains and updated equipment.
Even the best-equipped Camaro from 1968 did not satisfy everyone, which is why we have cars like today’s featured machine. It takes the already-capable chassis and elevates the entire build to a new level – cosmetically, mechanically, and in every conceivable way.
Highlights include a refinish in striking Audi White paint, welded and filled body panels, a Kindig-It Design carbon fiber spoiler, a matte black rear tail panel, Ring Brothers hardware, and Boze Alloys two-piece satin black wheels wrapped in Nitto tires sized 17-inch up front and 18-inch in the rear. There are four adjustable ride heights via the Viking coilover suspension, so you are bound to find a look and feel that matches your ideal setup. And as nice as that all sounds, the real conversation piece of this car is found under its cowl-induction hood:
That’s where a black-painted 427-cubic-inch big-block lives. The upgrades and modifications are too many to list, so I recommend clicking through to the vehicle listing for that. But the big-ticket items include a Comp cam with Crane hydraulic roller lifters, an Edelbrock intake manifold with a Holley 750-cfm double-pumper carburetor, Hooker long-tube headers, a March pulley system, and a Be Cool radiator. As you can imagine, that combination packs a lot of punch, so the builders made sure to include a capable transmission, rear end, and braking system. A TREMEC TKO five-speed manual does the shifting, a Ford nine-inch rear end gets the Eaton differential spinning, and a set of Wilwood disc brakes bring things back to reasonable speeds safely when the high-performance joyride is over.
It seems the white paint job – which was pulled from a late-model Audi color palette – is about the only thing with this build that isn’t “loud” or extreme. Included with the listing are 100 photos, about 15 of which contain copies of receipts covering many aspects of the build. After all, the paper trail is an important part of any custom classic’s ownership story.
The listing concludes, “Simply put: This Camaro is some of the coolest metal on the planet. As it sits, the car offers the best of both worlds: a solid cruiser, a great handling sports car, and a unique build that sets itself apart from virtual acres of brightly-colored pony cars and overwrought land yachts.”
The asking price is $89,900.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, browse the archives at Pick of the Day.
Sorry Tyson, I have to disagree.
Frankenstein cars usually don’t survive past their first owner, or if they’re actually driven enough to require repairs unless the purchaser is a seasoned mechanic.
Imagine taking this collection of parts to your local repair shop for a brake job or clutch replacement for a 68? What?
Dale, I totally get that. I’m a purist – In fact, I take pride in de-modifying cars to put them back to their showroom state. But I can appreciate the innovation and engineering that went into this Camaro. I think you hit the nail on the head, it’s the right kind of car for someone who is ambitious enough to drive and maintain it. Thanks for reading!
The pictured Camaro is a 1967. It does not have the side lights that were a requirement for the 1968 model year.
Funny how the lack of vent windows doesn’t steer you in the other direction. Fact is, the VIN, not side-markers, define a car. Plus, it’s custom, so they could take liberties with anything.
It’s possible, or even likely, that the marker lights were shaved since so many other things about the body are custom.
Wow , what a Beautiful Camaro !!! I am lucky enough to have a Very Similar 1968 Camaro and it has given me many years of Low maintenance Fun !!! Very Nicely Done !