1968 Camaro "RELOADED"
Words by Kevin Oeste, pics by Kevin Oeste & Mark Vironda
Built by V8 Speed & Resto Shop, Red Bud, IL
I was in high school when I met Pete Kurpiewski, a guy a few years older than I who claimed to have a California-bought '68 Camaro SS in his garage. "BS!" I exclaimed, as no punks our age seemed capable of owning such a car. Pete proved me wrong by showing me the half-disassembled body shell on jack stands in his dad's garage. Plans included the full pro-street treatment... hell, it was about 1989, and that was the thing to do. It turns out that Pete never went that route and contacted me over 20 years later to finally finish the car. Would you believe it hand't changed since I first saw it in '89, and was still on the stands in his dad's garage? Seeing the car after all those years kind of validated a bunch of stories I had told about it... they were true after all.
Pete no longer wanted to go the pro-street route, and we were excited to take on the project. The new plan was to integrate some new technology and performance capabilities, but Pete always liked the dealer supercars... the Nickey, Yenko, Motion type Camaros that boasted trick parts and cool styling. And it had to remain a big block. "Give me big block or give me death" Pete says.
We contacted Ben Hermance for some design help. I outlined the colors and the general idea, Ben brought the design elements to life in the rendering, and we handed the pic to the crew. "Build this" I said. Looks like they nailed it.
We fixed the rust, tuned up the body gaps and panel fitment, added a Stinger hood, installed some trick Detroit Speed suspension, dropped in a Fast Times Motorworks 490 inch roller Chevy V8, added a TCI 4L80E overdrive auto, a Currie 9" rear, and shot the car in Glasurit 55 "Silver Bullet" with "Gunsmoke" stripes. Rocket Racing wheels with redlined Toyo Proxes tires round out the life-size Hot Wheels look. Turn the key and the FAST EZ-EFI fed BBC roars to life through MagnaFlow pipes that mumble around town and shout to the hills at RPM.
Hydroboosted Baer brakes haul it down, and a Classic Industries restored interior with ProCar seats, Vintage Air, New Vintage USA gauges makes for a comfortable drive.
The goal was to build a real car that performed well and would look good 20 years from now, and judging by the response of other gear heads and the big smile the car brings Pete, I'd say it's a success.
Engine and Mechanicals
Fast Times Motorworks 490-cube Big Block Chevy
Fast Times ported Holley cylinder heads
Comp roller cam, lifters, rockers
Holley Stealth intake
FAST EZ-EFI
MSD Distributor, coil, wires
Hooker headers
Vintage Air Frontrunner
TCI 4L80E automatic overdrive, converter, and EZ-TCU controller
Suspension, Brakes, Chassis
Re-welded stock subframe
Detroit Speed coil-over front suspension conversion
DSE tubular control arms
DSE steering gear
Baer brakes
Hydratech Hydroboost
DSE sway bar
MagnaFlow Exhaust
DSE subframe connectors
DSE QUADRALink rear suspension
Currie 9+ rear axle
Detroit True Trac differential
Baer rear brakes
Rocket Racing Booster wheels, 17x8" front, 18x9" rear
Toyo Proxes T1 Sport tires, custom redlined by Diamond Back Classics
Interior
Restoration parts from Classic Industries
SCAT ProCar seats
New Vintage USA gauges
Vintage Air Gen IV A/C
Morris Concepts retractable shoulder belts, front / rear
Body Mods
Panels straightened & gaps refined
Flush glass front & rear, A pillars extended
Custom molded rear spoiler
Drip rails solidified
Bumpers cut & tucked
2nd gen Camaro side mirrors
DSE RS headlights
Fiberglass "stinger" hood
Glasurit "Silver Bullet" and "Gunsmoke" Yenko-inspired paint scheme
Accolades
Feature car in MagnaFlow SEMA display
7-page feature in Hemmings Muscle Machines Magazine, June, 2013
Scored 993 / 1000 in Modified Class at 2012 Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals
Feature car in MagnaFlow Hot Rod Power Tour Display
Build featured on V8TV - "Reloaded"
Built by V8 Speed & Resto Shop
