Product profiles

SPEC 1967 CHEV CAMARO SS

ENGINE: FFR-built LS7, 427ci, JE pistons, FFR ‘special grind’ cam, new valve springs, guides, and stems, new pushrods, lifters, and bearings, GM HP followers, Holley mid-mount accessory drive kit, Holley Sniper EFI, Holley smart coils, Plazmaman LS Pro-Series billet intake, 95mm Holley throttle body, custom C&M intake, K&N filter, Holley Sniper fuel tank, Holley fuel pump, Holley regulator, custom C&M headers and exhaust, custom radiator, Peterson dry sump pump, custom overflow bottles, Eddie Motorsports bonnet hinges, braces, and catches DRIVELINE: Tremec TKO600, Centerforce clutch, 9-inch diff with US gears and Eaton posi, Strange axles, custom driveshaft SUSPENSION: (F) Western Sport A-arms, Koni adjustable coilovers, (R) Koni adjustable shocks, leaf springs with Caltracs, Nolathane CHASSIS: Inter-connecting brace BRAKES: Wilwood master cylinder, Wilwood Hydroboost, (F) Wilwood 6-pot calipers, Wilwood drilled and slotted 2-piece rotors, (R) Wilwood 4-pot calipers, Wilwood rotors WHEELS/TYRES: (F) 18x8-inch American Racing, Bridgestone 225/40R18, (R) 18x10-inch American Racing, Bridgestone 265/35R18 EXTERIOR: Chevrolet Corvette Torch Red by Motive Panelbeaters and Spraypainters, vinyl roof delete, RainGear window wiper, LED headlights, electric actuated lights, custom radiator in-fill panel INTERIOR: Scat Procar bucket seats, recovered SS rear to match, Grant wood classic steering wheel, Keiser shifter knob, Dakota Digital HDX Bluetooth gauges, replacement door cards, all new chrome, Vintage Audio reproduction stereo with Bluetooth, two Vintage Audio Sound Amplified 8-inch subs, Vintage Audio speakers JBL 6x9s

jobs sorted while the Camaro was at the shop of choice, Motive Panelbeaters and Spraypainters, for repair. Jon’s ‘Let’s just do this, too’ list grew from a custom infill panel on the radiator support panel to removing the factory vinyl roof to steer the car more in the restomod direction it was headed.

However, as soon as the vinyl was removed, it became clear all was not well. Some signs of rust were spotted in the gutters, so this was remedied and new sills and the entire roof bare metalled due to webbing in the paint. What else was Jon to do but commit to a full repaint in the shade of red he wished was already on there: Chevrolet Corvette Torch Red.

The interior was not about to miss out, either. After a painstaking search to find the right bucket seats that weren’t too modern looking, a set of Scat Procars were dropped at the upholsterer to be recovered to match the factory RS rear. At the same time, all the interior chrome was replaced and a set of Dakota Digital gauges was installed, along with a Bluetooth hidden audio system for those long roadies.

It is in this guise that Jon has continued his youthful ways, hammering on it any chance he gets, and clocking up some serious kms of enjoyment. Is it finished? Don’t be stupid; Jon’s a car guy, so you know he is already planning the next refinement — and the one after that. While the number plate might call it ‘shoddy’, we’d say it’s anything but thanks to the solid group who helped Jon come out the back end with the car he’d always wanted. It might not have been plain sailing, but Jon’s as happy now as he was the day he got it.

“That’s the awesome thing about owning, driving, modifying, and building cars — the people you meet and the journey!” It’s an attitude more should adopt; this is car building — expect the unexpected, and roll with the punches.

Jon has continued his youthful ways, hammering on it any chance he gets, and clocking up some serious kms of enjoyment

DRIVER JON AND ANITA GIBSON

AGE: 18 at heart (50 according to the calendar) CLUB: Kiwi Camaro OCCUPATION: Electrician LOCATION: South Auckland PREVIOUSLY OWNED CARS: Plenty, from four bangers to rotaries; ’13 ZL1, ’12 Dodge ProCharged Challenger SRT8, ’70 Dodge Challenger Western Sport Special BUILD TIME: Three years on and off — still not finished LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: Four years THANKS: My good mates, who have mocked me through the process; Carl and AJ at C&M Performance, for their patience and attention to detail; Reece Fish, for the awesome engine; Dan at The Mag Wheel Guru