You have a recipe for American muscle car success, when you mix up a jet-black exterior paint scheme. Add 18-inch custom three-piece dog dish wheels. Achieve the perfect stance with custom chassis underpinnings both front and rear. Install disc brakes fore and aft. Drop in a new stroker V8 engine, backed by a five-speed manual. With the car being a 1969 Camaro that's just dying to be driven - your time was well spent bringing another piece of American automotive history back.
Surf City U.S.A. resident, aka Huntington Beach, CA gearhead Feras Ali Hassan must have had the same thought process running through his mind, when he investigated and then purchased the Camaro three years ago from a guy up in San Jose, who had owned the car since the 90's. The Camaro was already a solid driver. However, the engine was well past its prime.
Recently, the owner had a new BluePrint 383-cubic inch V8 stroker mill, topped with a FiTech EFI system, and backed by a Tremec TKX five-speed manual transmission installed. Sending the spent fumes on their merry way is an easily accomplished and melodious process, thanks to the installation of Sanderson Shorty exhaust headers and a custom Magnaflow stainless steel exhaust system. The drivetrain now sports a carbon fiber driveshaft and custom-made engine mounts. A Hurst shifter now smoothly accommodates the gear changes, in concert with the snazzy and compact Tremec TKX manual trans. With the addition of an overdrive gear in fifth, the Camaro can easily and efficiently cruise at low RPMs in fifth on the high-speed freeways and highways of California.
Mr. Hassan, the Camaro's third owner, speculates that the well-kept interior may well be original. He did replace the instrument cluster with a Dakota Digital dash, as well as the dash wiring harness with an American Autowire harness. The all-black interior is kept comfortable with the installation of a Vintage Air custom HVAC system.
Above: The owner installed 18-inch MV Forgeline wheels. He replaced the brake lines with custom lines and installed six-piston Wilwood disc brakes in the front and four-piston Wilwoods in the back. The rear axle/differential is now a Currie nine-inch with a four-link suspension.CPP coilover shocks are at all four corners now.
The all-black and resplendent chrome and stainless-steel exterior is credit to the artful execution of professional auto body and paint shop, Full Circle Customs, in Huntington Beach, CA. When a sensuous 1969 Camaro's exterior is fastidiously renewed by painstaking body finishing, prepping, priming, pounding, welding, topcoat painting black, clear coated, wet sanded, polished, and perfected, the end result is what you see in these scintillating photos. It's ever more so evident when you see this superlative pony car in person. In other words, when perhaps any American muscle machine from the '60s wears an exceedingly well executed tuxedo black paint scheme, said muscle machine will look bad to the bone and ready to brawl - on the track, in a high-end car show, or by cruising the highways and byways of the USA.
Above: The new grill is an OER component, purchased at Classic Industries, as are the mirrors, emblems and trim, and the fuel tank.
Above: The hood vents may be the most controversial components on the Camaro, as they are from a SS Chevelle. Camaros didn't have hood vents, but the vents were present when Feras purchased the Camaro, so he reinstalled them after the car was painted.
Overtime Feras plans on completing a full restoration of the Camaro and keep the car in the family for generations. He knows that the upgrades will never end. With time, old cars can become mechanical members of the family, which is a good thing, if you have the right sort of perspective.
Classic Industries - Virtually Everything for the Chevrolet Camaro
Many of you know that Classic Industries was first known as Classic Camaro over 40 years ago. If you're renewing, restoring, maintaining, and/or restomodding your Chevrolet Camaro, Classic Industries is an awesome source for Camaro components and accessories. You can shop online and augment your GM pony car parts search with a printed Camaro Parts & Accessories Catalog. Simply click the button below, fill out the form, and we'll mail you a Camaro catalog. Have fun in your garage, on the open road, and at the show 'n shines of your choosing!
