1,200 Horsepower from a Street-Legal ‘69 Camaro? Here’s How
Performance
Sports Cars
Classics
American
A new spin on an old car can have a profound impact on performance. That’s the case with this rotisserie-restored - opens in new window or tab. 1,000-hp-plus 1969 Camaro recently offered on eBay.
Not exactly a sleeper, the Camaro retains a streetable look.
Did this bright red screamer start as a high-performance machine, maybe an RS/SS or, as the badging says, a 400-horsepower Z/28? Perhaps not, and it matters less than it did at one time. The goal here is a combo of classic looks and supercar performance.
Although drag tracks are calling, the ’69 is fully street legal, with a horn, lights, turn signals, and mirrors.
How to Create a Raging Camaro Beast
Elevating a ’69 Camaro to more than a thousand ponies takes time and money. This car took seven years to build, with more than reportedly $117,000 spent.
It starts with the engine. The Camaro’s twin-turbo beast puts out more than 1,200 hp when it’s running on C16 racing fuel and 18 pounds of boost. Meanwhile, on the street, with 91-octane pump-supplied gas and six pounds of boost, a dyno test indicated 703 horses with 632 pound-feet of torque.
The long list of modifications ensures that this car won’t be left at any traffic lights. The foundation is a 350 small-block with a 9.5:1 compression ratio. From there, add these items:
- A competition cam (12-000-11)
It’s all tied to twin 75-millimeter Borg Warner turbos - opens in new window or tab. with Turbosmart wastegates and an air-to-liquid intercooler.
A Laundry List of Racing Parts
You can’t expect the stock trans to handle that engine, so the builders used something tougher. The Hughes Turbo 400 transmission was built to handle 1,500 horsepower and boasts a Gear Vendors overdrive. In addition, there’s a Ford nine-inch rear—popular with power-happy hotrodders—with 3.73 gears.
Other upgrades include:
- Wilwood eight-piston power disc brakes - opens in new window or tab. with drilled/slotted rotors
- Custom Santuff coilovers in the front
- Caltracks leaf springs in the rear
- 15-inch Weld front wheels wearing Mickey Thompson ET street tires - opens in new window or tab.
- 18-inch RT-S wheels at the back
Still not enough? Then visit Summit Racing’s extensive inventory of Camaro parts - opens in new window or tab. listed on eBay Motors to see what else could be done. Exterior parts for the Camaro are abundant - opens in new window or tab. on eBay.
That’s a lot of mojo to put on the street. So safety measures include an 8.5 certified roll cage with removable door bars and racing harnesses. The deep-dish Kirkey seats - opens in new window or tab. will hold the driver and passenger in during extreme cornering maneuvers.
An Outrageous Commuter Car
This car is ready for the track, but the owner has driven this road rocket from San Diego to Los Angeles in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Only 1,400 miles have been undertaken since the recommissioning. Creature comforts were not ignored. There is air conditioning, power windows, and power steering.
For tunes, there’s a Sony head unit - opens in new window or tab. with seven-inch speakers in the doors and a 12-inch subwoofer in a custom box.
The tires are new. The oil was just changed. The ’69 Camaro restomod has new spark plugs, fresh coolant and trans fluid, and an AC recharge. There’s nothing else to do in this car—except put it on the road, hit the gas, and hold on tight.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.