Frame Off Built Camaro SS Convertible LS3 V8 6 Speed AC

These days the pro-touring scene can feel a bit like the pro-street scene – a bunch of show cars built solely for aesthetics. I mean, they all look good with wide wheels and giant brakes, but how many could successfully conquer an autocross course? The number is probably smaller than you think. And that's why we never get tired of builds like this 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. Sure, it can do the show car thing. But, in its current configuration, this car is all about substance. Backing a 500 horsepower Chevrolet Performance LS3 with a Tremec 6-speed and custom Schwartz Performance chassis, this Chevy keeps its specs sheet first-rate while offering timeless looks and a genuinely livable interior. If you're shopping for a fully-sorted classic that puts a modern edge on an old school favorite, you're looking at your next car!

So, where do you begin with a custom like this? Probably on the outside, where a fresh Dynacorn body was fitted to an Arizona-sourced donor car to create a solid foundation for smooth PPG two-stage. Speaking of that two-stage, the first thing that catches your eye is how vivid the car's Marina Blue pigment truly is. There were no less than three blues available on the '67 Camaro, but none of them compare to the depth and gloss of this paint – it's more vibrant and lustrous than factory colors could ever dream of being. And, when combined with the car's laser-straight profile, it presents exceptionally well, creating crisp and accurate reflections.

Zoom in on the details and this Camaro continues to impress. At the front of the car's body, a familiar black grille hangs '67 Camaro-exclusive parking lamps between bright headlights, a new chrome bumper and a stylish D80 chin spoiler. Above that grille, a flat hood leads the eye to fresh glass that's framed in straight stainless trim, cleared by Selecta-Speed wipers and sealed under a cloth, power-operated roof. At the sides of that hood, classy fender emblems combine with bright GM door handles and a clean bowtie mirror to add just the right amount of flash to a tough profile. And at the back of the car, smooth, '67 Camaro-exclusive taillights split the difference between a seamless decklid spoiler and second, showroom-fresh bumper.

This spectacular drop-top is powered by a 6.2 liter Chevrolet Performance V8 that, thanks to Schwartz Performance of Woodstock, Illinois, twists a staggering 500 horsepower into 490 lb./ft. of ground-pounding torque. Built to tear up the street and wow show goers alike, the fully-sorted mill combines a sturdy aluminum block with ported and polished heads, a custom cam and ARP rod bolts to create razor-sharp throttle response and a Texas-sized torque band. GM's familiar fuel rail covers sport modern Corvette graphics. The engine's bland serpentine system has been replaced with quality Schwartz components that hang a polished alternator opposite a polished AC compressor. A custom, 4-inch stainless air tube terminates with a familiar K&N filter element. There's a beefy Be Cool radiator that's equipped with efficient Spal puller fans. And modern power steering combines with Schwartz stainless headers, a Fluidyne oil cooler and fresh urethane motor mounts to detail an otherwise purpose-built performer. As you would expect, the car's professionally smoothed engine bay is bathed in a slick coat of Marina Blue two-stage. The big mill fires up instantly and runs perfectly. And, tuned for mid-range drivability, it utilizes American Autowire nerves, a Z06 ECU and drive-by-wire electronics to mix a sonorous exhaust note with neck-snapping acceleration.

Take a gander under this wicked F-Body and you'll find a powdercoated Schwartz Performance G-Machine chassis that mixes new age technology with old school durability. Rock-solid floorpans wear a thick layer of weather-resistant undercoating and, save for their texture, are every bit as nice as the car's first rate exterior. At the center of those floors, a Viper-equipped Tremec T56 6-speed hangs a hydraulic, Corvette Z06-supplied clutch in front of a custom driveshaft. Nail the gas and an aluminum Winters third member spins power through a Detroit Truetrac differential, big, 3.70 gears and beefy, 31-spline Moser axles. Stopping is a cinch thanks to a hydro-boosted Wilwood system, which mixes 14-inch drilled rotors with 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers. Exhaust is handled by custom, ceramic coated pipes that swirl spent gases through large-diameter turndowns. At the front of the car, zero bump steer power rack and pinion steering is augmented by full heim joint connections and adjustable coil-over-shocks. At the back of the car, subtle mini tubs hang over two more adjustable coil-over-shocks. And torque melts the pavement thanks to polished Forgeline SS3Ps, which spin 255/35ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sports in front of 335/30ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sports. As you can tell by our pictures, not a detail was missed on this Chevy's fully-sorted undercarriage. And every part, from its steel fluid lines and Revolution parking brake to its stainless fuel tank and electronic Bosch pump, has been carefully planned and professionally executed.

Open the car's solid doors and you'll find a comfortable blue interior that's built around firm Sparco buckets and a nice blend of vintage style and modern convenience. At the front of the cockpit, a Marina Blue dash hangs Auto Meter C2 gauges behind a Covan's Classic instrument panel and unassuming levers for Vintage Air climate control. Below that dash, a custom, two-tone console centers a short B&M shifter behind billet cup holders and an MP3-compatible, satellite-capable Alpine. Below that console, high quality Dynamat insulation centers fresh Essex cut pile carpet between modern foot pedals and “FISHER” branded sill plates. At the edge of that carpet, new side panels hang meaty Alpine Type S speakers between chrome door handles and small power window switches. In front of the driver, an attractive Momo Race wheel spins a thick, black rim around a tilting Flaming River column. Behind the passengers, a custom upholstered trunk centers an Alpine amp and fresh Optima battery between an Alpine subwoofer and two more Alpine Type S speakers. And a beefy 6-point roll cage combines with 4-point R.J.S. Camlock harnesses to ensure your ride is as safe as it is fun.

Spend enough time with this Chevy and you'll realize it's more than just a nice build – it's a master's thesis. With 500 horsepower, a Tremec 6-speed and a stout suspension, it's the kind of car that can tear up the course, then drive you home in climate controlled comfort. If you've experienced the pro-touring look, but still crave the pro-touring feel, strap into this Camaro and relearn what the movement is all about!