Frame Off Restored Camaro Indy 500 Pace Car 454 5 Speed

There's just something cool about pace cars. It could be the decals, lights, or just the fact that seeing a production car leading a group of pure-bred race cars is an image powerful enough to elevate the car's performance credentials. Whatever it is, few automakers have done a better job harnessing the power of the pace car than General Motors. Three generations of Camaro have been introduced to the world through track duty, including cars like this 1969 Camaro RS/SS pace car convertible. It's a true Z11 car and one of just 3,675 built to commemorate the Camaro's appearance at the 1969 Indianapolis 500. While most would have gone the OEM route, this car uses its rarity as a baseline, offering a potent big block, a Tremec five-speed, and countless other modifications made in the name of modern speed. If you're looking for a car that hits on exclusivity, power, style, and comfort all at once, your Camaro has arrived!

Like it's other pace car siblings, this car had a lot going for it straight from Norwood. For starters, all the Z11 Camaros were RS/SS cars, so they already had all the best styling of the day. The next component was paint – a Dover White base with Hugger Orange Z/28 stripes. This car faithfully reproduces that original look with smooth and lustrous base/clear paint. For you purists, the Z11 package did include D96 fender stripes but they're not included here – a decision that most would agree looks a little cleaner. The same goes for the door decals, though many owners never applied them in the first place. When the weather works against you, a fresh white top emerges from behind the seats, both protecting the interior and keeping a unified look with the paint.

With balanced proportions and modernist detailing, Chevrolet's first generation pony car is an inherently good-looking design. At the front of this pace car's body, a familiar Rally Sport grille hangs a bold “SS” emblem between hideaway headlights, a showroom-fresh bumper, crystal clear parking lamps, and a stylish D80 chin spoiler. At the sides, sculpted fenders combine with correct chrome mirrors, traditional chrome door handles, familiar Rally Sport quarter louvers and a correct array of emblems to add just the right amount of detail to the car's slick white profile. At the top of those fenders, a ZL2 hood bridges the gap between a familiar “Camaro by Chevrolet” header emblem and like-new glass that's traced by straight stainless trim, bright stainless wipers and a fresh canvas top. Opposite that hood, chrome-trimmed taillights and a fourth “SS” emblem hang between a D80 rear spoiler, a chrome rear bumper, Rally Sport reverse lamps and polished exhaust turndowns.

Chevrolet was kind enough to offer a 396 cubic inch V8 in the pace cars but this convertible takes the “no replacement for displacement” stance, offering a potent 454 cubic inch crate engine instead. The foundation is a 2005-vintage GM block which wears a 12250313 casting number underneath its Chevy orange paint. The block is topped with GM Performance Parts aluminum heads, a bowtie intake manifold, and a single Demon carburetor which work together to produce an estimated 450hp and 550lb-ft of torque. The front of the big block turns an alternator and power steering pump while the water pump teams up with a single fan and an aluminum radiator to keep the bay cool. Turn the key and a fresh battery with a Delco topper sends fire to an MSD ignition system based around a 6AL box. Exhaust gases are treated to an equally upgraded system complete with Hooker headers, an H-pipe, and a set of Flowmaster mufflers. When it comes time to show off the engine compartment, chrome valve covers work with a chrome air cleaner lid, new hoses, and clean painted surfaces for solid presentation.

Shine a light underneath this Chevrolet to find more quality work on display. The floors are finished in a semi-gloss black with many components painted to match. All lines are routed neatly and there's a clean stainless fuel tank out back. Behind the 454, a Tremec five-speed manual transmission takes place of the old Muncie unit, offering crisp shifts and an extra gear for more efficient highway cruising. Further down the line, a sturdy GM 12-bolt axle with 3.73 gears puts the power to the pavement. At the corners, the stock configuration reigns supreme with a double A-arm independent front suspension, a leaf spring rear, and upgraded sway bars at both ends. In the corners, the those sway bars combine with factory power steering for confident cornering while power brakes clamp down on discs up front and drums in the rear. At the corners, 17-inch American Racing Torq Thrust II's meet the ground through 235/45ZR17 front and 275/40ZR17 rear BF Goodrich g-Force T/As.

Talk about an ultimate contrast - the Dover White doors open up to reveal a GM code 720 orange houndstooth interior with high backed bucket seats. The bright orange buckets are in fantastic shape and combine with a correct optional Z87 deluxe interior package that includes orange molded door panels, wood grain dash applique and bright pedal trim to elevate the cockpit to a whole new level. In front of the driver, a good looking dash houses restored gauges, an electric clock, and heater controls, and a stock AM radio which is supplemented by an Alpine MP3/WMA/AAC head unit located in the glove box. Below the dash a correct option D55 center console houses an iPod/iPhone adapter, correct option U17 four pack gauges, a chrome Hurst shifter in a great looking wood trimmed shift plate. Below the console, correct black carpet is bordered by chrome Fisher Body sill plates and protected by black rubber floor mats. At the sides of the seats, bright orange door panels are decorated with stainless trim and correct white inlayed “Camaro” emblems. Connecting the driver to the road is a correct option N34 rosewood rimmed and satin aluminum finished GM rally wheel which is mounted to a correct option N33 tilt steering column. The trunk is equally well finished with a custom panel wrapped in the same material as the factory trunk mat.

If you're in the market for a pavement bruiser that's a blast show off and even MORE fun to drive, your search is over. This restored 1969 Camaro pace car convertible is an upgraded piece of history that mixes Chevrolet looks with a fistful of big block power and a modern Tremec five-speed. As a true Z11, the car has some pedigree that places it above a lot of average Camaros on the show field as well. If you're looking for a car that wraps all the best aspects of the hobby into one killer package, get in touch today and claim this pace car as your own!