This Genuine RPO-Z11 Camaro Pace Car Restomod Has Blown Our Minds
Not one for the purists, this one. What we have here is a genuine 1969 RPO-Z11 Camaro Pace Car restomod. Built by Joe Courtney and Ai Design of Tuckahoe, New York, the Camaro was somewhat unremarkable when he bought it. It was already a restomod, but it just wasn’t up to scratch. It had a 502 big block, but was slow and drove like a pig. Since then, Joe’s taken it from strength to strength, and made it a truly beautiful bit of work.
Originally, only the engine and drivetrain was going to be replaced. Then things got more serious. The first part of the project involved an in-depth restoration: in addition to that new engine and drivetrain, the chassis, suspension, brakes, firewall, and seat mounts and supports all got replaced. Let’s talk about that engine. While a 502 may sound appealing, it wasn’t what Joe wanted. Now, if you take a peek under its glorious white and orange hood, you’ll find a Mast Motorsports 650 Black Label Road & Track LS7 Crate Engine. This beast produces 650 horsepower, which flows through a Tremec T-56. In the engine bay, you’ll also see a new fabricated firewall, a startling lack of AC lines, which are now hidden, and custom wiring. Charged with stopping the 650 horsepower are Baer Extreme Plus discs, with the calipers painted to match the car’s paint scheme.
On the suspension front, the front suspension set up is a joy to behold. The car rides on Detroit Speed Engineering coilovers and a hydroformed subframe. Bolstering this set up is an anti-roll bar, while handling has been improved with new rack and pinion steering. At the back, there’s Detroit Speed Quadralink suspension, along with their Mini-Tubs, new inner wheel housings. Exhaust gases flow down a custom line, feeding out of Borla mufflers, which fit snugly into the rear valance. Wrapping around both ends of the Camaro are a pair of gorgeous tucked bumpers, finished in copper, nickel, and chrome.
Inside, the Camaro features late-model Cadillac seats, made possible by adding the new seat mounts. The seats feature integral harnesses, boosting the car’s safety. These seats were finished in orange, and look stunning. While the interior features all the tech that you would expect to see, plus a fantastic keyless entry system that also controls the trunk. No expenses were spared in the production of this car and it shows. A truly fantastic Camaro, you can learn more about it here.
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