Throwback: 1969 Convertible Camaro Gets Modern Refresh
A host of modern styling cues and a modern powerplant help bring this gorgeous 1969 Chevy Camaro up to speed.
Perfecting the Formula
In the world of muscle cars, few are as widely beloved as the 1969 Chevy Camaro. Here is a car that combines iconic styling with a number of tasty engine options, right off the showroom floor. But that didn't stop Craig Hardee from working to perfect that formula, as we discovered in this recent Hot Rod feature.
Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod.
Starting Early
Hardee's obsession with the '69 Camaro goes way back to high school when it became his very first car. He kept that hardtop for 15 years, only selling it after his growing family necessitated its departure.
Simply the Best
Hardee went on to own a number of other cars, but he couldn't shake his dream of owning a '69 Camaro drop top. So once he was able to get one, he also planned on making it the very best he possibly could.
Modest Beginnings
The build, however, started out rather modestly. “The car was originally purchased by me in 2013 to turn into a weekend driver that could be restored back to its original beauty, but I wanted a suspension that would hold up to today’s roads and to my tastes," Hardee told Hot Rod.
Show and Go
Hardee even thought about designing the car to use in Optima's race series. But those plans soon went down the drain in favor of doing a full-blown build capable of going fast and winning show trophies.
Change of Plans
This all happened while the Camaro was at Detroit Speed receiving a host of suspension parts. “I had the car for two years before sending it to DSE," Hardee said. "Originally it was for a complete DSE front subframe and rear QUADRALink, but after I saw their capabilities and some of their other builds, it turned into a complete restoration plus custom body panels and modifications that had never been done before.”
Smooth Operator
Hardee was so impressed with the work thus far that he scrapped his initial plans and went full steam ahead making this Camaro a show car. As a result, virtually every panel and component of the car has been smoothed out, shaved, or custom built.
Impressive Insides
Even the interior, stitched up by M&M Hot Rod Interiors, is a real work of art. “The hardest part of the vision was the interior, so we gave somewhat free rein to M&M. They nailed the interior and the transitions from the custom NASCAR seats to the Shelby-style rollbar, and then DSE tied the top into the interior with a custom tonneau cover,” Hardee said.
Slick Power
Of course, a build this slick wouldn't be complete without a slick engine. And that's exactly why Hardee went with a 7.0-liter LS7 fitted with ARP internals, a Tooley racing cam, and FAST intake manifold. Altogether, the package pumps out over 500 horsepower.
