Slideshow: Tony Whatley's Pro Touring Camaro

A Product of Boredom?

Can a pro-touring Camaro be born out of the phrase "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"? Tony Whatley, founder of LS1Tech and the owner of this sweet 1968 Camaro did just that by building his dream car in some downtime between jobs. Instead of dwelling on the recent loss of his job in the oil industry, the owner grabbed a wrench and set forth to complete his 1968 Camaro.

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 Pro Touring Camaro with LS power right here on LS1 Tech.

Drop-Top Fun

This build started with a '68 Camaro bare chassis painted in this unbelievably eye-catching Hugger Orange. Then, GAP Racing in Houston began work on restoring the sheet metal and floorplans of this car while adding subframe connectors and mini-tubs while they were at it. Final bodywork and paint were completed, readying this car to undergo an amazing transformation into a classic beast with modern amenities. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 Pro Touring Camaro with LS power right here on LS1 Tech.

All Business Under the Hood

Tony did not skimp at all when it came to the driveline. In went in a Texas Speed and Performance 427ci LS7 with CNC-ported heads, Compstar rotating assembly, and a custom sheet metal intake. Hooker 1 7/8" long-tube headers guide the massive amounts of exhaust gases produced by the monstrosity of the motor out the Magnaflow mufflers. All of this is enough to make over 650 fire-breathing horsepower! A built Tremec T-56 with a RAM twin-disc clutch back the LS7 to provide an engaging driving experience. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 Pro Touring Camaro with LS power right here on LS1 Tech.

Forgeline Custom Wheels

To achieve modern handling characteristics, the first-gen Camaro needed some serious upgrades. Speedtech Performance built upper and lower front control arms combined with forged ATS tall spindles. A custom torque-arm setup and a narrowed Moser 12-bolt axle plant the tires to the ground! QA1 adjustable coilovers and Wilwood 14-inch brakes with 6-piston front and 4 piston rear calipers combine to bring forth the ultimate performance capabilities of this chassis. 

The amazing custom set of 3-piece Forgeline GZ3 wheels set this Camaro apart and are wrapped with over 345mm of Toyo R888 rubber in the rear to give that LS7 a minuscule chance of traction! 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 Pro Touring Camaro with LS power right here on LS1 Tech.

Clean and Simple Interior

The interior was intentionally executed to look original while integrating modern amenities like Vintage Air A/C and a navigation/Bluetooth capable sound system. Custom gauges complete the look that is both functional and period-correct.

"While building the car I worked about 12 hours per day for a period of four months," Tony remembers. "I documented the entire build on Instagram (@365driven), Facebook, and on Pro-Touring.com. I greatly appreciate the encouragement of my online pals, and the wrenching by my local friends that offered a hand when needed." His goal was to have the car completed for Hot Rod Power Tour in June 2016. It was finished the car at 3 am the day they were to leave for Power Tour. "The very first time I ever drove the car happened to be the 4.5-hour trip from Houston to Baton Rouge, Louisiana," Whatley said. "Once I arrived at the event, the Camaro was featured in the Comp Cams booth." It has since completed the Power Tour Long Haul and still gets driven to numerous events.

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 Pro Touring Camaro with LS power right here on LS1 Tech.

A True Driver

Like any diehard car enthusiast, the owner of this '68 wasn't afraid to put some miles on this beast! The car was completed at the last minute to make it to Hot Rod Power Tour 2016 and it finished the entire Long Haul without any issues, which is a testament to the owner's meticulous standards. Tony looks forward to continuing trend by taking it on as many road trips as he can! 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 Pro Touring Camaro with LS power right here on LS1 Tech.

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