There are many chassis-destined options that help classic muscle cars deal with their old-timer twisty road phobia. However, if you’re willing to go all out, you’ll need to shed some serious weight, which is partially why carbon-bodied classic muscle is all the rage these days. So, how about the first exposed-weave carbon fiber 1969 Camaro? Enter the scale-friendly magic of Oklahoma-based Finale Speed.
One may rightfully argue that having a carbon-bodied muscle car measn you simply need to have at least a part of the vehicle in exposed-weave form. Otherwise, how is anybody going to know the build plays in a totally different league?
This, of course, addresses the other main reason why people buy such projects—because they’re over the top. It’s a reality and, if we may add, one that can be difficult to question until you’re actually in the position of investing so heavily into a restomodded, or retromodded muscle car like the also-carbon-bodied 1971 Plymouth Cuda that’s based on a modern-day Dodge Challenger Hellcat.
Heck, even OEMs themselves aknowledge the need for full carbon bodies, which is why Dodge is offering such a feature for the 1970 Charger starting with the 2023 Direct Connection catalog. And who builds it for the Mopar people? Finale Speed.
Cool, so let’s focus on the specs of Finale Speed’s carbon 1969 Camaro
Since this machine will easily convince people this is not just another ’69 Camaro project, the rest of the vehicle has to be on par with the uber-light body. Speaking of which, while a factory 1969 Camaro coupe with a V8 weighs over 3,000 lbs, this carbon beast tips the scales at 2,500 lbs.
And while Camaros have always been unibodies, so there’s no need to discuss a separate chassis, we can still talk about the fully revamped front and rear suspension coming from Speedtech extreme and the JRI coilovers. 18-inch Forgeline three-piece wheels shod in fat Toyo rubber ensure the car makes the most out of the new suspension. There’s a new rack and pinion steering from Flaming River, while 14-inch Wilwood brakes deliver appropriate stopping power.
There may be enthusiasts out there who wish to see such a restomod with an electric heart (hey, anything is possible). But this is not the case here, as motivation is provided by a GM LT4 crate engine. You know, the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 found on the contemporary sixth-gen Camaro ZL1, which makes the same 650 hp here, using a Tremec six-speed manual.
A 9-inch rear end with a 3.70 final gear and posi traction hardware ensure all the muscle gets put to the road.
Inside, the classic feel has been maintained, but the materials are top notch. We’re dealing with leather, alcantara, the mandatory exposed carbon, while the half-cage is a reminder of the fact that the speedo goes all the way to 200 mph. Yes, of course there’s AC and a high-end audio system.
Finale Speed’s 1969 Camaro with an exposed carbon body starts at $429,000, but there are a a few options. Most notably, you may wish to use an automatic tranny ($7,500) or carbon fiber wheels ($12,000). And, if you’re feeling particularly extravagant, a Wegner LS3 with 1,000 HP and $10,000 candy paint or a $5,500 stripe package can come your way.
The show must go on
The 1969 Camaro, which was the first major facelift of the original, is easiest to spot thanks to the horizontal wheel arch lines that make the Chevy look fast even when standing still. So we can’t argue with the choice of having these in carbon, can we?
