Project Nighthawk 1969 Camaro - 800hp Super car build

[Amituk]

I have loved muscle cars since I was a kid. As an adult, watching the masters like Chip foose and his counterparts on countless car shows on sky tv strengthened that love even more. I knew some day, I would build the car of my dreams, and that day is finally here.

I am going to build a car that embodies everything I love about motoring. Retro style, Lots of usable power, and as much 21st century auto tech. as I can get in. I want a retro bruiser with all the mod cons.

The current plan is, 600hp LS3 motor,
Ridetech full air Suspension upgrades and sway bars managed by Accuair ride management
Rotiform
modern design red leather interior
modern lighting
digital computer controlled dash and electronics
lots of custom gizmos and gadgets

Paint wise I am thing of a dark but heavily metalic grey. Almost like shadow chrome you get on some wheels.
Bespoke body mods including front valance, rear diffuser, side skirts and rear gill.
Lots of carbon trim

The majority of the build work will be taken care off by the excellent Retro Power

This build thread will serve as summary of the build. For full blow by blow updates and pictures, follow the build on
the project facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ProjectNighthawk
and on Twitter here https://twitter.com/#!/ProjNighthawk

[Amituk]

Phase one was to come up with some designs. Mike Gillett did an excellent job of turning my ramblings into renders.







more designs Design concepts and rendering

Next, I needed a car to base the build on. I found a beautiful 69 camaro SS clone in hugger orange that had already had some resto work in the past, but you guys convinced me it was too good/original to base the build on, so that was promptly sold and replaced with this rotter off a shell.

Unfortunately I had to buy the shell blind, but the seller assured me it was a perfect base car due to my extensive plans and that structurally it was sound








see the full gallery of base car pics

[Amituk]

The car was delivered straight to Retro Power from the seller.

I had heard lots about the abilities of Callum and Nat at retro power, and had read countless forum posts and mag articles about their previous builds.

Seeing their metal work skills on some of their previous projects, and their very reasonable costs and working practices made them a winner.

The boys got straight to work tearing the car apart ready for blasting, which is when we found out, things werent as rosey as the first seemed.









Full gallery of the car pre blasting

After that, there wasnt much car left for blasting! but we had come too far now to turn back so on it went for media blasting and zinc priming









Full gallery of blasted car

[Amituk]

thanks to


I have almost an entire camaro in a box on its way by boat to me.

Should be here by late july then the fun can begin

If you ever wondered what a camaro kit looks like in a box.. here it is



Amit

[anonymous-user]

Never owned an American car, but I love old school muscle!

Please keep us updated, the sketches and renderings look absolutely fantastic

Good luck!

[Johnboy Mac]

Bookmarked.

[Mr E]

Amituk said:

If you ever wondered what a camaro kit looks like in a box.. here it is

Nice. I can feel my credit card squealing as I look at that.

[W00DY]

Wow, those renderings look the nuts! Will be awesome once finished.


My face when I saw how much was left for blasting:

Good on you for realising that you just have to get on with it.

[Amituk]

W00DY said:

Wow, those renderings look the nuts! Will be awesome once finished.


My face when I saw how much was left for blasting:

Good on you for realising that you just have to get on with it.

Tell me about it.. I bought the rolling shell without seeing it. The previous owner said it needed a bit here and there lol!

but at least this way I get a 90% new car

[Amituk]

Mr E said:

Amituk said:

If you ever wondered what a camaro kit looks like in a box.. here it is

Nice. I can feel my credit card squealing as I look at that.

lol if you want to hear it really squeal.. take a look at this


640bhp LS9 if you dont know what it is

Thats whats really making me pucker up at the moment.. but it has to be done

[Gorilla Boy]

Me likey

Bookmarked!

[aww999]

This will be fantastic; an early Camaro is one of my all-time dream cars. Mine would have to be original looking, with small wheels, fat tyres, and an old-fashioned big block on carbs. Certainly not knocking your approach though, I can't wait to see how it develops!

[rumple]

Oh boy is this baby bookmarked

[Marneus]

Bookmarked! This is going to be EPIC!!!
Well done for following your dream & making it happen!

[Kneetrembler]

One of my favourite Muscle cars good luck, how long and how much are you expecting to wait and pay if you don't mind ?

[Amituk]

My goal is end of next year and cost will be 50-60k I think by the time it's done.

I have no where near that right now so will be fun trying to figure out how to fund the project.

Will try and get some sponsorship down the line maybe

[tjlazer]

This is already my favourite read in a very longtime. Good luck and Godspeed. Going to be amazing.

[Podie]

Loved the Camaro in Metallica's "I Disappear" video... bookmarked this.

[Mr E]

Amituk said:

lol if you want to hear it really squeal.. take a look at this


640bhp LS9 if you dont know what it is

Thats whats really making me pucker up at the moment.. but it has to be done

Splendid work old chap.
My card has just melted with the mere thought.

[Killer2005]

69 Camaro

Bookmarked