The Chevy Camaro was obviously built in response to the Ford Mustang, but it would be a mistake to consider it merely a Mustang alternative. Always carrying a bit more of an edge and considerable firepower, the Camaro fixed all the flaws in the original Mustang concept, delivering just the right balance of in-your-face performance, comfort, and style. Today, five decades later, the early Camaros remain A-list collectables and you can spend $10,000 on a beater or $100,000 on a pro-built creation that runs better than the new cars coming out of GM factories. And for that reason alone, Camaros remain perennial best-sellers.

This sinister 1967 Camaro hardtop isn’t a pedigree car, so if you’re looking for matching numbers and papers, look elsewhere. But if you want a car that looks incredible, drives superbly, and offers a thoroughly modern driving experience in a vintage wrapper, this is a fantastic choice. It started out as a simple V8 coupe, probably with a 327, and somewhere along the line it was transformed into an ersatz Z/28 complete with stripes. It had obviously spent its life being properly cared for, as it appears that it still carries its original floors and quarters, and obviously they’re in excellent shape. In February 2014, it was purchased in North Carolina from an older gentleman who had recently installed the stout 350 it currently carries. After arriving home with the new owner, it immediately went to a professional for a full makeover that included the spectacular bodywork and killer Storm Gray paint, a late-model GM color. Working with clean, virgin sheetmetal clearly helps, but the fit and finish on this car are very impressive from any angle and the paint offers an incredible shine that only comes from hours and hours of hand labor. Two-stage urethane paint gives it a forever shine and with a proper wet sand and buff, there’s no trace of orange peel in the surface. And with just a few hundred miles on the build, it obviously remains extremely nice.

While the car was apart, all the trim was refinished in Hot Rod Black, a handsome satin black that works with the Storm Gray paint to give this pentagenarian a much more youthful look. The grille, bumpers, door handles, window trim, mirrors, deck lid spoiler, and even the windshield wiper arms were all blacked out and we have to say the look works very, very well. You’ll also note that all the emblems and badges were shaved—this car doesn’t wear so much as a fake SS badge on the grille. The steel cowl induction hood was already in place, and we have to say that without stripes, the car looks incredibly purposeful and stripped down to its bare essence. All new weather seals went in, too, so it seals up well and doesn’t rattle on the road, a big consideration in any vintage F-body.

Inside, the original blue interior was gutted and tossed, replaced by a combination of new and replacement parts. The front seats are body-hugging low-back buckets that are both power actuated and wrapped in leather for a very modern feel. A custom center console was created to house the Tremec 5-speed’s shifter and a small storage compartment, giving it a finished look. The back seat is reproduction Camaro stuff, as are the door panels and headliner, so it all has a cohesive look. Original gauges monitor the basics, but it also received a tachometer strapped to the steering column in the usual fashion as well as a set of under-dash auxiliary gauges. It’s wired for a modern stereo and has speakers stashed throughout the interior, but it needs a head unit to power everything so that can be a choice the next owner makes. Vintage Air provided one of their custom-fit Camaro A/C units that uses factory-style sliders and vents to make the installation seamless and it blows ice cold today. The interior was lined with Dynamat sound-deadening materials so it’s quiet and comfortable inside when you’re just cruising in 5th gear, and the trunk is outfitted with a correct mat and full-sized spare, just in case.

Mechanically, how can you improve on a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8? It’s a strong runner with a Holley 4-barrel carburetor on an Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake manifold, and the sound is spectacular thanks to long-tube headers and Flowmaster mufflers. It starts instantly every time, idles well even when it’s cold, and pulls hard through all five (yes, five) gears. Chevy Orange paint on the block is a traditional look and it’s matched by a finned air cleaner and aluminum valve covers that add a little dress-up. A new alternator, fresh master cylinder and power brake booster, and a heavy-duty radiator mean that it’s reliable and ready to rock at a moment’s notice.

The Tremec 5-speed manual totally transforms the vintage Chevy, offering explosive punch thanks to 3.73 gears out back, but relaxed cruising on the highway with a deep overdrive 5th gear. A blow-proof bellhousing was part of the conversion, as was a custom transmission mount and cross member that ties in neatly with the original Camaro’s frame. The power disc brakes were fully rebuilt and provide plenty of stopping power for the potent small block and it has been fitted with Hotchkis suspension components that give it that low, lean look and razor-sharp handling. You haven’t driven an early Camaro that feels this light on its feet. You’ll also note that the floors are extremely clean, including the trunk area, and those 18-inch wheels and staggered Falken performance radials are brand new with less than 50 miles on them.

The car comes complete with build photos, receipts and invoices for many of the components that went into the build, and, well, you just can’t compete with that look. It’s not cheap, but you couldn’t duplicate this car at this price, and the only cars that can run with it cost many thousands more. This has quickly become one of our favorites here at Harwood Motors, and if you’re like us, you won’t be able to stop yourself from turning around and admiring it every time you walk away. This is one of the best-looking, best-driving early Camaros we’ve ever offered. Call today!