By Nick Licata – Photography by NotStock Photography
Once we become exposed to a certain type of muscle car at an influential age that car remains etched in our brains and is one we continually gravitate toward—one that we hope to have in our possession at some point in our life. In the case of Randy Wilson, from Woodlawn, Virginia, he had been into cars as long as he can remember. The passion was always there and became solidified by his stepdad who was regularly wrenching on hot rods of his own in the garage.
Randy’s love for early second-gen Camaros was big, but there was one ’70 Z28 in particular that had been on his radar for years—one he could never coax the owner into selling to him no matter how hard he tried. The owner just wouldn’t budge.
That owner just so happened to be his lifelong friend Tommy Whitaker (Dobber) who bought a ’70 Camaro brand new off the lot in 1970. “Throughout our friendship I was persistent in letting him know I wanted to buy his car,” Randy explains. “But I could never persuade him to let it go. After his [death] a few years ago, his widow told me Tommy’s wish was for me to own the car.”
Randy gracefully accepted and felt it appropriate to build the car in a way that Tommy would approve. Randy got busy with a full-on body-off restoration infusing his own “custom touch” into the project. “We began with a well-preserved car that had never been in an accident and had just a mere 28,000 miles on the odometer,” Randy confirms. “It was a beautiful rust-free specimen, so there were no surprises during the bodywork phase.”
Early second-gen Camaros have a well-known reputation for resisting aftermarket parts and any sort of modifications, and this one was no different. It constantly challenged Randy, creating additional hurdles before welcoming any new components. Undeterred, Randy stayed on point throughout the five-year process, overcoming the Camaro’s stubbornness.
More Camaro Love: Custom 1969 Camaro Pro Touring Restomod
Wanting to keep the Camaro’s soul in check Randy decided on a small-block for power opting for a 383ci stroker crate engine underhood. Foley Engine and machine handled the machine work, with James Williams and Hutch overseeing the assembly process. The engine is dressed in black GM center-bolt valve covers, complemented by a black powdercoated FiTech Ram air/fuel injection system. Adding a striking visual contrast is a polished Concept One Pulley Systems accessory drive system. Sanderson 1-5/8-inch headers paired with custom 2.5-inch tubes from Karnage Performance Exhaust, and Karnage mufflers efficiently expel spent gases, producing a fierce tone that complements the Camaro’s menacing demeanor.
Liberty’s Gears upgraded a TREMEC TKO-600, added carbon-fiber sliders, and backed it up with a RAM twin-disc clutch. A custom 9-inch Spicer rearend built by Sprakers Racing houses Moser 3.70 gears and 31-spline axles for plenty of brute strength for those times when Randy feels the need to abuse a set of rear tires.
Up front a Heidts subframe is garnished with Heidts polished SS Pro-G control arms, 2-inch drop spindles, QA1 adjustable coilover shocks, 2-inch sway bar, rack-and-pinion steering system, and Wilwood 11-inch disc brakes and four-piston calipers.
Out back you’ll find an Art Morrison four-link rearend system armed with a pair of Strange adjustable coilover shocks, 2-inch sway bar, and 12-inch Wilwood disc brakes featuring four-piston calipers.
A set of Detroit Speed mini-tubs enable the second-gen to accommodate the massive 20×12 Billet Specialties rollers wrapped in 315/35R20 Michelin Pilot Sport rubber. Up front the same brand wheels measuring 18×7 encased in 225/45R18 Pilot Sports contribute to outstanding performance.
Don’t Miss It: This 1967 Camaro Blends Original Styling with Drag Car Performance
Randy faced a mental dilemma, debating whether to embrace a completely customized approach or preserve the vintage essence of the Camaro. Ultimately, he opted for a blend of modernity and tradition, evident in the incorporation of contemporary-sized tires and wheels that align the car with the current hot rodding scene. This modern motif extended to the interior where Randy utilized the National Parts Depot catalog to rejuvenate the inside to include period-correct components combined with a good amount of custom refinements. The makeover includes black leather upholstery accented with double French red stitching applied by the crew at Trimmers Trim Shop. The leather-clad factory dash showcases a carbon-fiber insert to house the Auto Meter gauges while maintaining the factory-style vents and control panel. Adding more flair to the overall vibe is a custom center console complete with aluminum cup holders and an ididit steering column topped with a Flaming River steering wheel.
Outside is where Randy’s car really shines, figuratively and literally. Terry’s Body Shop out of Meadows of Dan, Virginia, took the Z28’s already-solid shell and prepped the sheetmetal to perfection prior to Ronal Terry unleashing a brilliant layer of PPG Viper Red combined with the appropriate black Z28 stripes down the hood and deck lid. Randy took liberty to incorporate RS front bumpers to the standard nose for a sportier look, which is an acceptable maneuver being this Camaro falls under the restomod category rather than a concourse restoration. Updating the illumination is a pair of Rigid LEDs up front and LED taillights out back, giving the vintage Camaro another layer of modern functionality. Taking charge of the brightwork, Advanced Plating gave this F-body the ultimate in chrome treatment, ensuring a long-lasting brilliance.
“I’m honored to take ownership of my lifelong friend’s Camaro. Being the caretaker, I know it’s in the best hands possible, but I couldn’t have gotten it to this point without the help of my good friends Hutch, Ward, Caleb, Brian, Jason, Tony, Greg, Mickey, and Tommy McClain at Big Daddy Detailing. They all played a large part in the restoration process,” Randy admits. “I also want to thank my wife, Kathy, who also contributed to the success of this project. We both love getting it out to local cruises in our hometown of Galax, Virginia, where we regularly run into many of our longtime friends, so having this Camaro brings back some great memories.”
TECH CHECK
Owner: Randy and Kathy Wilson, Galax, Virginia
Vehicle: ’70 Camaro Z28
Engine
Type: Chevy small-block
Displacement: 383 ci
Compression Ratio: 9.9:1
Bore: 4.005 inches
Stroke: 3.80 inches
Cylinder Heads: GM fast-burn aluminum
Rotating Assembly: 4340 steel crankshaft, forged rods, hypereutectic pistons
Camshaft: Comp Cams LT1 CSLT1 hydraulic roller
Valvetrain: Comp Cams valves, 1.6 rocker arms, Comp Cams pushrods
Induction: FiTech Ultra Ram intake manifold, FiTech air cleaner
Fuel Injection: FiTech
Front Drive System: Concept One Pulley Systems
Machinework: Foley Engine and Machine (Stuart, VA)
Assembly: James Williams and Hutch
Exhaust: Sanderson Headers, Karnage Performance 2.5-inch exhaust, Karnage Performance mufflers
Fabrication: Radiator shield/cowl panel by Jason Perry, custom inner fenders by Harvey Ward and Mickey Alley
Ancillaries: Edelbrock water pump, GM center-bolt valve covers, MSD ignition, MSD wires, Autoplumb on fluid and fuel lines, Raingear hidden wiper system, Ringbrothers hood hinges
Output: 525 hp at 5,500 rpm, 550 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm
Drivetrain
Transmission: TREMEC TKO-600 by Liberty’s Gears (Taylor, MI)
Clutch: RAM twin-disc
Rear Axle: Custom 9-inch Spicer housing by Sprakers Racing, Moser 3.70 gears, Moser 31-spline axles
Chassis
Front Suspension: Heidts Pro-G subframe, Heidts Pro-G control arms, 2-inch drop spindles, QA1 adjustable coilover shocks, 275-pound springs, Heidts 2-inch sway bar, rack-and-pinion steering
Rear Suspension: Art Morrison four-bar system, Strange coilover adjustable shocks, 175-pound springs
Subframe Connectors: Art Morrison
Brakes: Wilwood 11-inch rotors, four-piston calipers front, Wilwood 10-inch rotors, four-piston calipers rear
Brake System: Wilwood master cylinder, Wilwood proportioning valve
Frame Modification: Frame trimming by R&D Racing (Reidsville, NC)
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: Billet Specialties Turbine, 18×7 front, 20×12 rear
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport, 225/45R18 front, 315/35R20 rear
Interior
Upholstery: Black leather with red stitching
Carpet: Daytona Black
Seats: TMI bucket frames black leather cover
Seat Belts: National Parts Depot
Door Panels: Custom leather
Dash: National Parts Depot
Installation: Trimmer’s Trim Shop (Lexington, NC)
Gauge Insert: Carbon fiber
Gauges: Auto Meter
Vents and Control Panel: National Parts Depot
Stereo System: Kicker KMC4 head unit, Kicker amp, processer, and speakers
Wiring: American Autowire by Rude Dudes Rod Shop (Bellmawr, NJ)
Steering: Ididit column, Flaming River steering wheel
Shifter: Ringbrothers
Pedals: Lokar
HVAC: None
Exterior
Bodywork and Paint: Terry’s Body Shop (Meadows of Dan, VA)
Paint: PPG Viper Red, PPG Black Z28 Stripes
Grille: National Parts Depot
Front Bumper: NPD
Rear Bumper: NPD
Plating: Advanced Plating (Portland, TN)
Headlights: Rigid LED
Taillights: LED
Outside Mirrors: Factory
Door Handles: Anvil
Glass: Auto City Classics
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of Pro Touring 1970 Z28 Chevy Camaro.
