By Nick Licata – Images by Luke Munnell
John Camp’s love for cars started early on. “I was 12 years old when I began helping my dad work on cars—he put me in charge of holding the flashlight. It didn’t seem like a huge role, but I paid attention and soaked up information like a sponge. By the time I was 16 he was holding the flashlight for me,” John laughs. “That’s basically how I was introduced to the car world.”
Like so many of us, it was seeing a certain car that got our attention during our impressionable high school years. For John it was a ’69 Camaro done up in drag race trim that he fell for. That car stuck in his head for decades.
That dream of owning a 1969 Camaro came true when John traded a beat-up Dodge D50 pickup straight across for a 1969 Camaro. The car was weathered and had faded orange paint with black Z/28 stripes, Z/28 emblems, and a green interior. “The car was solid, it ran, and everything was there,” John confirms. “It was my daily driver for two years. I thought it was cool and apparently others did too, as on numerous occasions someone tried to steal it, but the removable steering wheel and the due diligence of the local police department kept the would-be thieves at bay.”
While out for a walk in his hometown of Lake Havasu, Arizona, John noticed a couple of impressive muscle cars parked in front of Lakeside Speed & Shine, a local hot rod shop in the area. After closer inspection, he was intrigued by the build quality of the cars on display. A chance meeting with Lakeside owners Jim and Monique McKay at a local car show led to a discussion about the possibility of them taking John’s Camaro to the next level as a Pro Touring restomod. “I wanted the car to be simple, smooth, and classy,” John says. “Jim shared my vision, so the Lakeside team took on the project and the transformation began.”
With a solid plan in place the Lakeside gang got busy. The centerpiece of John’s Camaro is a 383ci small-block built by Tri Star Engines in Baldwin, Wisconsin. With a 10.5:1 compression ratio, Scat crankshaft, H-beam rods, and Keith Black pistons, the engine has the heart of a stout performer. A Howards cam with 0.545/0.565 lift and 241/247 degrees of duration ensures the Dart aluminum cylinder heads breathe properly, while the Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold and a Quick Fuel HR-Series 750-cfm carburetor deliver the perfect amount of swill keeping the small-block happy. The exhaust system consists of Hedman Hedders 1¾-inch headers and custom 2 1/2-inch stainless pipes by Lakeside, capped off with MagnaFlow mufflers. The result? A solid 460 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.
For shifting duties, a TREMEC T56 Magnum transmission paired with an American Powertrain clutch and driveshaft get the job done. A Moser 12-bolt housing with Eaton Truetrac posi, 3.73 gears, and Moser 31-spline axles ensures the burley components transfer power to the ground without breaking a sweat.
The suspension was significantly upgraded to provide modern handling characteristics. Up front, Global West tubular control arms and 2-inch drop spindles work in tandem with Ridetech coilover shocks and a 1 1/8-inch sway bar. The rear features Ridetech’s triangulated four-bar suspension system with QA1 coilovers. Stopping power comes from Wilwood 14-inch rotors and six-piston calipers in the front, with 14-inch rotors and four-piston calipers in the rear. Global West lowering body mounts and subframe connectors offer additional rigidity to the frame.
The Camaro rolls on Budnik Gasser wheels, 18×9 in the front and 19×12 in the rear, wrapped in Nitto Invo tires (245/40R18 front, 345/30R19 rear) providing a classic muscle car aura with a modern road-handling performance.
Inside, John’s Camaro blends comfort and customization. Unique Auto Upholstery in Gilbert, Arizona, crafted a custom dash, door panels, and console cloaked in black leather with blue stitching. The Procar by Scat seats feature the same black leather treatment offering a complementing performance vibe. A Fesler dash insert houses blue-faced Speedhut gauges, providing important engine vitals while a Flaming River steering column and Budnik Gasser steering wheel contribute to the performance scene. A Kicker sound system, including a 10-inch subwoofer, amplifier, and speakers, deliver a thunderous soundtrack when John cranks up the tunes on long drives.
The Camaro’s exterior is where simplicity meets sophistication. Lakesides Jim McKay applied PPG Super Blue paint by Painthouse, giving the car a stunning appearance. A stock grille and headlights maintain the classic look, while the bumpers have been narrowed and smoothed for a sleeker profile. Additional custom touches include a smoothed firewall and cowl, with the emblems and side marker lights shaved off for an even cleaner look. Eddie Motorsports taillights and second-gen Camaro side mirrors were added for additional flair and play well with the Anvil Auto front spoiler and Kindig It rear spoiler.
John Camp’s Camaro is a tribute to a lifelong passion that evolved from working alongside his dad at a young age. Taking the car from a garden-variety daily driver to a Pro Touring masterpiece was a two-year journey done with excellent craftsmanship and exceptional care. “Trusting the crew at Lakeside Speed & Shine to upgrade my Camaro was the best decision I ever made for the car,” John says. “Jim and Monique treated me like family and welcomed me to come see the car anytime throughout the build process. I even brought my daughters for the first fire-up, and I think they were just as excited as I was. I have no doubts that my car was done at the right place as the finished product proves it.”
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
TECH CHECK
Owner: John Camp, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Vehicle: 1969 Chevy Camaro
Engine
Type: Chevy small-block
Displacement: 383 ci
Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
Bore: 4.030
Stroke: 3.75
Builder: Tri Star Engines (Baldwin, WI)
Machine Work: Tri Star Engines
Rotating Assembly: Scat crankshaft, Scat H-beam rods, Keith Black pistons
Camshaft: Howards 0.545/0.565 lift, 241/247 degrees duration at 0.050
Cylinder Heads: Dart aluminum
Induction: Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold
Carburetor: Quick Fuel HR-Series 750 cfm
Air Cleaner: Spectre
Exhaust: Hedman Hedders 1 ¾-inch headers, Lakeside Speed & Shine 2 1/2-inch custom exhaust, MagnaFlow mufflers
Valve Covers: GM polished
Accessory Drive: Eddie Motorsports
Ancillaries: Eddie Motorsports hood hinges, PerTronix ignition, Summit Racing aluminum radiator
Output: 460 hp, 470 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Transmission: TREMEC T56 Magnum
Clutch: American Powertrain
Driveshaft: American Powertrain
Rear Axle: Moser 12-bolt, Eaton Truetrac posi, Moser 3.73 gears, Moser 31-spline axle
Chassis
Front Suspension: Global West tubular upper and lower control arms, Global West 2-inch drop spindles, Ridetech coilover shocks, Ridetech 1 1/8-inch sway bar, Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering
Rear Suspension: Ridetech triangulated four-bar suspension system, QA1 coilover shocks
Brakes: Wilwood 14-inch rotors, six-piston calipers front, Wilwood 14-inch rotors, four-piston calipers rear
Suspension Mods: Global West lowering body mounts, Global West subframe connectors
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: Budnik Gasser 18×9 front, 19×12 rear
Tires: Nitto Invo 245/40R18 front, 345/30R19 rear
Interior
Upholstery: Black leather with blue inserts and stitching
Door Panels: Custom
Console: Custom
Installation: Unique Auto Upholstery (Gilbert, AZ)
Seats: Procar by Scat
Seatbelts: Seatbelt Planet
Steering: Flaming River column, Budnik Gasser steering wheel
Pedals: Lokar
Dash: Fesler
Insert: Fesler
Instrumentation: Speedhut gauges
Wiring: American Autowire by Lakeside Speed & Shine
HVAC: Vintage Air
Entertainment System: Kicker KMC2 head unit, Kicker 44KXA800.5 amplifier, Kicker 5 ¼-inch and 6×9-inch speakers, Kicker TL7T10 10-inch sub by Lakeside Speed & Shine
Exterior
Bodywork and Paint: Lakeside Speed & Shine
Painter: Jim McKay
Paint: PPG Super Blue by Painthouse (Cypress, TX)
Front Bumper: Stock, narrowed and smoothed
Rear Bumper: Stock, narrowed and smoothed
Taillights: Eddie Motorsports
Side Mirrors: Second-gen Camaro
Body Mods: Recessed and smoothed firewall, smoothed cowl, shaved emblems, shaved marker lights, added rear valance, Kindig It rear spoiler, Anvil Auto front spoiler, custom radiator blockout plate by Lakeside Speed & Shine
