By Nick Licata – Photography by Wes Allison
What does one do to improve a ’69 Camaro in “good condition”? Well, if you bring said Camaro to Nostalgia Hot Rods (NHR) in Henderson, Nevada, for a makeover it’s fairly certain that 9-12 months later that car will emerge looking and driving light-years better than it did upon arrival. Dustin Hacker, the owner of NHR, is a proficient fabricator and car builder who has assembled an equally skilled team of fabricators and painters, uniting them under one roof to showcase their expertise and to produce some of the most exceptional muscle cars on the planet. Their strong work ethic contributes to the shop’s ability to build incredible muscle cars garnering awards at SEMA and countless events nationwide. Unlike many show cars, Dustin’s builds are meant to be driven prioritizing horsepower, driveability, and comfort, ensuring his customers leave the shop with a muscle car put together with highest-quality components ensuring an extreme level of performance and reliability.
Dustin’s rides are anything but average so for this ’69 Camaro an above-average engine was mandatory. It was decided to go LS but not just any LS would do, so Dustin hit up Nelson Racing Engines (NRE) for one of their 427ci Pro Touring Series twin-turbo beasts. It starts with a Dart LS Next block featuring a 4.125-inch bore and 4-inch stroke and relies on 9:1 compression to comply with the twin NRE 72mm mirror-image turbos. The combination belts out 1,100 hp on pump gas (1,600 hp on race fuel) creating an absolute pavement annihilator, while at the same time a car docile enough to cruise hundreds of highway miles with ease.
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The engine boasts an intimidating aesthetic adorned with all-black hardware that includes a Shaun’s Custom Alloy intake and billet valve covers. At the forefront, a Billet Specialties accessory drive system adds to the aggressive look. Further elevating the badassery, Anvil Auto carbon-fiber inner fenders, a custom closeout panel from NHR, and hood hinges from Eddie Motorsports accentuate the overall scene.
NRE also crafted the exhaust system that starts with a set of custom-built headers expelling waste to 3.5-inch straight pipe ensuring the Camaro meets the aggressive tone requirements common with high-horsepower vintage muscle cars.
NRE upgraded and assembled a Tranzilla T56 to manage every ounce of power dished out by the vigorous LS. This robust transmission is complemented by a McLeod twin-disc clutch and sends power to a Strange 9-inch rearend equipped with a limited slip posi and 3.73 gears.
Restomod 1968 Chevy Camaro: After seven years of ownership, Jim decided to make it a street machine capable of long-distance driving.
A Detroit Speed QUADRALink rear suspension system resides out back along with Strange coilover shocks and springs. Up front a Detroit Speed Hydroformed subframe features tubular control arms, 1.5-inch sway bar, and Strange coilover shocks. C6 spindles give it the proper stance and performance geometry along with a Detroit Speed rack-and-pinion steering system for tack sharp turning.
Braking duties were handed over to Wilwood discs positioned at each corner and sit behind a set of HRE wheels—18s in the front and 19s in the rear. All four wheels are equipped with Nitto NT05 rubber to ensure optimal asphalt-gripping performance.
The interior adopts an all-business ambience adorned with numerous carbon-fiber details. NHR created a sleek all-black arrangement featuring carbon-fiber elements in the door panels, center console, doorsill plates, and dash. Engine vitals are monitored by a Holley EFI 12.3-inch Standalone Pro Dash, while the climate is managed by a Vintage Air HVAC system.
The NHR crew bolted in the custom chromoly four-point rollbar, serving as anchor for the Sparco safety harness connected to the Sparco carbon-fiber–backed bucket seats. The sea of black Alcantara carpet complements the sinister theme, harmonizing well with the overall racing atmosphere.
In the signature style of NHR, Dustin and the crew elevated the exterior to the next level in customization by widening the rear quarter-panels 2 inches, while the front fenders were treated to a 1.5-inch stretch. The extensive exercise requires the proper fabrication skills to pull off without looking obnoxious or overdone. The modifications are subtle enough to preserve the Camaro’s integrity, yet aggressive enough to give the Camaro a more menacing demeanor. Beyond aesthetics, the alteration increases this F-body’s pavement gripping performance and effectively harnessing the capabilities of the high-end suspension system.
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Other one-off pieces include functional hood vents, both front and rear spoilers, a distinctive tail panel featuring custom exhaust exits, and a specialized air diffuser which offers additional aerodynamics and encourages improved downforce while simultaneously looking pretty damn cool. The stock RS grille remains intact, serving as testament to the Camaro’s inherent good looks as it came off the assembly line over 55 years prior.
Post sheetmetal surgery, NHR laid down a striking layer of PPG Tuxedo black paint then applied multiple layers of clear for a profound gloss that appears endless. The predominately black aesthetic is interrupted slightly by the machined outer hoops on the cutting-edge wheels aligning with the overall brute power of this ’69 Camaro.
So as Dustin and his crew consistently set new standards in building top-notch muscle cars, this particular Camaro stands as a testament to their ability in transforming an already great vintage car and turning it into a top contender at any track day or autocross, while also maintaining excellent driveability for covering long highway distances all in one sitting and all in comfort comparable to a modern-day sports car.
Here’s an explosive ’69 Camaro that embodies the essence of a versatile muscle car. It evokes a sense of organized chaos, harnessed or let loose solely by the driver at the helm. With that said, this author is officially offering his services free of charge to buckle in and be that driver.
ACP
TECH CHECK
BUILDER: Nostalgia Hot Rods, Henderson, Nevada
VEHICLE: ’69 Chevy Camaro
Engine
TYPE: Dart LS Next
DISPLACEMENT: 427 ci
COMPRESSION RATIO: 9.0:1
BORE: 4.125 inches
STROKE: 4.00 inches
CYLINDER HEADS: Dart Pro 1
ROTATING ASSEMBLY: Dart billet crankshaft, Boostline I-beam forged rods, JE forged pistons
CAMSHAFT: Nelson Racing Engines (NRE) hydraulic roller
INDUCTION: Shaun’s Custom Alloy intake
FUEL INJECTION: Holley Terminator X
POWER ADDER: NRE 72mm mirror image turbos
EXHAUST: NRE custom stainless headers, NRE 3.5-inch exhaust
ASSEMBLY: NRE
ACCESSORY DRIVE SYSTEM: Billet Specialties
ANCILLARIES: Ron Davis aluminum radiator, Shaun’s Custom Alloy valve covers, Eddie Motorsports hood hinges
OUTPUT: 1,100 hp on pump gas, 1,600 hp on race fuel
Drivetrain
TRANSMISSION: Rockland Standard Gear Tranzilla T56, assembled by NRE
CLUTCH: McLeod twin-disc
REAR AXLE: 9-inch reared, Eaton limited slip, 3.73 gears
Chassis
FRONT SUSPENSION: Detroit Speed and Engineering Hydroformed subframe, tubular upper and lower control arms, Strange coilover shocks, splined sway bar
REAR SUSPENSION: Detroit Speed and Engineering QUADRALink, Strange coilover shocks
BRAKES: Wilwood 14-inch rotors, six-piston calipers front and rear, Wilwood proportioning valve, Wilwood master cylinder
Wheels & Tires
WHEELS: HRE 18×9.5 front, 19×13 rear
TIRES: Nitto NT05 255/35R18 front 335/30R19 rear
Interior
UPHOLSTERY: Carbon fiber, black Alcantra carpet, black leather
INSTALLATION: Nostalgia Hot Rods (Henderson, NV)
SEATS: Sparco carbon-fiber backed
DOOR PANELS: Carbon fiber by NHR
CENTER CONSOLE: Custom by NHR
ROLLCAGE: Custom four-point by NHR
HARNESS: Sparco
STEERING: Ididit column, Billet Specialties steering wheel
SHIFTER: Ringbrothers
DASH: Stock with custom carbon-fiber insert
INSTRUMENTATION: Holley 12.3-inch digital dash
WIRING: American Autowire by NHR
PEDALS: Lokar
HVAC: Vintage Air
ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM: Kenwood head unit, Rockford Fosgate amps and speakers, JL Audio 8-inch sub, installed by NHR
Exterior
BODYWORK AND PAINT: NHR
FABRICATION: Rear tubs, rear fenders widened 2 inches, front fenders widened 1.5 inches
PAINT: PPG Tuxedo Black
GRILLE: Stock
FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS: Custom by NHR
HEADLIGHTS: Dapper lighting
TAILLIGHTS: Eddie Motorsports with Digi-tails LED
SIDE MIRRORS: Ringbrothers
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of Custom 1969 Camaro Pro Touring Restomod.
