And it's readily-available with five engines in the garage.
Following a feature on an LS7-powered Chevrolet Camaro in North Carolina, Shawn from AutotopiaLA is back with another Camaro project car build. This time, the presenter chatted with RJ Gottlieb, who owns the one and only Big Red Camaro.
Big Red is a 1969 Z28 Chevy Camaro that started only as an idea back in the 1980s. Gottlieb's father wanted to ensure he was still spending time with him and saw racing as the perfect opportunity. The La Carrera Panamericana in Mexico was where the '69 Camaro had its first run but ended in a heavy crash.
The father and son duo wanted to make the iconic muscle car more race-ready, and commissioning for a modified chassis was the first task on the to-do list.
The car had a naturally-aspirated engine setup, which helped it win on its return to the La Carrera. However, they were disqualified as the car was claimed to be overly modified.
After garnering records with an NA setup, Gottlieb switched to a supercharged powertrain. To accommodate the ProCharger, the car was installed with a massive wing and an oversized bubble hood. Big Red entered various racing series, including the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Moving to the specs, head mechanic Mark Ewing talks about the ins and outs of Big Red, starting with the custom full-tube chassis with a four-link suspension setup with coilovers. It has a fiberglass hood, carbon fiber deck lid, Borla mufflers, and Billet Aluminum Kirkey seats with the Big Red script on the headrests.
The Big Red runs on various setups depending on the track conditions. But at the time of the video, the car was sitting on 18-inch BBS E88 wheels. Shawn pointed out that five engines were available in the garage, with the original engine used at the La Carrera days currently installed, making 875 hp. It is matched with a four-speed G-Force GSR transmission found in NASCAR and its Xfinity Series.
Some parts from the factory are still used today, including the dashboard, firewall, and even the body from the late 60s, with few modifications like aero kits and fenders.
Big Red had been totaled and completely burned out over the course of its racing career. But with time and effort from the guys at the garage, the legacy of the red classic Chevy Camaro continues.
Keyword: The Epic Story Of The 1969 Chevy Camaro "Big Red" That Crashed, Burned, And Came Back To Life