Photo: RK Motors

RK Motors of Charlotte is known throughout the motoring world, not only for their pristine restorations of factory-correct muscle, but for the construction of fully-modded, pro-touring classics that maintain original skins while improving upon original platforms. In the case of any custom resto project, a clean-and-straight muscle car or clean ’50s cruiser is either totally tricked-out to astronomical heights, almost to the point of being a prototype, or else is cleaned-up in a way that concentrates more on handling and overall performance, not placing so much of an emphasis on flawless paint and show-quality interior. In the case of a pro-tour hot rod like this ‘69 Camaro RS, however, aesthetics and functionality seemed to be balanced almost perfectly.

Photo: RK Motors

That’s because RK Motors’ pro-tour, ’69 RS convertible is revamped with all of the best modern components available on the current market, including a 502 Ram Jet from GM Performance Parts. The stout 502 mill from GMPP produces 510bhp, thanks to a list of external and internal mods. These include aluminum heads and intake, along with forged, aluminum pistons that raise the motor’s compression to 9.6:1, enough to also build 565 foot-pounds of torque on the 502-cube crate mill from GM. As radical as the 502 motor sounds, don’t think that it’ll tear itself apart anytime soon under normal driving conditions; GMPP’s crate-ready mill is built with a hydraulic-roller cam, fully-calibrated ECM and electronic fuel injection, making that impressive figure of 510-horse that much easier to unleash.

Transmitting power from the RS Camaro’s beastly 502 to the ground is a 4-speed stick connected to a GM 10-bolt rear, and the assembly comes complete with reproduction chalk marks. At the front and rear of the First-Gen is factory-correct, double A-Arm leaf spring suspension with correct power steering. The factory suspension has also been upgraded with two-inch drop spindles in order to achieve a slick, more modern-looking road stance.

A brilliant combination of road-handling suspension, a modern drivetrain and eye-catching looks, RK Motors’ pro-tour, RS Camaro is the epitome of all-things pro-tour!