SEMA 2025: Check Out This Incredible Camaro Built By Lost Angels Career Center

There is no doubt that some of SEMA 2025’s best debuts happened at Toyo Tires Treadpass. Of those debuts, one of the most meaningful had to be this stunning 1968 Camaro built by Lost Angels Career Center. In addition to being a fully functional build that will actually see track time at Willow Springs, this Chevy was assembled by students who are gaining skills to ensure the continuation of the industry and hobby we all live and love.

We use classic cars, custom cars, lowriders, and off-road trucks as a way to teach transferable skills to young people, to get them jobs in blue-collar industries. – Aaron Valencia, CEO and Founder of Lost Angels Career Center

Lost Angels Career Center

Located in Lancaster, California, Lost Angels Career Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves disadvantaged youth, families, and distressed communities through innovative vocational training, social enterprise, and traditional outreach. Offering a yearly 12-week program for 18-24-year-olds, the school provides hands-on vocational training in auto mechanics, welding and manufacturing, composites, autobody and paint, tech, and printing. Additionally, the school offers supportive services and helps students develop a range of soft skills and earn certifications. 

Lost Angels alumni, roughly 150 per year since 2020, have gained employment in automotive, aerospace, and construction, including positions at Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, NASA, and Honeywell Aerospace. The school’s 1968 Camaro is one of three cars it debuted at SEMA 2025. The car was a 6-month, non-stop build that sometimes consisted of 14-15-hour days. The team finished the build on Sunday, just before SEMA 2025 began.

It Started As A Simple Project

Like so many of the most remarkable builds in our hobby, this 1968 Camaro project started with a simple plan: build a fun drift car. But by the time SEMA 2025 rolled around, the team had created a full-on track car that consisted of some of the best components the aftermarket had to offer. 

A lot of time, prep, and resources went into achieving the Camaro’s 5.5-inch wider track, both front and rear. Utilizing 3D printing, the team created molds to fashion carbon fiber panels for both the Camaro’s front clip and rear clip. It wasn’t an easy process, as what you see in these photos is the result of about 90 different molds. But the result is that the entire front of this Camaro, and most of its rear, is painted carbon fiber that significantly reduces weight and allows for bigger tires. As we all know, bigger tires mean more traction and the ability to put more power to the ground.

Lost Angels has its own tech lab that can 3D print, CNC cut, and plasma cut. After taking on the task of designing this Camaro’s custom suspension, the lab reached out to the pros at QA1 to help bring their vision to life. The results are impressive, with a Detroit Speed hydroformed subframe leading a cantilever rear suspension. Power is supplied by a BluePrint Engines LS3, which makes excellent use of a Magnuson supercharger. Stops are provided by big Baer brakes, and clean Motegi wheels, 19×12 in the rear, roll world-class Toyo Proxes rubber.

According to Valencia, the school teamed up with a Norway-based designer to create this Chevy’s functional rear diffuser, and that diffuser works in conjunction with a custom rear wing. However, Lost Angels couldn’t quite get the wing right, so they left it off for the SEMA Show. But when this Camaro hits the track, the wing might be reinstalled–especially if it substantially increases the car’s performance. We can’t wait to see what the car will do!

Lost Angels Career Center’s 1968 Camaro isn’t just another jaw-dropping SEMA build. It’s proof that the future of hot rodding is in good hands. Every inch of this car reflects not just craftsmanship, but commitment, education, and purpose. Built by students with passion and guided by mentors who believe in second chances and skilled trades, this Camaro stands as rolling evidence that the next generation of builders isn’t just learning to turn wrenches, they’re shaping the future of the industry. When this car hits the track, it won’t just be racing for lap times; it’ll be racing for every young person chasing a better path forward through horsepower and hard work.