There’s just something about motorsports that slowly infiltrates the psyche of every car enthusiast. Not just enthusiasts who break into the hobby with powerful cars that have ties to motorsports – EVERY enthusiast. Whether they own a 500 horsepower Corvette that’s ready for the track or a vintage Type 2 Beetle that lives life in the slow lane, everyone understands how motorsports influences high-performance cars, specifically high-performance American cars. So, what form does that infiltration take when an enthusiast ends up in the Mecca of NASCAR? Judging by this striking Camaro, NASCAR slowly begins to influence everything!

To imply that Scott Landis, Operations Director at Hendrick Performance, is strictly influenced by NASCAR would be an oversimplification. Scott is a hardcore gearhead who grew up with an interest in cars. After drag racing for a while at Sears Point, he spent years professionally building MoPars, and then he cut his teeth at the Hendrick organization by volunteering as a part-time crew member in the early years of Jeff Gordon’s Cup career. In 1987, he purchased his first car: the 1967 Camaro SS/RS you see in these photos. And for the past 38 years, he has built his beloved Chevy into a truly remarkable custom that seamlessly blends classic pony car style with wicked track car prowess.

Nicknamed the NASCAM, Scott Landis’ 1967 Camaro rides a full NASCAR stock car chassis.

The Birth Of The NASCAM

Make no mistake, the photos you’re currently staring at aren’t some flippant exaggeration. This Camaro, appropriately nicknamed the NASCAM, would be right at home traversing the twists of Charlotte’s new Ten Tenth’s Motor Club. That’s because the car’s all-steel body has been custom-tailored around a full, and still fully functional, NASCAR stock car chassis. Naturally, the foundation for that chassis is a NASCAR-style truck arm rear suspension that, along with an adjustable Panhard Bar, features fully adjustable NASCAR jack screws. A proven Ford Track Pack axle puts power to the ground through a Detroit Locker differential. A NASCAR-style front clip stacks Hyperco performance coils and custom-tuned monotube shocks between custom tubular upper control arms and custom-fabricated lower control arms. Stops are provided by 4-piston Wilwood calipers that, with the help of Wilwood master cylinders, clamp steel, 13-inch NASCAR race rotors. On the outside of those brakes, 245/60R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/As join 295/50R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/As to spin NASCAR-proven Bassett D-Hole wheels that add menacing contrast to the car’s retro-chic paint.

The Camaro, an authentic RS/SS with 1967-exclusive Mountain Green Metallic paint, was Landis’ first car.

Correct, That Is, Mountain Green Metallic Paint

Despite its NASCAR roots, the NASCAM looks more like something you might find at a vintage SCCA Trans Am celebration. That’s no coincidence, as Scott’s ultimate vision was to create a completely street-legal track weapon that detailed timeless American style with just the right amount of edge. That said, despite extensive mechanical modifications, the exterior of this Chevy remains remarkably unaltered, which only adds to its cool factor. A factor that is exponentially enhanced by correct Mountain Green Metallic paint, a decidedly rare hue that was only offered during the first year of the first-generation Camaro.

In true race car fashion, the car’s door handles and lock cylinders have been shaved, along with its drip rails. Stainless pins front a custom, all-steel hood that’s fabricated around a full suite of Spek NASCAR-style gauges. Out front, a correct Rally Sport grille centers a billet SS emblem between electric Rally Sport headlights and correct Rally Sport parking lamps. Speaking of rally, large, rally-style driving lamps look great above a metal chin spoiler that, custom-fabricated, is a larger, more aggressive version of the car’s factory setup. Front and rear Lexan safety glass rides between stainless bowtie mirrors, which reflect correct Rally Sport rocker guards and correct Rally Sport rocker paint. Despite the presence of a traditional, rear-mounted fuel cap, a custom, Le Mans-style fender filler feeds a trunk-mounted ATL fuel cell that’s finished with a Kevlar safety bladder. And a custom, NASCAR-style deck spoiler looks great, shading LED Rally Sport taillights.

Epic Power For An Epic Build

Big-blocks haven’t been a thing in NASCAR in roughly 50 years, but SCCA eventually evolved to include them, and big-block Camaros have won races in that series. But the presence of killer cubic inches in a capable vintage track car isn’t even the coolest thing about the NASCAM’s massive mill. Lift the “454” branded hood and you’ll find an epic LS7 V8 that’s good for 550 dyno-proven horsepower. And no, we’re not talking about some increased displacement LS swap that’s masquerading as a big-block. We’re talking about the original LS7 that Chevrolet intended to install in the Chevelle SS454, then sold over the counter for many years afterward. If you’re deep into bowtie history, you might know it by its nickname, the gorilla, or as simply the biggest and baddest Mark IV big-block the brand ever produced.

The NASCAM features 454 cubic inches of Mark IV LS7 big-block.

At the top of that engine, a NASCAR-style carbon fiber air cleaner, which has been hollowed out for better flow, feeds a big Holley Avenger carburetor that’s bolted to an aluminum Edelbrock intake. Liquified fossils are supplied by a full Aeromotive fuel system, which is detailed with Teflon lines. A custom, 4-core aluminum radiator keeps everything cool with the help of twin electric fans. MSD twin-spark ignition, complete with a rev limiter, regulates an MSD twin-lead distributor. Track capability is greatly enhanced by an ODYSSEY Extreme twin-battery setup and a system that cools the car’s engine oil, power steering fluid, and differential. Exhaust rumbles through either rowdy electronic cutouts or custom NASCAR Boom Tubes.

Despite its NASCAR roots, the NASCAM features modern heat and air conditioning.

Open Door, Crawl Inside, Enjoy The Ride

Pop the electric doors and channel your inner F-Body gymnast to slide into the NASCAM’s full NASCAR roll cage. A NASCAR-style rearview mirror reflects carbon fiber BRIDE racing seats. Willans 4-point racing harnesses join custom door cables and a cage-mounted, quick-release fire extinguisher to greatly improve passenger safety. Speaking of fire suppression, the car is equipped with both a full fire suppression system and an emergency shut-off system. The driver feels the track through a removable, Super Sport-style steering wheel. A billet CV Products Competition Shifter controls a predictable, NASCAR-spec Richmond T-10 4-speed that’s engaged with the help of a tough hydraulic clutch. Spek NASCAR-style telemetry includes a programmable speedometer and a programmable tachometer. An electric trunk popper joins custom, cable-driven wipers to add streetability, while Hurst Roll Control adds a little fun. There’s even a heat and air conditioning system for passengers who seek modern civility.

The Real McCoy

Y’all don’t go foolin’ yourselves into thinking the NASCAM is just some rudimentary exercise in backwoods Carolina roguery. The car’s weight is within a couple of hundred pounds of what a NASCAR stock car of the chassis era would’ve crossed the scales at. Perhaps even more impressive is the Camaro’s almost even 51/49 weight distribution. According to Landis, his Chevy tips the scales at about 3,600 pounds, whereas a stock car that ran this chassis would’ve weighed in at roughly 3,400 pounds. He also mentions that since the stock car chassis relocates the big-block further back toward the middle of the car, it substantially aids the Chevy’s balance.

The NASCAM isn’t just some vintage Camaro with NASCAR parts. It’s a culmination of decades of passion, precision, and ingenuity that serves as a rolling tribute to America’s best motorsports icons. From its correct Mountain Green paint and stylish Rally Sport trim to its NASCAR-proven steelies and epic gorilla block growl, this Chevy is pure vintage cool. And at the track, it doesn’t just look the part – it IS the part!