From The Strip To Tarmac, This Old Dog ’68 Camaro Learns a New Trick

It seems like the Pro Touring phenomenon grows stronger with each passing month. For those who may not be familiar with the term or its appeal, Pro Touring cars are all about putting contemporary technology into a classic package. The result is a car that looks like a classic but is one that you’re ont afraid to drive in today’s traffic.

Properly done, a Pro Touring car will accelerate, stop and turn with today’s best cars, while offering the creature comforts to make long journeys seem trivial. For many, the days of windows-down air conditioning and AM radios are best left in the past.

Making the transition from a classic car to a Pro Touring version is not for the faint of heart, although to an extent, it can be done in stages.

Usually, a full conversion will start with a complete disassembly of the vehicle to check for rust and structural damage. Unless you know the car well and are fully confident in its condition, this is a highly recommended step.

With the body and frame looked after, a remake of the suspension often follows. The aftermarket continues to expand its range of parts and kits available to increase the handling, ride comfort and braking capabilities of your car.

Upgrading of the drivetrain usually follows next and with a wide variety of ‘crate’ engines available, an increasing portion of which are fully emissions compliant, the choices are only limited by your budget.

Carrying on with the build, you may get after the interior next. There are plenty of opportunities to create a unique ride here, from insulating the cabin from road noise, to improving the seating, instrumentation, climate control and entertainment options. In the end, what you have is a car that you’ll not be afraid to drive, cruise, show or head across the country with.

Steve Hayes over at Pro-Touring.com is taking more or less this same approach on his 1968 Camaro, but with a bit of an unusual twist.

The car had previously undergone a transformation from a factory stock pony car to a drag racing weekend warrior, in the late 1970’s. Camaros have always been popular, and remain so, as drag race cars. They are also popular for Pro Touring use.

Steve has decided to re-task his car and began the process by installing a G-Link rear suspension, 9-inch Moser rear axle and DSE sub-frame. With the Forgeline alloys on the car now, we can see how significant the change will be from the car’s former self.

Steve says he’s got a way to ge yet before his Camaro is ready for street use, but these early steps are going well. We’d agree wholeheartedly and hope that Steve will post some more photos as the car progresses.