Summary
- Roadster Shop collaborated with AutotopiaLA to showcase their custom 1970 Camaro build, the "Road Rage" Camaro, which draws inspiration from European road racing cars of the 1960s and 70s. It features accentuated fender flares and a driver-focused design.
- The Road Rage Camaro underwent meticulous modifications, including custom widebody components and a widened wheelbase to accommodate the widebody elements. The body also includes aerodynamic elements such as fender flares, carbon fiber splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser.
- The Road Rage Camaro is equipped with a powerful 454 LS7 engine built by Texas Speed, Kinsler individual throttle bodies, TREMEC T56 transmission, and BAER brakes. The interior features custom brown leather upholstery and modern tech upgrades. The car embodies Roadster Shop Garage's commitment to form and functionality in resto-mod projects.
Roadster Shop, a group of talented Illinois-based custom car builders, recently connected with the AutotopiaLA YouTube channel to release an in-depth video breakdown of their insane 1970 Camaro build, offering a comprehensive rundown of the custom second-gen Chevy.
Dubbed the “Road Rage” Camaro, the iconic muscle car was unveiled in 2018 at the renowned SEMA Show with a plethora of upgrades, both cosmetic and mechanical, including a specially built engine that makes 750 horsepower.
The Road Rage Camaro’s redesign was inspired by the European road racing cars of the 1960s and 70s. With accentuated fender flares and driver-focused design, this work of art has the pep of a roadster with the heart of a muscle car.
The experts at Roadster Shop Garage have countless combined years of customization experience and have collaborated with a number of celebrities and customization firms to create one-of-a-kind vehicles that blend form and function, boasting chart-topping stats and eye-catching designs.
American Muscle Legend Receives Modern Upgrades
The classic American muscle car project began its journey as a fresh vintage beauty, featuring 1970 stock applications and modest amenities, and while the blueprints for its resto-mod project were combed over numerous times over the course of months, it wasn’t without the customer's input, as the Road Rage Camaro was a commissioned project for a fellow car enthusiast.
Starting with the stunning exterior, the Road Rage Camaro underwent meticulous and closely calculated modifications such as custom widebody components which include the custom front fascia, front, and rear flared fenders. The Wheelbase was widened substantially to accommodate the aesthetic of the widebody elements, as well as the street-inspired stance of the Road Rage Camaro, which include large tires, a widened track, and extended control arms.
The body features aerodynamic elements including fender flares, carbon fiber street-performance front splitter, flared side skirts, and a large rear diffuser. The flared fenders are made of painted carbon fiber, an interesting direction from the design team, as many choose to display every inch of carbon fiber material.
The subtleties of the appearance hint at the performance qualities of the Camaro, while the dominant impression of the car is cohesive style and design flow. Carbon fiber can be seen along the splitter and diffuser, while the deep blue custom paint takes precedence on the main body with the gold branding and decals grounding the vehicle in classic American muscle.
The seamless blending of old and new in the appearance of the Road Rage Camaro accentuates the original vintage style with sharp and aggressive body lines without losing the essence of the 1970 Camaro.
The Road Rage Camaro Features A Powerful Engine From Texas Speed
The unibody welded Fast Track chassis, made by Roadster Shop Garage, allows the 1970 Camaro to utilize powerful modern upgrades, which include a naturally aspirated 454 LS7 engine built by Texas Speed, Kinsler individual throttle bodies (ITB), TREMEC T56 six-speed transmission, and much, much more.
The hand-built 454 LS7 V-8 engine, courtesy of Texas Speed, features custom long-tube headers and Wegner valve covers, producing upwards of 750-horsepower in the second-gen Camaro. And though no definitive 0-60 MPH time is available, judging by the test runs, it’s safe to assume it’s around 4.5 seconds, give or take a couple of milliseconds.
The LS7 engine pairs well with the TREMEC T56 transmission to deliver unmatched straight-line power, while the handling upgrades provide a stable footing for take-off. To go along with added stability offered by the extended control arms and widened track, Penske Racing coilover springs, which are visible in the rear of the cabin, provide exceptional articulation throughout the vehicle's suspension.
Firmly planting the Road Rage Camaro are large Michelin street tires. How large, you may wonder? 315 in the front and 345 in the back, not only giving the Road Rage Camaro an aggressive stance but also increasing overall grip and stability. Center-locking Forgeline LS3C Concave wheels accent the track and racing nature of the project.
The Road Rage Camaro's Aftermarket Upgrades:
- LS7 454 engine by Texas Speed and Performance
- Kinsler individual throttle bodies
- TREMEC T56 Magnum transmission
- Fast Track Roadster Shop chassis
- BAER brakes
- Wegner valve covers
- Woodward Racing steering rack
- Forgeline Concave wheel
BAER brakes and Woodward Racing steering rack bring together the full handling package applied by Roaster Shop Garage. Paired with the performance upgrades, the Road Rage Camaro drives and handles like a modern track-tuned sportscar.
The Road Rage Camaro Features Custom Leather And Modern Interior
The interior received the same amount of detailed expertise applied to the exterior facelift and performance upgrades. Not ones for cutting corners, the pros at Roadster Shop Garage enlisted the skill of Avant-Garde Studio to upholster the entire interior with premium brown leather, custom wrapping nearly every component inside the Road Rage Camaro, from the roll cage to the custom flat-bottom steering wheel.
The interior also features modern upgrades in tech and amenities, including full touchscreen Alpine stereo interface with Bluetooth, Dakota Digital gauges, and Vintage Air A/C system, though test drives prove that most would rather listen to the growl and pop of the 454 V-8. The Road Rage Camaro sports racing seats with harnesses for added protection, assuming anyone in the driver seat of this rocket will undoubtedly be flooring it.
The Roadster Shop Garage And Classic Restomods
Recognized as the “street-legal” version of The Rampage Camaro, a race-oriented resto-mod also built by Roadster Shop Garage, the Road Rage Camaro has a bigger focus on form and function, while the Rampage model focuses heavily on function, aiming more to outpace the competition, whereas the Road Rage aims to outclass them.
Notable Restomods By Roadster Shop Garage:
- 1970 Plymouth Cuda "Sick Fish 2.0"
- 1955 F100
- 1967 Chevrolet Nova
- 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle
- 1979 Z28 Camaro
- 1966 Pontiac 2+2
From top to bottom, inside and out, the Road Rage Camaro boasts inspired design and craftsmanship down to the last stitch, showcasing Roadster Shop Garage’s ability to craft and execute a literal breathtaking resto-mod. The Road Rage Camaro joins a long list of upgraded classics handled by Roadster Shop Garage, which include Joe Rogan's 1970 Plymouth Cuda "Sick Fish 2.0".
As stated before, form and functionality are the keystones of the project. Not only aiming to visually enhance the muscle car, but to give each modification a specific job that contributes to the total performance, Roadster Shop Garage and their collaborators use their combined expertise to raise the bar of future resto-mod for the competition, as well as themselves.