Like so many of us, it was seeing a certain car that got our attention during our impressionable high school years. For John it was a ’69 Camaro done up in drag race trim that he fell for. That car stuck in his head for decades.

That dream of owning a 1969 Camaro came true when John traded a beat-up Dodge D50 pickup straight across for a 1969 Camaro. The car was weathered and had faded orange paint with black Z/28 stripes, Z/28 emblems, and a green interior. “The car was solid, it ran, and everything was there,” John confirms. “It was my daily driver for two years. I thought it was cool and apparently others did too, as on numerous occasions someone tried to steal it, but the removable steering wheel and the due diligence of the local police department kept the would-be thieves at bay.”

While out for a walk in his hometown of Lake Havasu, Arizona, John noticed a couple of impressive muscle cars parked in front of Lakeside Speed & Shine, a local hot rod shop in the area. After closer inspection, he was intrigued by the build quality of the cars on display. A chance meeting with Lakeside owners Jim and Monique McKay at a local car show led to a discussion about the possibility of them taking John’s Camaro to the next level as a Pro Touring restomod. “I wanted the car to be simple, smooth, and classy,” John says. “Jim shared my vision, so the Lakeside team took on the project and the transformation began.”

With a solid plan in place the Lakeside gang got busy. The centerpiece of John’s Camaro is a 383ci small-block built by Tri Star Engines in Baldwin, Wisconsin. With a 10.5:1 compression ratio, Scat crankshaft, H-beam rods, and Keith Black pistons, the engine has the heart of a stout performer. A Howards cam with 0.545/0.565 lift and 241/247 degrees of duration ensures the Dart aluminum cylinder heads breathe properly, while the Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold and a Quick Fuel HR-Series 750-cfm carburetor deliver the perfect amount of swill keeping the small-block happy. The exhaust system consists of Hedman Hedders 1¾-inch headers and custom 2 1/2-inch stainless pipes by Lakeside, capped off with MagnaFlow mufflers. The result? A solid 460 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.

For shifting duties, a TREMEC T56 Magnum transmission paired with an American Powertrain clutch and driveshaft get the job done. A Moser 12-bolt housing with Eaton Truetrac posi, 3.73 gears, and Moser 31-spline axles ensures the burley components transfer power to the ground without breaking a sweat.

The suspension was significantly upgraded to provide modern handling characteristics. Up front, Global West tubular control arms and 2-inch drop spindles work in tandem with Ridetech coilover shocks and a 1 1/8-inch sway bar. The rear features Ridetech’s triangulated four-bar suspension system with QA1 coilovers. Stopping power comes from Wilwood 14-inch rotors and six-piston calipers in the front, with 14-inch rotors and four-piston calipers in the rear. Global West lowering body mounts and subframe connectors offer additional rigidity to the frame.