Fast-forward about nine years when Scott called Sam informing him his first daughter was on the way and that the car was for sale. Sam had just started a home-building business right in the middle of the housing crisis, but that didn’t deter him from making what he calls an “irresponsible decision” to buy the car. Sam drove the car for a few years and in 2016 he was ready to take it to the next level. Sam had saved a little cash for the “Camaro fund” and knew Scott had just opened his own shop, Slick’s Fab Shop in Houston, Texas. He had some ideas on upgrading the car and would only trust Scott to work on his Camaro due to his car-building skills and close connection with the car.

“A high-compression small-block, Detroit Speed subframe, and disc brakes made the initial upgrade list, but knowing the vintage 15-inch mag wheels had no chance of clearing big brakes, the project began to take on a life of its own,” Sam states.

“The 460ci small-block we initially went with was temperamental at best,” Sam says. “Luckily Lou was hanging around the shop and told us to stop messing around and put in an LS with a ProCharger and call it good. Experience was speaking—we listened.”

They picked up an LS3 from Chevrolet Performance and bolted on a ProCharger supercharger, dressed up the mill with a pair of Billet Specialties valve covers, and topped it with a Holley Lo Ram LS intake, but not before Scott smoothed the firewall and did up some custom inner fenders and a core support cover. The engine delivers 735 hp and looks good doing so.

That power makes its way to a TREMEC TKO-600 five-speed transmission and McLeod twin-disc clutch. A GM 12-bolt rearend stuffed with a Yukon limited slip and 3.42 gears gets the turmoil to the ground.

Moving forward with the aforementioned Detroit Speed front subframe, a Detroit Speed QUADRALink was bolted in the rear and tied together with Detroit Speed subframe connectors. Double-adjustable JRi shocks made their way on all four corners to complement the upgraded chassis components, while big Wilwood disc brakes deliver exceptional stopping power. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber wrap around a set of 19-inch Black Forgeline GT3C wheels that fit like a glove within fat fenders and custom wheeltubs. Sam and Scott’s version 2.0 is on point and gives the vintage Camaro modern handling and big horsepower while adhering to the original vibe in which Lou built the car over 20 years earlier.

Cypress Auto Interiors brought in yards of high-quality black leather covering the door panels, dash, and custom center console. The gray carpet offers some life into the business center and shares the stage with a set of Clayton Machine Works pedals and door handles. The Schroth Racing five-point harness is anchored to the custom-fabricated four-point rollcage that abides by the overall scheme. A Forever Sharp steering wheel wrapped in matching leather is propped atop an ididit steering column. Vitals are monitored by Dakota Digital gauges while a Vintage Air A/C system keeps the interior temps in check blowing through a set of Restomod Air vents. A Pioneer head unit and Alpine Amp combines with a quad-dose of Focal speakers to provide a sound wall of Sam’s favorite driving tunes.

The exterior is where the Camaro takes on a look of its own. Scott retraced the steps of his dad and fabricated a fresh set of fender flares that are a bit more angled while still retaining that same aggressive look that caught Sam’s attention years earlier. The Camaro received all-new sheetmetal prior to Scott spraying a deep coat of PPG Bitchen Blue, a custom Slick’s Fab mix, then he hit the Camaro with a one-off custom Alumicraft grille, went full front bumper delete, added LED turn signals, and incorporated a custom spoiler that feeds off the front fender flairs. Out back, a custom-fabbed tail panel houses, of all things, round Peterbilt taillights. It’s all part of the infinite custom nuances that put Slick’s Fab on the map and this Camaro into a class all its own.

Sam refers to the car’s latest incarnation as 2.0 and although there was a lot of overthinking and second-guessing throughout the process, he’s happy he and Scott were able to retain the attitude it carried back in the day under Scott’s ownership, only today this street-ready, track-capable Camaro goes beyond looks and style as this thing is an absolute beast with enough power to back up every bit of its threatening demeanor.

Bodywork and Paint: Slick’s Fab
Paint: PPG custom Slick’s Fab color “Bitchen Blue”
Glass: Flush-mount windshield
Wheeltubs: Custom by Slick’s Fab
Grille: Custom Alumicraft
Front Bumper: Delete
Front Spoiler: Custom by Slick’s Fab
Rear Bumper: Custom by Slick’s Fab
Tailpanel: Custom
Taillights: Peterbilt