Modified Chevrolet Camaro 1967 Pictures 
LIFE BEGINS AT 40
Once you approach the wrong side of 30, many of us hanker after spanking new red sports cars, younger women and holidays we can’t afford; Norwegian, Tommy Bakasmoen however is embracing the future but with a classic twist
gallery (47 photos)
We live in an age where holding back the years is paramount to our success, whether its getting along in business, mastering leisure pursuits and hobbies or of course attracting the opposite sex. Or so we think. So why do women like Catherine Zeta-Jones fall for Michael Douglas or Billie Piper for Chris Evans? Funny but it’s exactly the flaws that we ourselves see, yet other people fall in love with. It’s a bit like ageing classic cars, which so many people scour the classifieds for even though the handling will be shoddy and the engines inefficient. But isn’t there something about the raw, egotistical naivety of 60’s American muscle cars that can still ignite our passion?
Our Norwegian friend, Tommy Bakasmoen certainly thinks so and although he’s gone about smoothing many of the lines of his 1967 2 door Cheverolet Camaro as well as rejuvenating the tired interior, the very essence of this car’s past is what gives it its character. When Tommy bought it, it was a very well looked after original and of course there were not many around in Norway so it stood out by a mile.
As well as smoothing the bodywork on his Chevy, he has also seamlessly merged those custom steel bumpers to the car’s natural curves. They were built from six pre-machined pieces that were welded to shape as he went along. The side skirts were apparently quite a doddle compared to the rear bumper which relied upon constructing a frame with 6mm pipes and then reinforcing it with steel plates.
In keeping with the Chevy’s slick form, all the original chrome has been ditched, the custom rear window now also adheres to a more aerodynamic code of conduct and the windows are scratch proof. Details such as the 1997 Camaro door handles, delicate F1-inspired plastic door mirrors and contemporary head and foglights show the thought that’s gone on behind this creation. Even the front indicators and shrunken registration plates are colour coded so as not to interfere with the dramatic expanse of apron below the grille.
From the rear its inverted boxy frame draws your focus, even from a distance and it has to be said that the light panel that’s been nabbed from a 2000 model Corvette C5 was worth all the hassle of fitting it. Tommy had to mount the conversion from the inside, trimming 1cm off each side to make it fit. The rear bumper has also been modified for a more dramatic effect.
Ok, so far it sounds as if this classic 1967 model has seen more fiddling with than a telescopic lens across the street from Heffner’s Playboy mansion. However there are some elements that reflect a nostalgic era of American muscle. The paintwork for example, although a custom silver is reminiscent of the good old days especially with the Shelby-like lighter-stripes.
In stark contrast the wheels are a very lavish example of modern day bling. Yes 19” BBS Challenge wheels will be on quite a few Christmas lists this year but just like Santa, you’ll need an imagination if you want to stuff them in to some rather confined arches. Spacers would probably be your first port of call and in Tommy’s case he needed them to give him lea way of 1cm around that juicy 275/30/19 Falken rubber.
Our eccentric Scandinavian modder was still not content though until he had his Chassis Tech air suspension and Air Ride Technologies Control unit. Now you thought Jerry Springer was the king of scandalously low behaviour, well check out the ride height of this crazy Camaro. It now has additional purpose built suspension mounts to make it 8cm lower than standard. It is operated via custom buttons on the centre console and can lower any of the four corners with spectacular haste.
Once buckled up in those suede Recaro seats and having a firm grip on the distinctive OMP wheel it would be hard not to let your mind drift in to your racing driver alter-ego. Even the pedals are Momo best sellers and as if to pay further testimony to the fact that this Chevy isn’t a tame family vehicle the back seats have been stripped out in favour of a 40mm roll-cage and carbon fibre extinguisher. It’s clear that carpet is too plush to have survived 4 decades of serious action and what would a babe-magnet be without a spot of In Car Entertainment, now we’re talking! About the TV and DVD monitor that is.
Also at your fingertips are plenty of buttons and switches to cater for your every electrical command, our favourite being the one that locks up the front wheels, allowing a massive surge of 400bhp to rip through the rear axel and mask the Chevy in smoke.
Talking of power, lets examine the Chevy’s glutinous 5.4litre V8 which was specified with the car back in 1967. As standard it delivered a snarling 350bhp but Tommy thought it was still not mean enough and so with the help of a 1987 Camaro TPI injection it peaks at 400bhp. The engine bay has been restored and visually enhanced with a lick of new paint, custom intake tubing, a K&N air filter, Goodyear hoses and hidden wires. The shorter exhaust manifold, taken from a Chevrolet S10 means there’s less chance of it scraping the floor. The underside of the Chevy has even been cut away to save the driveshaft the same fate.
True to form the Chevy shifts like a jungle cat on the straights and with a 2.73 diff, it’s at its most glorified around the 70mph mark. Tommy is in two minds whether to opt for a 4.10 diff though as he’d like this muscle to kick in at lower revs. Whatever the decision there’s no stopping him having fun out on the empty country roads of Norway.
Despite all the TLC and ageing misgivings of the Camaro, Tommy’s heart is with the older model. He has no regrets of breathing life back in to this rather magnificent piece of machinery. With all the dreams, knock backs, successes and humbling moments behind it, this Chevy has certainly caught a second wind and its enough to prove that life begins at 40.
CAR MAKE & MODEL
Modified Chevrolet Camaro 1967 Pictures
CAR REF NUMBER
18231
CAR COLOUR
Silver
ENGINE MODIFICATIONS
original 1967 special order chevy corvette 327 cid, 5.4-litre, v8 engine, 1987 camaro tpi injection, summit racing 27x19in triple row radiator, 1987 camaro fan, k&n air filter, custom intake piping, summit racing brake vacuum, goodyear hoses, glass-blasted and painted rocker cover and intake cover, chevrolet s10 exhaust manifold, custom stainless steel exhaust system with side exits, new electrics hidden in glove box, original camaro engine management relocated behind cd player, opel omega fuel tank with built-in 300-litres per hour racing mustang fuel pump
TRANSMISSION MODIFICATIONS
modified 1987 camaro th700 r4 four-speed overdrive automatic gearbox, 2.73:1 powertrax locking differential, floor cut to make room for driveshaft
SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS
customised chassis tech air suspension system with air ride technologies remote control system, custom suspension mounts 8cm lower than standard
ALLOY WHEELS
front: 8.5x19in bbs challenge. rear: 10x19in bbs challenge
TYRES
front: 235/35/19 falken 451 tyres. rear: 275/30/19 falken 451 tyres
BRAKES
1997 chevy camaro brake discs and pads front and rear
EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
custom-welded and integrated steel front bumper, steel side skirts, custom steel plates over 6mm pipe frame for integrated rear bumper, steel front splitter, custom front fog lights, custom aluminium front towing eye, summit racing front lights, original camaro parking lights used as smoked indicators, colour-coded smaller front licence plate, year 2000 corvette c5 rear light panel, euro-style rear indicators, original 1967 rear spoiler with custom centre cut, licence plate sunk into rear bumper, lights in licence plate screws, front and rear bumper mesh, original rear window sunk into body, 1997 camaro door handles, de-locked and de-badged, uprated door seals, racetech formula 1 plastic door mirrors, ventilation holes cut in bonnet and windscreen base plate, bonnet pins, lexan mud flaps for front arches, welded-over shut lines over body, all chrome blacked out, scratch resistant and tinted windows, custom side-exit exhaust tips
INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
recaro suede bucket seats with yellow stitching, dakota digital dashboard with speedo and tacho, omp suede steering wheel, momo racing pedal set, custom diy centre console with summit racing electric window buttons, air ride technologies control panel for air suspension in centre console, switches for overdrive, engine fan and front brake lock, b&m hammer gear knob, chevrolet racing floor mats, custom new-style camaro carpets, flamebeater carbon fibre fire extinguisher, custom mdf and leather rear box for storage instead of rear bench seat, custom-mounted air-suspension 160 psi bottle and compressor in boot
IN CAR ENTERTAINMENT
custom rear speaker shelf, refurbished rear door cards, summit racing window winders, summit racing carbon fibre kick plates, custom 40mm full roll-cage, sony x-plod head-unit, next base 7” widescreen tv with dvd player
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