Mitchell Brothers ZR/28
Camaro

Way back in '83, my employer, knowing that I am a car guy, asked if I would
check out a car that his oldest son wanted to buy. I said I would and met him
after work at the car's location. It was a 1967 Camaro RS. It was painted red
with white stripes and parchment interior. It had a 327 small block, powerglide,
and aftermarket wheels. It was a solid, rust free car and it sounded goooood! I
gave it my blessing and the deal was made. His son drove it daily to school over
the next few years. In 1986, on Father's Day, his future wife was rear ended by
a drunk driver. While she was not seriously hurt, the car did not favor as well.
At this time the car went into the shop for restoration. It was stripped to bare
metal and painted black which was the cars' original color. Then it was put into
heated storage while waiting for the paint to cure prior to rubbing it out and
final assembly.
Now we move to 1999. While attending a company function at a Mariner's baseball
game, the subject of that Camaro came up. I asked if he still had it. He said
yes and asked if I wanted to buy it. I was looking for another project at the
time, preferably a '66/'67 Fairlane or Nova, but asked how much. He said $2000
and I said sold! The next day I pushed it out of the heated warehouse, installed
a battery, and fired it up. Amazing that it even started with the old gas still
in it. I drove it onto a trailer and home we went. There I drove it off the
trailer, around the block, and directly into the garage. The only brakes it had
was the emergency brake. Disassembly started immediately and took only days
while its' restoration is in its' 7th and final year.
I have yet to pay for the car. I figure I will drive it to his house all
finished and ask if he still wants his money. After all, I still work for him to
this day � 39 years now! This is the same man who, in 1980, lent me $15,000 so I
could by a '63 fuel injected split window Corvette with only 39,000 miles. I
still have this car today. I did pay back that loan, interest free however.
At this time, I would like to introduce the latest Mitchell Brothers creation we
call our ZR/28 Camaro!!!
SPONSORS
Marquez Design
Budnik Wheels
Vintage Air
Autometer
Pi-Thon Design
SPECIFICATIONS
EXTERIOR
Shaved door handles, locks, trunk lock, fuel cap, emblems, windshield wipers,
roof gutters, firewall
Custom all metal rear spoiler with flush third brake light
Boxed trunk hinges
Recessed rear license plate
Exhaust ports exiting through rear valance
Frenched tail-lights with polished Marquez Design rally sport bezels with LED
lights
'69 Camaro running lights by Marquez Design mounted in the center of the front
valance
Billet grill
Custom made and shaved front and rear bumpers
Smoke tinted glass
Custom all metal chin spoiler
Flush mounted power antenna in the right rear fender
Welded body seams
Rear wheel wells mini-tubbed both inward and outward
Molded, finished, and painted under body panels
Automatic power trunk opener and closer
Power operated, reverse opening hood
Deep black paint with white to gray to ghost checkered flag on the hood and
trunk
INTERIOR
Dark gray (graphite) leather with matching carpet, etc
Carbon fiber headliner
Custom made console extending up the back of the rear seats
Vintage Air air conditioning
Custom made oval roll bar
Shoulder harnesses front and rear
Marquez Design door and quarter panels
Hand made dash with Autometer Ultra-Lite gauges
Grab handles
Power windows
Power door locks
Remote control outside rear view mirrors
Billet steering column
Custom steering wheel
Power front seats and standard rear seats from a 300ZX Twin Turbo Nissan
Lokar shifter, e-brake, and pedals
Custom stereo installation
Trunk mounted fuel cell and battery
FRONT SUSPENSION
Chris Alston Chassisworks subframe, powdercoated in "black chrome" with power
rack and pinion steering, coil over shocks, and polished SS A-arms
REAR SUSPENSION
Rear subframe scratch built by the owner from 2"x3" tubing then welded to the
body, replacing the factory "soft" frame and connected directly to the front
subframe, 1988 Corvette Dana 40 IRS with custom made rear cover and "batwing",
coil over shocks, 3.73 gears, half shafts shortened 41/2" each, and entire unit
fully polished. Custom made SS fasteners
FRONT BRAKES
14" slotted and cross drilled rotors and 6 piston calipers mounted on owner
designed brackets
REAR BRAKES
13" slotted and cross drilled rotors with drum and shoe type e-brake and Wilwood
6 piston calipers mounted on owner designed brackets.
ENGINE
1991 LT5-ZR/1 Corvette motor. This motor was a $30,000 option to the base line
Corvette. Fully polished with custom made pulleys, hose clamps, billet oil
filter, owner built fan shroud with dual electric fans mounted on a Griffin
radiator, custom AC condenser and mounting brackets with polished SS hard lines,
engine oil cooler, custom power steering pump, bracket, and reservoir. Custom
engine wire harness by the Detail Zone. Owner built 2" ceramic coated headers,
SS exhaust system, and cold air intake system with K&N filters
TRANSMISSION
Fully polished 700R4 with Lokar shifter, custom made flywheel and torque
converter
WHEELS AND TIRES
Modified "GASSER" wheels by Budnik, 9"x18" front and 12"x 19" rear
Michelin Pilot Sports, 275/35-18 front and 345/30-19 rear
SPECIAL THANKS TO
My wife, Deanna, for her understanding and patience - thank you
To my brother, Alan, for his hard work and dedication to this project. Without
his help and skills, this project wouldn't have happened - thank you
To Pascual Marquez for his sponsorship and for giving me exposure at SEMA -
thank you
To all those yet to be mentioned, your turn is coming - thank you
To Scott Gulbranson and Lateral-g - thank you
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