We learned that three important players in the hot rod industry—Chip Foose, Unique Performance and Year One—were coming together for a unique collaboration. Their combined goal was to build a limited-production-built car. Unique Performance already has just such a business, as it builds and sells its continuation Shelby Mustangs. Aside from the car itself, one of the major attractions for fans of that car is the Shelby name, since each of those cars is entered into the Shelby registry, making them far more than Shelby clones.  For this new car, Unique Performance needed another big-name attraction, one that would generate a lot of interest in the project. At the moment, few names are bigger than that of Chip Foose, and his role was to design a car stunning enough that customers would be willing to pay a pretty penny to have it in their garages. Since Unique Performance would build each of these cars from existing bodies, Year One would play a vital role in supplying many of the necessary parts. The three parties involved named this new venture Muscle Performance, and for their first project vehicle they decided on one of the most popular of current enthusiast cars—the ’69 Camaro.

Each Camaro that Unique Performance produces rides on an advanced suspension system. In front, the builders replaced the entire front subframe with a new unit from Chris Alston’s Chassisworks. This assembly includes tubular upper and lower control arms with double-adjustable Vari-Shock coilovers. A Chassisworks rack-and-pinion unit replaces the factory steering box, and Baer Tracker tie rods eliminate bumpsteer. Although this particular car features a Baer dual-piston PBR Track brake system with 12-inch drilled and slotted rotors, a six-piston Foose caliper upgrade is an option. Of course, the car wears Foose wheels, and the fronts are 18 inches in diameter and connected to 245/40ZR18 BF Goodrich g-Force rubber.

Subframe connectors link the front suspension to the rear, and the rear suspension is just as cool. It starts with a 9-inch Ford rearend with 31-spline Currie axles, a Detroit Locker True-Trac differential and 3.25 gears. That rearend is connected to the frame via a torque arm and Watts link arrangement that does a great job of controlling the motion of the rear axle. Suspension travel actuates another set of coilover shocks via a set of pushrods and bellcranks, with the shocks below and nearly parallel to the rear axle. Baer Touring 12-inch discs brake the 18-inch Foose rear wheels and their 295/35ZR18 BFG tires.

Several different engine options are available in the Muscle Performance Camaro: The first is a 350hp ZZR crate engine, with fuel injection optional. The second choice is an LS2 engine rated at 390 hp. Those who opt for this engine may also opt for a Magnuson supercharger. But the engine fitted in this car, and the most powerful of the available engines, is Chevy’s ZZ572 crate motor, rated at no less than 620 hp. The 572 is built from stout stuff, with a forged crank, rods and pistons. The aluminum heads produce 9.6:1 compression and the camshaft features a huge .632-inch lift on both intake and exhaust. An 850cfm Demon carburetor and aluminum intake manifold are standard, but customers may also choose the Hogan EFI manifold, as installed on the car featured here. Dressup items include Chevy orange aluminum valve covers and plenty of polished aluminum accessories. No matter which engine you choose, you get to row the gears through the heavy-duty Tremec TKO five-speed manual and hydraulic clutch.

With just a quick glance it’s easy to see the Chip Foose contemporary influence on the classic Camaro styling. It’s fair to say that Foose hasn’t redesigned the car so much as he has refined it, leaving all that was right with the car and changing only those things that he felt were outdated or bulky by modern styling standards. The front bumper is eliminated, replaced with a custom front valance that mimics the contours of the bumper while incorporating a pair of PIAA foglights. The redesigned RS-inspired grille features three groups of three thin billet bars, separated by two larger slats keyed to the body’s secondary paint color. The hood is a custom fiberglass piece, smooth on top and bottom, and topped with a scoop similar to that featured on the ’97-’02 Camaro SS. The scoop, too, contains billet bars. Thin Jaguar door handles replace the larger, bulkier originals, and the door locks are now absent. At the rear, the bumpers have been moved in closer to the body and painted to match the car. The taillights look stock but feature a billet aluminum surround. The rear valance is notched for the exhaust pipes and contains a pair of PIAA backup lights. The vivid two-tone paint is a Foose signature treatment, but of course he’s made a wide variety of colors available. 

Foose also designed the interior, beginning with the custom, deeply bolstered bucket seats. They’re upholstered in leather and fitted with stainless inserts similar to those found on the seats of the Ford GT. Five-point G-force harnesses keep the driver and passenger in place, and given this car’s capabilities, the rollbar is also a good thing. This Camaro does have a rear seat, although the rollcage does kind of limit access to it. No, the best seat in the house is reserved for the driver, as are the Foose steering wheel and the Hurst shifter. An array of Auto Meter gauges sits behind the wheel, and while the 200-mph speedometer may be a bit presumptuous, we feel that a car of this caliber deserves such a speedo. The Old Air Products A/C system blows cold, and interior options include the navigation system, the security system, power windows and the custom console with Kenwood DVD player and screen. 

The price for the new Chip Foose ’69 Camaro starts at $124,000 and will climb as more boxes are checked off on the options sheet. The car is hardly cheap, but it is true that you get what you pay for. No designer is currently hotter than Chip Foose, and this car represents an opportunity to buy the genuine article of his personal design. Furthermore, you’ll know that this car is as nice under the paint as it is above, thanks to quality construction and the fact that Unique uses virtually all-new components. You can catch this car on an episode of “Rides,” and since a Foose Camaro will be the giveaway car at the 2006 Goodguys Columbus show you may even get to own one for free. If luck isn’t on your side, call Unique Performance and put your name on the list. The company will be more than happy to build one for you.