Packaged Power
September 15, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
ELECTRIFIED
If you are like many of us who have at one time or another opted for a less expensive vehicle to build, then this how-to will be of interest to you. At the cost of certain features or creature comfort conveniences—mundane items like power windows and locks—we often begin with what may be considered a strippo model or a basic transportation car that is … well, available. These cars can, after all, make for a great foundation that can easily be personalized, just like we are doing here.
HAMMERHEAD
Of all the cars that have found favor among super rodders and racers alike, few would argue the appeal of ’39-’41 Willys coupes and pickups, which have enjoyed a powerful attraction since first appearing as gas coupe and sedan drag racers back in the ’60s.
For-ward Thinking
Those who know Ottawa, Kansas Roger Ward are almost certainly aware of his dry wit, his candid demeanor and his unique ability to create understated cars, one after the other. His talent in applying the most understated details to relatively unsung vehicles provides a lesson for us all that the best way to make a strong statement is to say as little as possible and do it your own way.
While his daily duties revolved around reworked body panels and refining those efforts with a paint gun, his lifelong hobby has focused those skills on a series of cars that exudes the same laid-back character which can be enjoyed in this extremely subtle, yet equally eye-?catching, 64 short-wheelbase Chevy pickup. As with so many trucks of this era, previous owners didn’t worry too much about retaining its pristine originality. Dented and rusty, this truck had been through the proverbial ringer, which made this conversion that much more difficult to achieve. Then again, Ward’s particular talents have made a great deal out of lesser vehicles, so this would simply be another test of his talents and another example of the skills he wields.
Spotlighter
RCR SERIES3 Camaro
The Powers of NASCAR Shine on a Re-creation
Even in a crowd of first-rate ’69 Camaros, few will mistake the look and sound of the limited-edition RCR Series3 Camaros, a stunning expression of automotive passion, excitement and history.
Author
Stephen K. Anderson
Photography by Josh Mishler
A Dream of the Perfect Ride
Imagine, if you will, a perfect world where we would all be able to drive the cars of our dreams, and those who couldn’t build one themselves would look to the world’s greatest racecar builders to craft that vehicle to suit their own tastes and desires. Yes, that would be nice, but we’re dreamin’ here.
The Pursuit of Perfection
Back in the real world, we’re reminded that, while perfection is rarely achieved these days, it is possible to acquire a vehicle that comes close, in terms of both its wide-ranging popularity and in the way it has been re-created to a higher standard. Here’s what we mean.
Richard Childress: A Racing Legacy
Since first taking to the high banks of NASCAR, Richard Childress earned a reputation as one of the most enthusiastic and successful team owners in the history of the sport, winning more than 175 races and 10 major NASCAR championships. Yet, long before he entered the fray of top-tier racing, Childress spent every waking hour building the cars and the engines he won with, often forgoing sleep for a chance at his next win. It was this intense need to build the best that drove Childress to his amazing string of achievements, and it’s what led him to this new endeavor.
The Birth of the RCR Series3 Camaro
Enter the Richard Childress Racing Series3 Camaros, each an extension of the spirit that led the late Dale Earnhardt and other great racers into history. Only 50 of these cars will be crafted, every one a vision of Childress himself, since he embraced this clever endeavor from the start. Working closely with RCR’s team of engineers and fabricators, Brook Phillips and his crew at Total Performance, Inc. (TPI) in Wichita, Kansas, developed these new-age ’69 Camaros, based on knowledge gained on the street and from circulating the most famous racetracks in the nation.
The Legendary “Intimidator”
This particular RCR Series3 Camaro is the first model, serial No. 3, known affectionately as the “Intimidator,” as it was fitted with the actual engine block and components used in Dale Earnhardt’s No. 3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the 2000 Daytona 500. Sold for $575,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction, it instantly earned its place in history, yet every one of the remaining 49 cars will be equally awesome and identical—other than the engines—in every way.
A Modern Take on a Classic Body
Rather than searching for original ’69 Camaros, which would have proven to be both costly and difficult at best, RCR opted for Dynacorn’s beautiful body shells, licensed by GM Replacement Parts. Beyond the body shell is an array of ZFX aircraft composite/carbon-fiber body panels, including a special one-piece hood that tells of the power within. Other extreme pieces include special rocker panels, a front fascia with an integral spoiler, shaved driprails and door locks, a rear rolled pan, custom bumpers, and a NASCAR Car of Tomorrow (COT) rear wing.
Add to this flush-mounted glass in back, a matching windshield with a custom logo, and black Planet Color paint accented with red outlines around silver panels laid down by TPI, and everything’s in place for future owners to make a little history of their own.
Performance and Chassis Upgrades
In keeping with the looks of these Camaros, the chassis will utilize a wealth of refined hardware, including a bolt-in subframe connector and a Chassisworks G-Machine bolt-in frame clip that tie everything together. This greatly improves rigidity to the unibody structure, allowing the triangulated four-link, Hypercoil springs, and Bilstein shocks to maintain the Chassisworks FAB9 Direct Fit 9-inch axle housing fitted with Eaton Detroit’s Truetrac and streetable 3.55:1 gearing.
Wheels, Tires, and Braking Power
It’s here that special mini-tubs house three-piece 18×12-inch HRE Competition Wheels and 335/30ZR18 BFGoodrich g-Force T/As that instantly turn power into motion, and lots of smoke if you’re careless. Up front, a set of fully adjustable A-arms and a 1-inch sway bar add to this capability, making the most of 18×10-inch rims and 245/40ZR18 rubber.
As for braking, RCR opted for Baer’s Track System with PBR two-piston calipers and 13×1.1-inch rotors pressurized by an ABS master cylinder applied through a NASCAR-inspired billet pedal assembly.
Powerhouse Engine Options
Each RCR Series3 Camaro comes with two engine packages, the first being an all-aluminum 427 small-block Chevy developing 500 hp, and a second RCR SB2 NASCAR race engine tuned by RCR to 603-plus hp at 7,200 rpm. Both of these engines are fully documented with dyno sheets, along with a full race history on the RCR race engine.
To secure the engines properly, special motor plates are utilized up front and in the center, again demonstrating the serious nature of these cars. Beyond these tremendous engines, there’s a Tremec five-speed manual transmission with a Ram 10.5-inch clutch pack backing them up, while a Be Cool modular radiator keeps things cool.
The Thrill Behind the Wheel
While all of the hardware is impressive to see and hear, the real thrill comes behind the wheel when all that power raises the pulse, testing every aspect of car and driver with performance that promises no lies. These cars return an absolutely thrilling driving experience, from the custom steering wheel and tilt column to the RCR Series3 Auto Meter gauges set within a specially built carbon-fiber/composite dash assembly and pad.
A Refined Interior for Maximum Comfort
This theme continues in the custom carbon console, door and side panels, and other trim pieces that tell of this car’s special nature, including a five-point harness augmenting the rollcage. Add details such as billet trim, leather-covered ProCar Series 1 seats from Walt’s Interior, a custom rear seat, Vintage Air A/C, and power windows, and little else will be needed to achieve automotive nirvana—a perfect world indeed!
A Piece of NASCAR History
As legions of pony car enthusiasts center their attention on the ’69 Camaro, there’s no question that each of the 50 RCR Series3 Camaros will be treasured by collectors and feared by those who know their performance potential. Equally stunning and capable, these cars are destined to become a part of history, as they benefit from a lengthy lineage that can be traced to the roots of NASCAR and those who made the sport what it is today.
Beneath the Dynacorn body shell and carbon/composite body panels, a reworked chassis makes use of the finest hardware through clever and proven engineering intended to achieve cornering levels usually reserved for racetracks and a fertile imagination. This car is no pretender!
Roll up behind one of the 50 RCR Series3 Camaros and the COT-inspired wing should caution all who know to look for other challenges, as this car will perform as advertised in every venue, just as Richard Childress envisioned.
rCR SERIES3 CAMARO buildup
Advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) programs, borrowed from RCR’s NASCAR development, allowed close study of pressures exerted at speed.
Changes were made to improve these issues.
To integrate the chassis into a singularly rigid unit, Chassisworks’ G-machine frame clip and subframe connectors were incorporated.
Mini-tubs were added neatly within the frame, allowing for the extra-wide 335/30ZR18 BFGoodrich g-Force T/As on HRE Competition wheels.
A carbon/composite hood top shaped over a plywood pattern by ZFX in Vancouver, Washington, was united with the underside of a cowl-induction hood.
Long before it was formed, this computerized view of the nose was created, allowing the fabricators to reproduce it accurately.
A new nose section was created using the same methods, which allowed for precise fitment and an exceptional finish
And now we see the results of the effort leading up to primer and paint, and it is slick, not to mention light and strong.
Rather than adapting an existing back seat to the confines between the mini-tubs, a steel frame was shaped, covered in foam and upholstered in leather.
Once again, carbon/composite was used to shape the console, which is similar to the original contours and well suited to this amazing machine.
The dash and surrounding dash pad are carbon/composite as well, a perfect frame for the RCR signature Auto Meter gauges and other cool touches.
After the black Planet Color paint had dried, the stunning silver-and-red graphics were laid down in a reminiscent yet unique style for this ride.
Here’s another look at that shapely hood, this time in a lustrous finish that represents the quality that Total Performance, Inc. is known for.
Rather than going with an original-style rear spoiler, the RCR Series3 Camaro utilizes a Car of Tomorrow wing suited to this car’s NASCAR heritage.
Just about ready to hit the ground, it’s almost impossible to believe this car came together in just a few months! This is quality craftsmanship at speed.
With the turn of the key, lightning erupts and this car is ready to fly.
Just hours after its completion, No. 3 of the RCR Series3 Camaros headed for the Barrett-Jackson auction, where it sold for $575,000!
Richard Childress’ first car was a ’69 Camaro, and his goal for these Camaros was to create a “safe, roadworthy, bad-ass” machine. Mission accomplished!
