’68 Camaro - Evade

“Evade”
Owner: Bill Panouses
Tierra Verde, FL

It did not take long for Bill Panouses to get hooked. The local East Milone, IL paper, a ’68 Camaro, and a test ride were all it took.

Feeling his heart pump wildly as the owner slammed through the gears on the test ride confirmed to Bill that there would be a time when he owned a ’68 Camaro. “It was the ride of my life!” exclaimed Bill.

Even in high school when the other kids were staying after school for sports, Bill was headed home to wrench on his cars. His first hot rod was a ’68 Chevelle SS. This was followed by everything from second and third gen Camaros to a Corvette. He never forgot his first love though: the ’68 Camaro.

In 2005 he found a good candidate in Texas on eBay. After numerous back-and-forth emails, the car was inspected and got the green light for being as sound as it looked in the emailed photos. Bill said “I kept having flashbacks of being 17 and how riding in that ’68 impacted my life, so purchasing this car was really special to me.”

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After a little tightening up, he drove the car and enjoyed it for a while. Then he and a friend freshened up the paint and began taking it to some local car shows. It won a handful of awards and he thought he was “done.”

Bad Penny (an LS engine converted ’68 Camaro) inspired him to convert his car to LS power and to go with the full Pro Touring treatment. He hung out on the Pro Touring forums and met a car builder 13 miles away from his house - Tom Argue Design. Tom’s shop was immaculate and he and Bill hit it off immediately. They had many conversations about the direction Bill wanted to take the build. The rendering artist, Ben Hermance, came up with the perfect rendering and the perfect project name: Evade.

Building a trailer queen was out of the question for Bill, so he contacted Speed-tech Performance for their front sub frame kit (loaded with rack and pinion steering), QA1 shocks, and 2” lowering springs. The performance suspension plays perfectly into the g-machine strategy. The insane handling was completed with Chris Alston’s Chassisworks Camaro g-Bar suspension kit, armed with single adjustable VariShocks and a 2” lower ride height out back. This new and improved handling suspension resulted in a stance that lets it be known that this Camaro means business – on the track and everywhere else.

Tom’s work was cut out for him. With the car being built completely around the LS2 platform, the engine had to be stout and perform on long hauls. He assembled the mill with Stage 2 Livernois heads, 10.9:1 GM pistons and a Livernios LS-Series Stage 2 Cam (consisting of an intake and exhaust lift of 0.595 with a duration of 232 degrees). The FAST 92 mm intake increases airflow, while the FAST 44-pound injectors evenly distribute fuel fed by the Walbro GSS-340 fuel pump. The entire ensemble exits through a set of Stainlessworks’ 13/4”stainless steel coated headers, 3” crossover stainless steel tubes, and dual Turbo mufflers. The end result is an amazing 500+ hp at 6,350 rpm and 430 lbs-ft of torque at 5,200 rpms.

A Performance Rod & Custom aluminum radiator sits up front sharing space with a custom Spectra Air cleaner. A set of Katech valve covers and a Detroit Speed closeout panel embellish the carbon-fiber theme broken up by a Vintage Air black anodized hardcoat LS front runner belt system, FAST red anodized fuel rails, and Ring Brothers Raptor hood hinges. Next, a Tremec T-56 six-speed transmission handles the twist, Will Baty with Centerforce Clutches supplied the new DYAD Dual Disc Clutch kit, and a Strange Dana 60 stuffed with 3.73 cogs and a Posi unit ensures equal distribution of power to the pavement.

Forgeline Motorsports (Dayton, OH) three piece VR3P polished lip wheels set the tone of the car’s distinct personality. Up front are 18-inch Forgeline wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 2s; 245/40-18. In the rear, 19-inch Forgelines accommodate the 275/35-19-inch Michelin PS-2s. Wilwood Dynapro six-piston calipers and 12-inch rotors rest on all four corners. Inside, the C4 Corvette seats are wrapped in Torch Red leather and work in conjunction with the contrasting GM Deluxe manufactured black leather and stainless steel mesh door panels and Flaming River steering wheel. Auto Meter Ultra-Lite Series gauges provide the engine's vital stats, and a Vintage Air A/C system keeps interior temperatures perfect. Tom Argue’s endless talent extended to the body work and paint. The exterior’s PPG black pigment is in line with the Bob Thrash look and works well with the Anvil Auto carbon fiber additions, including the cowl-induction hood, header panel, vent-delete cowl panel, trunk lid and rear spoiler. The bumpers even have a carbon-fiber look. Robert Jackson from Classic Glass Innovations completed the smooth line look by providing the complete flush mount glass system.

Thirty years ago, Bill had a short ride in a Z/28. The long-term effects have influenced the appearance and performance of a car built many years later. Bill has added all of the comforts of a modern sports car to his ’68 Camaro, and he still gets the same adrenaline rush he got when he had that life-changing test ride all those years ago. This time, the ride is his own ’68 Camaro: Evade.

2012

The 20th Annual Eckler’s Winter Nationals Award "Custom Driven Camaro 68"

–Platinum Certificate Points 995 out of 1000

"Best Engine Modified/Custom"

"Best Interior Modified/Custom"

"Best Paint Modified/Custom"

2012 NSRA Tampa "Pick of the Show" from International Show Car Association

2011

The 19th Annual Eckler’s Winter Nationals Award "Custom Driven Camaro 68" –Platinum Certificate Points 984 out of 1000

"Best Engine Modified/Custom"

"Best Interior Modified/Custom"

"People’s Choice Show “N” Shine"

"Car That World Wide Camaro Would Most Like To Drive Home"

2011 NMCA 1st Place Award , plus Platinum Award

2011 10th Annual VA Benefit Show Top 40 Show 1972 Older

2011 Cruisin in the Park Show Best of the Show Pre-1985

2010

The 18th Annual Eckler’s Winter Nationals Award "Trailered Custom Camaro 68"

–Platinum Certificate Points 995 out of 1000

"Best Engine Modified/Custom"

"People’s Choice Show “N” Shine"

"Car That World Wide Camaro Would Most Like To Drive Home"

2010-Best in the State Florida Championship car show-Grand Champion Award 1st Place Modified

2010 NMCA Event Champion

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