What draws many people to the restomod car movement? Because the restomod muscle cars are the best of both worlds, retaining classic styling while adding modern performance and comfort.

Most muscle and pony car enthusiasts would agree that the mid and late 1960s and early 1970s was the heyday of muscle cars. It was a time when the auto industry in the USA was at its peak, and muscle cars have firmly established themselves as an essential piece of American culture.–

Fast forward over five decades and muscle car survivors still prowl today’s day streets… some with even more attitude than before. This is the restomod movement—classic cars meshed with modern components—and the results, when done right, can be frankly staggering.

This is one of those times. No longer bone stock, this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro convertible has had a host of modern performance upgrades, of which include a brand new GM LS3 crate engine. Try not to drool.–

Power? This car has it in spades. The LS3 V8 in question is said to be a heady 525-horsepower variant, which ought to do wonders for the pony car’s straight line speed. It comes mated to an automatic transmission, and bellows through custom ceramic coated headers and a rorty Borla dual exhaust.–

While punishing horsepower is a big draw for modern restomodders, so is handling, and this Camaro has been spec’d up with a proper “pro-touring” suspension setup to cope. Beneath its impactful body lies a new Art Morrison subframe, Detroit Speed Quadralink rear-end setup, uprated sway bars, coilover shocks at all four corners, power rack-and-pinion steering, as well as big Wilwood disc brakes. Sharp twists in the road are no longer feared, but welcomed.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to just look mean too, and this Camaro convertible certainly does. The blacked-out Chevy boasts body-color badges and door handles, new hood vents, a set of staggered 17- and 18-inch Budnik wheels, a pronounced metal rear lip spoiler, and a racy roll cage popping out from beneath its fabric top. Overall, its low-slung body accentuates that predatory pro-touring and restomod look.

The interior however might be a bit too shouty for its no-nonsense exterior—it’s vibrant red—but it appears to be well wrought and features a Vintage Air air-conditioning system, Kenwood stereo, and some big subwoofers in the boot.