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Henry "Smokey" Yunick's '68 Camaro is the best damned example of a state-of-the-art Trans-Am race car even though he never won a single race with it. Smokey's loose and fast interpretation of the rules spawned an incredibly beautiful and superbly built racing machine. Of course Smokey's reputation for massaging his cars a bit above-and-beyond preceded him from his NASCAR projects and his Camaro was bounced a few times for tech violations. At Riverside, he was even disqualified for ignoring SCCA rules that required black numbers on a white background... because he thought that detracted from the looks of the car. Smokey's modifications were legion. Among the tweaks were numerous acid dipped body parts, thinner safety glass and other weight saving devices. As to aerodynamics that subtly turn a stock Camaro into a thing of beauty, the front sheet metal was dropped, all four fenders widened, the windshield laid back, the front subframe "Z'd" to lower the car, the floor pan moved up and even the driprails were moved closer to the body. The 302 was encouraged to redline at over 7 grand and produce an estimated 420-450HP with the power going through a Muncie 4-speed trans. At Bonneville, the car set more that a few speed and endurance records, not only with the 302 but also with a 396 installed. There's lineup of driving greats that have been behind the wheel of #13 that include Bruce McLaren, Jim Hall, Mark Donohue, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Lloyd Ruby, Craig Fisher, Don Yenko and Dick Guldstrand. In fact, Smokey's Camaro is still on the racetrack these days. Vic Edelbrock, now the current owner, has restored this racer to its former glory and recently took 4th at Sears Point vintage Trans-Am race.
GMP has done a beautiful job recreating Smokey's Camaro in 1/18 scale. This is definitely one of their best products to date in fit and finish, but mostly in content. There is no unfinished business here. Even the metal stiffeners are modeled on the inside of the roof. The exterior is just gorgeous. The black and gold paint is flawless with the separation line accented in red pinstripe. All the trim is chromed. The grill is delicate photoetched. The front and rear fasteners as well as the other hardware are separate metal castings. The twin intake screens are embossed. The livery is SCCA approved this time. The Trans-Am wheels from PS Engineering and the 15" Goodyears look spot on right down to the valve stems and the brakes are well done and visible between the 5 spoked wheels.
If this car is all beauty on the outside, it's all business within. All that remains of the civilian trim is the interior side panels and the dash cowling. One lightweight bucket shell for the driver has a 4-point restraint system with a quick release system taken from a helicopter so at pit stops the driver could reach over and pump oil into the sump. In front of the oiler are the twin '68 Corvette headlight canisters that store manifold vacuum to operate a quick release system for the disc brake calipers used in endurance races. The rest of the interior, surrounded by a full tubular frame, is spartan and well detailed down to the metal trim on the pedals, the diecut metal spokes of the steering wheel and the shift pattern on the shifter ball. Open the trunk and find the quick fill fuel system and battery. The hood opens on very nicely scaled scissor hinges revealing the 302 sporting twin 4bbl Edelbrock STR10 cross-ram intake as used the final Edelbrock restoration. Brake lines, real rubber belts, wiring, plumbing for the oiler, vacuum assists are all there. The fanless radiator has a photoetched facing to add to the precision look. Underneath, this model is well done. The suspension is static but the front coils are real metal, the brake and fuel lines are well represented as are the headers that end in bracketed sidepipes.
The Penske Camaro may be more colorful, but this car has an understated elegance that makes this a dream driver for me. GMP has done itself proud with this model. It's a 5 star effort in my book.
(03/11/2005)
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