The process of naming a new car line can be long and tedious. The monogram can sometimes make or break a new launch, and there's no telling where a new name might come from. Chevrolet found Camaro in an old French-to-English dictionary. It translates as "friend."
In the case of this particular Camaro, the translation couldn't be better. Carl Casanova has been aquatinted with his Camaro for more than 20 years. He became its owner in 1982 when he traded his sister his '71 El Camino for it. The F-Body had all the original RS equipment, 70s-era American Racing mags, a two-barrel 327, and Powerglide tranny.
OwnerCarl Casanova, Glendale, CAVehicle'68 Camaro RSEngine'70 four-bolt 350ci V-8TransmissionTremec TKO five-speed purchased from Forte's Parts ConnectionSuspensionFront Relocated upper A-arms, Landrum 700lb/in rate coil springs and height adjusters, Moog components, 1-inch sway bar, Bilstein shocks, fast-ratio Saginaw steering boxRear 12-bolt with 3.73:1 Eaton Positraction and Mark Williams axles, Guldstrand slalom leaf springs and hardware, Bilstein shocksWheelsVintage Wheel Works Vintage 45s (16x8 with 4.5-inch backspace)TiresBFG Comp T/A (245/50s and 255/50s)
As all good friends should be, the Camaro was very dependable, and it transported Carl to high school and then to college. It only let him down once, and that was in high school when the timing chain let go (unfortunately, while he was at a party he shouldn't have been at). Needed to say, the Camaro was not the only thing busted that night, but he didn't hold a grudge and soon fixed his friend up.
A few years later Carl found himself married and starting a career, and the Camaro got set aside. But the car was never too far from his mind, and he made several trips to the Pomona swap meet to gather parts, back when you could still find items like a Tic-Toc-Tac or a folding rear seat, cheap! After a few years went by, Carl knew what had to be done and started in on a compete rebuild. The Camaro had logged more than 384,000 miles, so everything needed some attention. Carl took his time and disassembled the car and cataloged all the components to make sure reassembly would go smoothly.
The front subframe was treated to a rebuild, using a mixture of manufacturers to get the setup he was wanted, and then mounted with a set of solid Global West aluminum bushings. To tie the front and rear of the car together Carl fabricated and installed his own weld-in subframe connectors that work great and maintain the factory ground clearance.
When it came time for the paint and bodywork, Carl was able to talk Manuel Aceves at Autocraft in Van Nuys, California, into doing it. Aceves had been doing bodywork for Carl's family for 20 years (he worked on the car when Carl's sister wrecked it in 1979), so he took on the job even though restorations were not his usual bit-which is hard to tell because the finished job looks great.
Once the Camaro was out of the paint shop, Carl set a goal of having it finished in eight weeks. A finishing-the-car party was planned just in time for his in-laws to be visiting from Chicago. He made it with two days to spare. When asked about his best memory of the Camaro, Carl replied, "Taking my mother-in-law for 'The Ride.' I don't think she will ever be the same."