Ron Evans '69 Camaro RS - Featured Vehicles

Without the “Cadillac” script on the valve covers, a quick glance might have you thinking it’s a small-block Chevy motor. It’d have to be a very quick glance, though, to overlook the sheer hugeness of this mill. Without the bulk of a factory A/C system, the Cad tucks up nicely in the Camaro’s bay.
Without the “Cadillac” script on the valve covers, a quick glance might have you

As with most street machines, Ron’s interior is a mix of old and new. The stock wood-accented dash was modernized with Auto Meter gauges and an Alpine stereo. A Grant steering wheel replaced the stocker, and the buckboard stock seats were shelved for more comfortable Corbeau buckets. The Hotchkis-tuned chassis and Steeroids rack-and pinion system put the supportive seats to good use.
As with most street machines, Ron’s interior is a mix of old and new. The stock wood-
Boyd’s 16-inch rolling stock shows off the Wilwood disc brakes. Big-inch wheel and tire combos are always assets to handling, but often the “look” just isn’t right. The Boyd’s wheels are just nostalgic enough to work.
Boyd’s 16-inch rolling stock shows off the Wilwood disc brakes. Big-inch wheel and ti

Sometimes youll hear us preach brand loyalty to your cars drivetrain. Even if a super-clean GTO totally captivates our attention at a show, our admiration often ends in a hurry if we spot a Chevy motor under the hood. But theres an exception to the rule. When a car crafter puts together such an unconventional marriage of body and engine that we cant stop smiling when we look it over. Its like Tony Bennett fronting Iron Maidenboth are heroes to their respective audiences, but the combination sounds pretty goofy. But if Bennett could play the part, look the look, and learn the lyrics, he just might do OK, provided you didnt expect him to sound anything like Bruce Dickinson.

So, if you can, forget everything you know about 69 Camaros, and have a look at Ron Evans green machine. Appreciate the mile-deep paint and the countless hours of work spent reviving a cancerous Midwest first-gen patient to show quality. Notice how appropriate the modern 16-inch Boyds wheels look against the cars 33-year-old steel flanks and Baldwin-Motion style rear spoiler. A closer look at the chassis reveals a Dana 60 rear, four-wheel Wilwood discs, and 3-inch exhaustserious equipment for a street car. A twist of the wrist and youre treated to the unmistakable bellow of a big-cube motor.

Pop the hood. We dare ya. See, Rons built himself a 509ci Cadillac motor. Its no longer in 70 Eldorado tune, though. A mild performance build has the 509 pushing 500 hp, and a pavement-buckling 625 lb-ft of torque. The torque peaks at 2,500 rpm. Yes, it develops 625 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm. Hence the dire need for the Dana rear.

Admit it; before you knew this Camaro was Cadillac-powered, it was probably pretty close to your vision of the ultimate 69. And since the Cad motors more than capable of dealing with most street-driven big-blocks, Rons 69 runs as well as it looks. The Cadillac heritage adds uniqueness and a quirky charm to a platform thats become borderline cliché. And it sure works better than a lounge singers rendition of Aces High.