GelPro Rod & Muscle 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

Built by the artists at GelPro Rod & Muscle, his 1969 Camaro is known as “The Punisher” and given the performance credentials and stunning execution, it’s entirely appropriate (yes, comic book fans, we know The Punisher drove a GTO, not a Camaro, so save your E-mails; it’s just a name).

GelPro Rod & Muscle 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

Pro-touring is all about integrating modern performance equipment with vintage sheetmetal, and this pro-built car delivers on every level-it has already been voted the runner-up in the 2009 GoodGuys Muscle Car of the Year competition. Power comes from a modified LS2 V8, the suspension is heavily upgraded, and it spins a modern 5-speed transmission, not to mention all the creature comforts that are part of the deal.
The 1969 Camaro will never go out of style, and until we saw this car, we figured we’d seen just about every trick in the book. But the guys who built The Punisher pulled out some new ideas and the execution is professional on every level. That classic Camaro profile remains and it’s instantly identifiable, of course, but the details are what get you. In profile, the first thing you’ll notice is that rear spoiler, which is not a ductail or some cheesy tacked-on wing, but a completely integrated reshaping of the rear of the car.

GelPro Rod & Muscle 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

The quarter panels and deck lid have been modified in steel to create the look you see here, and it creates a kind of kamm-back profile that was used so effectively on cars like the Ferrari 250 GTO and Shelby Daytona coupes. The finish is so seamless, you can’t find the modifications, and it works extremely well with the car’s aggressive looks. Other modifications include a reshaped scoop ahead of the rear wheels, taking the place of the factory “gills.” Low profile and subtle, it’s something you don’t notice right away but that will delight you when you finally see it.
You’ll also note that the door handles were shaved, along with the side window trim, side marker lights, and all the emblems, making The Punisher slick and clean. The paint is gorgeous Hot Hues “Silva” and basic high-gloss black, with a red pinstripe separating the two. A steel cowl induction hood received airbrushed stickers-43-c.asp” target=”_blank”>graphics advertising the 550 horsepower LS2 V8 under the hood, and Punisher emblems were added on the front fenders and between the tail lights. It’s a good thing this car is brutally fast, because it looks NASTY.

GelPro Rod & Muscle 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

The details that do remain, however, are expertly refinished. The bumpers are still chrome, and while they’ve been tucked in tight to the body, they’re unmistakably Camaro pieces. The front valence holds a pair of driving lights and there’s a billet grille in place of the original RS piece. LED tail lights and exhaust tips that poke out through the rear valence give the other guy something to look at while you’re pulling away, especially since the eyes of the Punisher emblem are miniature LEDs that light up with the brake and turn signal indicators.
This car does plenty of advertising for the 550 horsepower LS2 V8 under the hood. Extensively reworked by the pros at Turn Key Engine Supply, it still runs like a factory piece and is driven by electronics instead of a carburetor-the essence of the pro-touring movement. A custom fabricated intake manifold and coil covers are the first tipoffs that this isn’t a garden variety engine swap, and the heavy doses of chrome and polished bright work make it a show-stopper.
See all of the GelPro Rod & Muscle 1969 Chevrolet Camaro pictures below: