1968 Chevrolet Camaro Reaches SEMA 2023 Battle of the Builders Top 12

It is the second year in a row that Revision Rods & Rides has a Battle of the Builders finalist.

At SEMA last year Tyler Nelson had a top three finish in the Battle of the Builders competition. That was good, but not quite good enough. He, and the Revision Rods & Rides team have built another car for SEMA 2023, and it has made it to the Top 12. The car this year is a custom 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. The car sits on an IRS Art Morrison chassis. Power comes from a GM Performance LT1 that pushes out 535 horsepower. A custom hood was fitted to the car so it could accommodate the engine. Plus, it just looks cool.

Also looking cool are the other subtle modifications to the exterior which is covered in custom-mixed Glasurit Blue paint. Pop your head inside and you will find more custom work. The interior is made from aluminum and leather. There are a bunch of one-off machined parts that make the inside stand out even more.

1968 Chevrolet Camaro

A 1968 Camaro is a great-looking car to begin with. But Revision Rods & Rides turning it into a true work of art. And that is what it takes to make it into the top 12 at Battle of the Builders. Take a peek in that engine bay. That LT1 is living the good life in that stunning environment. The brakes are from Wilwood, the gauges are from Dakota Digital, Hydes Leather provides the leather interior. The list of suppliers for this build is staggering. And they all came through in a big way to turn this car into a showpiece.

Chevrolet Performance LT376/535

The engine in this build is the Chevrolet Performance LT376/535. It takes the already excellent LT1 6.2L V-8 and adds CNC-ported heads and a high-lift LT1 Hot Cam. The result is a glorious naturally-aspirated 535 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The engine runs a direct injection fuel system which helps to support an aggressive 11.5:1 compression ratio. This car is stunning to look at, but with this engine under the hood there is plenty of go to match the show.

Revision Rods & Rides

Revision Rods & Rides is located in Rapid City, South Dakota. Probably not the first area of the country you would think of when it comes to custom car fabrication. But as their recent success at SEMA shows, a shop doesn’t have to be located in Southern California to do top notch work. This shop does everything from sheet metal fabrication to electrical work and high-end paint jobs. If you are building a hot rod or a muscle car and don’t want to settle for less than the best, you are going to want to give these guys a call.

Images: Revision Rods & Rides

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the 1970s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.