Finale Speed Debuts Candy Red Carbon Fiber Camaro at SEMA
Custom car manufacturer Finale Speed shows off a 1969 Camaro with groundbreaking painted carbon fiber body.
Finale Speed is a custom car manufacturer and restorer located in Yukon, Oklahoma. And the team made the trip to Las Vegas for SEMA 2023 to show off their latest creation. It is a stunning 1969 Camaro featuring a Candy Red carbon fiber body. “Finale Speed is all about innovation, and we are proud to offer our carbon-fiber vehicles in this gorgeous candy red paint finish,” said Finale Speed Creative Director Chris Jacobs. “The process is labor-intensive but worth it. Often, when carbon fiber is painted, the weave can tend to be washed out in direct sunlight. Finale Speed’s paint mixture and process ensures the weave is always front and center.”
If the Candy Red body is not enough to impress you then perhaps you would be interested in what lies under the hood? That would be a 650-horsepower GM Performance LT4 crate engine. The engine is hooked up to a Tremec T-56 Super Magnum six-speed manual transmission and 9-inch LSD-equipped rear end with Dutchman axles. “Ultimate Headers stainless-steel long-tube headers and a custom-fabricated exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers give the Camaro its distinctive bark. Eighteen-inch three-piece Forgeline VX3CL-SL wheels and Toyo Proxes R888R rubber are paired with a Wilwood braking system.”
Paint Process
Painting carbon fiber is a lot trickier than it sounds. The weave in carbon fiber and quick paint absorption properties makes it a challenge. “The candy red finish starts with preparing the raw carbon-fiber panels by sanding them until the surface is perfectly smooth. The panels are then primed for paint. Using Finale Speed’s custom-mixed BASF candy red paint with very precise paint gun air pressures, the carbon panels are finished in a deep and lustrous red that possesses a uniquely clear contrast between the dark grey of the carbon fiber and the red of the paint. The contrast in the weave pattern is apparent from any viewing angle, giving the carbon a three-dimensional look that stands out from other colored carbon-fiber vehicles.”
Other Custom Touches
Aside from the paint and the powertrain, this custom Camaro has some other fine details to make it stand out. “LED lighting, flush-mounted glass and billet hinges and handles decorate the exterior, while the interior is custom-appointed by TMI. Gauges by Classic Instruments, an Old Air Products climate-control system, a Mosconi five-channel amp, and Focal speakers and a subwoofer round out the interior amenities. A custom-built four-point rollbar adds protection, while a carbon rear-seat delete sheds additional weight.”
Getting One
The Finale Speed 1969 Camaro is available as a roller body or as a finished turnkey car. Each car takes about 2,500 hours to create. So, with that type of effort you would expect it to be expensive. And you would be right. A 1969 Carbon Fiber Camaro starts at $349,000. The special red paint tacks on an additional $10,000. And if 650 horsepower is not enough for you then you can go with a supercharged Wegner LS3 that makes 1,000 horsepower. That will cost you another $12,000, but it’s only money, right?
Photos: Larry Chen
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