Mark Stielow’s 1967 “Mayhem” Camaro at the Optima Booth SEMA 2012

Mark Stielow’s Camaros are legendary. Race fans and Camaro enthusiasts may remember his ’69 “Red Devil” Camaro-winner of the 2010 Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational, and 2011 challenger. Stielow was back this year at the Optima booth to show off his latest creation – Mayhem.  The sleek silver ’67 has an S9-based engine from  Thomson Automotive, a Tremec Magnum 6-speed and a beefy, Currie 9-inch rear end which pumps out 877 hp and 820 lb-ft. of torque.

Stielow designed the custom-molded carbon fiber hood with twin air-extractors which allow a 20-degree cooler engine temperature. Front and rear wheel openings have been pulled out ¾” on each side to allow for the same footprint as one of his track-proven ‘69’s. Since the ’67 is a lighter model than his past ’69s, the weight savings should also equal more speed on the track.

The car has been relatively untested – Stielow just finished it, but he was confident that it would perform well at the 2012 Optima Challenge which follows SEMA. His instincts were solid: Mayhem won the race in front of relatively new competitor Brian Hobaugh and his ’73 speed demon.

SEMA saw a host of other great Camaros over the week including: Reggie Jackson’s green ’69 Yenko, the blown 780 LS7 1st Gen, the Hot Wheels themed ’69, the Custom Shop’s adventure in graphics, the one of a kind Copo Convertible, Mark Stielow’s latest, Mayhem, and the Goodguys’ Muscle Machine of the Year.

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Andreanna Ditton

Andreanna Ditton is the Editorial Director for the Internet Auto Communities and Auto Classifieds groups. She has worked as an editor, managing editor and moto-journalist for more than a decade, specifically focused on the enthusiast race and performance communities, and has a passion for Ford Broncos, Shelby Cobras and tiny British sportscars that she's far too tall for.