A Checkered Past

A fourth-generation Camaro with a body covered in a multihued checkered flag may conjure up images of last-second mad dashes to the finish line, but to Gordon Beers of Palm Springs, California, it represents his love of American hot rods. After numerous customized radical rides and vibrating Harleys, Gordon wanted a true high-performance sports car. Dreams of a Corvette or a Viper were soon redirected after reading an article in CHP about the Granatelli Signature Series Camaros. The Granatelli name has long been known in the high-performance world dating back to the days when Andy Granatelli was capturing checkered flags at Indy to the present-day Granatelli ownership of Paxton Automotive Corporation (800/987-8660).

After mutual friends put Gordon in touch with Andy’s nephew and president of Paxton Automotive Corporation, J.R. Granatelli, he immediately went down to his local Chevrolet dealership and ordered a 1996 Z28 outfitted to Paxton’s specifications for the Signature Series modifications. Once Gordon took possession of the car, it was trucked up to Paxton’s Camarillo, California, headquarters for the full transformation.

There are three different stages of Granatelli Signature Series cars. Gordon opted for Stage II, which consists of handling and suspension tweaks and bolt-on engine power. A Stage III conversion allows for all the same alterations as Stage I and II, with the addition of a slightly more radical camshaft and cylinder heads. However, in its Stage II configuration, the internally stock Mouse motor pumps out 435 hp at 5,000 rpm and 445 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 and has covered the 1320 in 12.45 seconds at 115 mph. Not bad for pure bolt-on power.

Creating horsepower with bolt-ons has never been a problem for the folks at Paxton. Their answer to the horsepower question has been to bolt on a supercharger. The same holds true with Gordon's Camaro. A Novi centrifugal blower, which runs 50 percent underdriven at 8 pounds of boost, is what contributes greatly to the over-400 ponies. Besides the supercharger, the car also received a reprogrammed Paxton-Granatelli ECM, an upgraded ignition, 3-inch exhaust, and a K&N air filter. All that power is transferred through a stock T56 six-speed transmission.

This transformation was how Gordon received the car from Paxton Automotive the first time. The Camaro found its way back to Palm Springs and was driven this way for a number of months. Exteriorwise, the Camaro looked stock with the exception of the 17-inch wheels and a Paxton-Granatelli six-piece aerobody kit.

Unfortunately, the factory paint was vandalized to the point where a new hue was in order. Gordon sent the car back to Paxton and told J.R. and the boys to come up with a slightly different paint scheme. What Gordon got was beyond his wildest dreams. Now everywhere he goes he gets the thumbs-up sign and questions about what kind of car the crafty Camaro really is. J.R. and graphic designer Jamie Storm came up with the multilicked, waving-checkered-flag paint scheme and had Euro-Body in Reseda, California, execute the design.

Interior appointments consist of Speed Tek carbon-fiber dash and door-panel accent pieces and a set of Signature Series racing-style harness seatbelts duly enhanced by the stock leather upholstery. The only musical selection Gordon wants to hear is the staccato of the slight blower whine coming from deep within the bowels of the engine compartment, so the factory radio has yet to be heard.

The price for a Granatelli Signature Series Camaro is a bit more than the average Corvette but still less than a Viper. However, it will outperform and outhandle both. In addition, the sedateness of the Signature Series Camaro will have unsuspecting Corvette or Viper owners sniffing exhaust fumes as it flies by them. We can hear the cries now. Sorry guys, you should have bought a real performance car. CHP