Build Thread: Fataz ATA Camaro

[Steve Holmes]

We haven't done a build thread in a while, and these are always enjoyable to follow, and hugely popular. So I got in touch with Ian 'Woody' Woodward from Fataz Competition Engines www.fataz.com.au to find out what new projects the team there are starting on, that we can follow through to completion.

A couple years of ago, we did a build thread of a superb 1968 Mustang coupe, that Fataz built for John English. This time, we're switching camps, and going with GM, and a 1969 Camaro.

[Steve Holmes]

Often times, when a new build begins, plans deviate from what they started out as. Hopefully this Camaro will stay on course, because Woody is building this car as a Mark Donohue Penske replica, so this is looking like being a simply epic race car.

1969 was the third and final year the Penske team ran Chevy Camaros in the SCCA Trans-Am series, before switching to AMC Javelins fort 1970. The team completely dominated the 1968 championship, winning all but three of the 12 rounds that year. They went into 1969 having built all-new cars, for lead driver/developer/engineer Mark Donohue, as well as new recruit Ronnie Bucknum.

One of the interesting features of the '69 Penske Camaros was the fitment of vinyl roofs. The true reason behind this is not really known outside those involved at the time. Mark Donohue stated in his book, The Unfair Advantage, it was because the team repainted the cars between each race, and it saved them money. He also admitted they went a little heavy on the acid dipping of body shells, so the vinyl helped cover up rippling in the metal. But there have been numerous theories over the years as to various other reasons.

But regardless, Penske's opponents protested the vinyl tops, such was the paranoia at the time between the factory race teams, and the SCCA eventually made them remove them for Round 6 of the series, at Bryar. The 1969 Trans-Am saw factory teams of Camaros, Pontiac Firebirds, AMC Javelins, and Ford Mustangs, with Ford entering a twin-pronged attack, with both Bud Moore and Shelby Racing entering two cars each. Curiously, up to the Bryar race, Penske had only won one race, with victory at Mid-Ohio for Bucknum, while the Bud Moore Mustangs dominated the others, and were generally fastest. When the vinyl tops were removed, the Penske cars won all remaining seven races, with Donohue taking six victories.

The '69 Penske Camaros were beautiful machines, with dark blue bodywork, and intricate pin striping, being off-set with bright yellow Minilite wheels, and yellow lettering. For '69, most teams, including Penske, had switched from the previously popular American Racing 5-spoke wheels to the 8-spoke Minilite.

Pictured here is one of the original 1969 cars, that races in the Historic Trans-Am group: www.historictransam.com



Photo by Jimmy Huston/Historic Trans-Am

[Steve Holmes]

Interestingly, the Fataz Camaro actually started life as a 1969 Pontiac Firebird! It was discovered and initially purchased north of Reno, Nevada, by a friend of Woody's. Before it was shipped back to Australia, it was fitted with 1969 Camaro front sheet metal. A Camaro rear panel was also purchased. Woody had been wanting a '69 Camaro, but had been unable to find a good affordable rust free example, so the Firebird offered the best solution.

[Steve Holmes]

[Steve Holmes]

[Steve Holmes]

Here it is with the new Camaro front sheet metal fitted. First generation Camaros and Firebirds were very similar. The main differences were the nose panel, tail panel, front mudguards, hood, and bumpers, plus the Firebirds had vertical slats in the rear quarters.

[Steve Holmes]

[Steve Holmes]

Here is the car back in Australia. Thats Kaye Woodward, Ian's wife, pictured left.

[Steve Holmes]

The Camaro was sent off to have the guards massaged, just like the Penske cars, to fit the fat racing tyres, although Woody said there was a miscommunication, and the guards came back not quite right. So they'll be re-done. Meanwhile, the body is being sent off to be sandblasted, following which, new rear quarters will be fitted, and modified correctly.

The plan is to run the Camaro in the Australian Trans-Am Fataz 5 Litre series (there are two classes in ATA, with the other class allowing up to 6 litre motors). The original SCCA Trans-Am series had a 5 litre engine limit, so in this respect, the Fataz machine will be correct to the original. However, the Fataz car will have alloy heads, and run to the ATA engine rules, which also require a single 4-barrel carburettor, whereas the Trans-Am series allowed multiple carbs up until 1970. The 1969 Penske machines ran a GM cross-ram inlet manifold with twin 4-barrels. Woody's Camaro will also run a 10-bolt, rather than a 12-bolt, and there will be other changes under the skin.

Here is the car as it currently sits, wearing American Racing wheels to get the correct guard clearance.



This is where we're currently at. I'll add to the thread as the Camaro progresses.

[Steve Holmes]

Its been a fair long while since we updated this build thread. Woody has been busy on other projects, but still making good progress with the '69.

Details as follows from Woody:

Body work is now all done and only the hood is fibreglass. All the guards etc are hand beaten sheet metal. The cage is all tig welded and including the front chassis rail supports. Motor is all machined along with heads and all to ATA spec. Gearbox is a new g-force along with triple plate clutch and light weight flywheel. Rear brakes are the Willwood corvette rears and have gone with Kelsey Hayes on front.Should be in colour NOV/Dec and final build stages after Hampton,,,,$$ permitting.

[Steve Holmes]

More progress.....

[Steve Holmes]

OK, so I haven't done an update for this thread for a long time. And there is a reason for that. Woody had other projects on the go that were more pressing. Furthermore, he also owned a couple of race cars, both of which were for sale.

Anyway, one of them has been sold, while the other is being leased out. By the time he'd got back to working on the '69 built, he'd had a change of heart. Now, instead of being an Australian Trans-Am series car in Penske blue, its going to be a Touring Car Masters car, painted gold!

I'm a graphic designer, and run a business called Monster Race Wear, doing custom t-shirts for race teams, car clubs, museums, event promoters etc. I'd done a couple of shirt orders for a couple of Woody's previous cars. He told me about the switch to gold, and asked that I do a shirt design. So here is what the finished car should look like:

[Steve Holmes]

So, as you can see, the car will be painted gold, and the Minilites will be black.

Here are a few progress pics from 2017:

[Steve Holmes]

Paint applied to the firewall as well as door jams:

[Steve Holmes]

Interior and underside have been painted:

[Steve Holmes]

Now for some neat red interior additions to off-set the gold. I really like the colour combo:

[Steve Holmes]

[Steve Holmes]

[Steve Holmes]

More detail stuff:

[Steve Holmes]

And now with exterior paint applied, engine in, and exhaust fitted. Woody had planned to have the car finished and ready for the opening round of the TCM series, which kicks off this weekend as part of the support program for the Adelaide Supercars season opener, but now the car won't make its debut until Winton.