Words & Photos: Clive Branson

When you think of a 1968 Camaro SS, what does your mind conjure up? Compact muscle? Sinewy lines? To quote Michael Hainey, Deputy Editor of GQ Magazine: “Any car can be transportation, but only a few cars can truly transport you.” This is one of them. In the iconography of the Sixties, the 1968 Camaro SS was as instrumental in how we appreciate the evolution of the automobile as Cream, the Stones, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin were in influencing the music scene. The Camaro was sexy, powerful and unmistakable in its appearance. If you are lucky enough to see one on the streets today, it holds as much authority now as it did 49 years ago.

Despite the heavy-duty suspension and understeer in the corners, the Camaro Super Sports (SS) have become classics and, notably, the best all-around first-generation Camaro in sales. Although they trailed Mustang in sale units, the Camaro was actually more popular among performance enthusiasts.

Jen and Lorne should know – their car is a 1968 Camaro SS and it is still in mint condition, which is remarkable for a vehicle that has never been fully restored.

“It only had one paint job and that was over 25 years ago,” states Jen emphatically. “The motor was rebuilt with a big block 396 V8 for racing, but so far, I haven’t been able to locate the original owner. It had 74,000 miles on the dial when I purchased it in 2012.”Though there were ten different engines available in Camaros that year, the SS performance package offered either a 350 or 396 cu in. V8 engine with chassis upgrades for better handling to accommodate the additional power. The package also featured non-functional cosmetic air inlets on the hood, special striping and the SS emblem.

When you consider the cost of purchasing a ‘muscle car,’ it’s almost enough to consider taking up coin collecting instead, but for the fortunate ones, Lady Luck is on their side.

“I am not a mechanic, but over the last decade I have been searching for a classic muscle car, and made the decision to try and find one that was not going to be a huge ‘project’ headache nor one that would have me bankrupt,” insists Jen. “In 2012, I found this one on Kijiji. It was originally out of my price range but I figured it never hurts to have a look. And thank goodness we did.” Once Jen and Lorne saw the car, Jen was completely sold. “What can I say? It was love at first sight.”

The car was manufactured in Van Nuys and sold at Addison’s dealership in Mississauga, Ontario. The dealer plaque is still on the car.

“I have a special connection with the car because it represents to me a better time: one that reflects my father’s youth and how enamoured he was with muscle machines.” She pauses to let the words sink in. “My father influenced my passion for cars and his death motivated me to purchase this car. He passed away too young and never managed to buy a classic car for himself. When I drive it, I like to think he’s with me.”

Jen is slight in stature, but the moment she sits behind the wheel, she feels this unbridled power. “It amazes me every time I start it. The touch of the throttle and the rumble consumes me.”

So, what else makes this car special? “The ultimate pleasure in owning such a car is the appreciation others have shown for it,” confirms Jen. “Since owning the car, it has opened up a whole new world of friends, interests and social bonding.”

Hardly surprising that she has won awards up the whazoo since owning the car, including a ‘burn-out’ competition. As staggering as it is that it has never been restored, Jen realizes it is only a matter of time before she needs to seriously consider a complete overhaul. “Our winters are frustrating, since they’re so long, but one of these winters I’ll have it stripped down and completely restored,” she says.

In the meantime, the hardest part to maintain is simply keeping it clean. With the paint job being midnight black, every speck of dust and dirt seems amplified and all the chrome in the engine is a nightmare to keep sparkling. “As for the future, I am hoping that classic cars will continue to live on in the future and that future generations will appreciate them as much as some of us do. My youngest daughter has already stated her desire to own it after my passing!” Hopefully that won’t happen for quite some time, and Jen and Lorne will continue to enjoy the road ahead – in the 1968 Camaro SS.