804 rear wheel horse power "rat look" 2010 Camaro

OK, this is one of those "marmite" cars.  You either love it or you hate it.  I Must admit that despite despising most of this fake patina rat look nonsense going around at the moment this beast is hard to argue with when its packing 804 BHP - at the rear wheels...  OK the looks are subjective at best.  In fact I like to think theres an element of tongue in cheek going on here.

 

Its difficult to tell where the tongue is or even should be on this car though.  Its obviously an anathema to the ol' skool rodz mentality of build what you got and build it cheap and nasty and kool.  This is a car with a reputed $150,000 "invested" in it.  And its a showroom new model.  But hasn't the whole "rat" thing got a bit out of hand and needs someone to bring that into clear focus?  Like Rick Dobbertin with his Pontiac J2000 back in '86 marking the moment we realised Pro Street for show had gotten just a bit silly.  So will Bill Rombauts' name go down in hot rodding history (or infamy if you prefer) in the same way?  His 2010 Camaro "rat rod" has certainly started getting him the coverage...

Under the hood runs the 485 cube V8 with its Kenne Bell supercharger, built by Dave Sherer and Anthony Mussulli at DNA Restorations and tuned and dyno'd at Vette Doctors this beast makes over 1000 BHP at the crank and manages to get 804 of those ponies to the ground.  Its drivable and tractible too, having completed the Hot Rod Power Tour.

 

The idea is apparently to simulate 30 years of neglect.  Its an interesting idea and one which is causing not a little comment.  My take has to be that its his car, its his money and he's not ballsed up something rare.  Good luck to him.

You can see a video of the dyno run at Vette Doctors above.