Chip Foose and Unique Performance unveil
1969 foose camaro convertible

“New” Muscle Car Makes Big Splash at SEMA Show

DALLAS – November 15, 2005 – Unique Performance and Foose Design unveiled a convertible version of their 1969 Foose Camaro at SEMA in Las Vegas on November 1, 2005.  The drop top muscle car was a huge hit with the crowd that gathered around the Baer Brakes booth to glimpse at the limited edition car.  A coupe version of the special edition Camaro, which was displayed in the GoodGuys booth at SEMA, will be given away at the 10th annual GoodGuys PPG Nationals in 2006.

“After seeing the ‘69 Foose Camaro on Rides, a private individual asked us to build him a convertible version,” noted Doug Hasty, president and CEO of Unique Performance.  “We’d never planned to offer one, but were excited about this challenge.  After putting our heads together with Chip, we developed a game plan to create a car that met our performance levels as a drop top.  With all the custom work, fabrication and paint that went into making the coupe, it was daunting to roll out a convertible that kept the same features that Chip designed.”

Chip Foose of the famed Foose Design penned both the coupe and convertible versions of the Camaro.  Unique Performance, a leader in limited production American muscle cars, is building the cars in their North Texas facility using parts from Year One, the country’s premier provider of restoration and performance parts and accessories for domestic performance vehicles.

“The Camaro coupe was such a legendary 1960s muscle cars that it somewhat overshadowed the convertible version,” added Chip Foose, President of Foose Design.  “We enhanced the convertible’s best design qualities and added some serious muscle to create a stylishly powerful package.  This car will turn heads on cruise nights and churns out the horsepower to match its good looks, while passengers enjoy that latest creature comforts.  We believe this is the ultimate convertible Camaro.”

Some of the most renowned performance companies in the automotive world were tapped for their expertise during the engineering of the Foose Camaro.  Specialty products from Dupont’s Hot Hues™, Baer Brakes, BFGoodrich® and Unique Performance Products were used when turning the project into a reality.  The convertible features a 390 HP all-aluminum 6.0L Gen IV Chevrolet LS2 V8, 20” custom Foose wheels and modified front and rear fascias.  Only 300 total 1969 Foose Camaros, including coupes and convertibles, will be built.  Each car will be documented in a Foose Design registry.

“Everyone involved in the creation of this car is a big fan of the Camaros that Chevrolet offered in the 1960s,” Hasty added.  “Our intention was to freshen that classic vintage design and make a Camaro that is even more fun to drive.  After 45 years, even the best looking cars need a facelift, and we’re glad Chip could design a truly special convertible for a few lucky individuals.”

Unique Performance builds the Shelby G.T.500E and G.T.350SR continuation cars based on vintage Ford Mustangs.  Chip Foose, famous as the lead designer on TLC’s popular series Overhaulin’, is one of the top automotive designers today.  Automakers and individuals worldwide covet his skills and award winning one-off creations.

About Foose Design

Chip Foose is the creative head and driving force behind Foose Design, the respected automotive and product development company.  Headquartered in Huntington Beach, Calif., it specializes in illustration, graphics, ideation model making, surfacing and complete construction of automobiles and automobile-related products.  Founded in 1998, Foose Design products and creative services are available to individuals, TV and film companies and automotive manufacturers.  Information about the company and its products is available at www.chipfoose.com.

About Unique Performance, Inc.
Douglas Hasty, Chris Layne and Richard Kearby founded Unique Performance to create performance vehicles, including the Shelby continuation cars and limited edition American muscle cars designed by Chip Foose.  Adept in all aspects of fabrication, restoration, racing preparation and development, the company’s team has created award-winning vehicles for customers worldwide.  In 2004, the company founded Unique Performance Products, which offers high performance automotive parts for 1960s era muscle cars.  Additional information about Unique Performance, products and services is available at www.uniqueperformance.com.