2014 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - 700bhp

There is a constant burbling civil war in the muscle car world with Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge and others battling it out from the 1950s to the present day, upping the ante year on year with more power, more tech and more muscle. When Chevrolet unveiled the range-topping Camaro ZL1 at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, they weren’t just launching a new performance variant, they were stating their intent. This was the most powerful production Camaro ever built at the time, designed not only to take on its traditional rivals like the Ford Shelby GT500 and Dodge Challenger SRT8, but also some European and Japanese contenders such as the BMW E92 M3 and Nissan R35 GTR. It officially hit the streets in early 2012, but 2013 marked the first full year of production and availability, offered in both coupé and convertible form.

At the heart of the ZL1 is a supercharged 6.2-litre LSA V8, pumping out a monstrous 580bhp and 556lb/ft of torque from the factory. The straight line performance is expectedly impressive, with 0-60mph being dispatched in 3.9 seconds and a top speed over 180mph but crucially for the ZL1, it can handle and it can handle well. It set a Nürburgring lap time of seven minutes 41 seconds, putting it in territory normally reserved for exotic European sports cars. This hugely impressive lap time was thanks to features such as Magnetic Ride Control, Performance Traction Management, and Brembo brakes, elevating the ZL1 to a level of finesse and transferable speed previously unseen in traditional American muscle cars.

Critics and enthusiasts alike praised the ZL1 for delivering true supercar performance with everyday usability. It seemed to tick every box, disguising its weight, cornering well with brilliant straight-line speed, while maintaining its street brawler presence.

Despite its OEM aesthetics, this ZL1 packs an even mightier punch than a standard car. The car was originally delivered to the UAE as a standard ZL1 with the 6-speed automatic gearbox, where it resided until our vendors purchase and import to the UK in 2022 as a non-runner. Shortly after being registered here in January 2024 it was treated to a full engine build by Le Mans legends JMW Motorsport. The rebuild included a new crankshaft, uprated Pacemaker headers, sports cats, titanium double valve springs, Stage 2 BTR camshaft, new con rods, and new pistons, as well as all new bearings and seals. With its increased strength, more boost was achievable, so a 2.55" Lingenfelter supercharger pulley was paired up with a K&N air filter, culminating in a reading of 697bhp and 854Nm of torque on the dyno.

The car has been routinely serviced and maintained since receiving its rebuild meaning it's on its toes and ready for the next owner to gladly embarrass almost everything else on the roads, whilst remaining capable of undertaking everyday duties if one so pleases. A true supercar killer, offering immense performance for a fraction of the price of its competitors.