By Alex Nishimoto, Motor Trend - Sometimes, you have to get two cars side by side to discern what's different about them. State Farm insurance has taken that concept a step further by comgining two cars into one with its split Camaro project. Built to help its agents tell the difference between a quality restoration and a hack job, the split Camaro sports a period-correct restoration on one side, and a less detail-intensive restomod treatment on the other.We spoke with Earl Hyser, who built the car with help from a few passionate fellow State Farm employees at the company's Vehicle Research Facility in Bloomington, Ill. Hyser said the original idea was to use two cars to help agents recognize the many varying levels of craftsmanship found in collector cars, but storage space at the facility limited him to building just one. So if you're a fan of this Frankenstein's monster-esque custom build, you can thank State Farm's storage constraints. Before you start weeping over the desecration of a would-be concours-quality classic, this 1968 Chevrolet Camaro convertible was originally totaled by fire damage, and was pulled out of the company's lot in 2006 for the project. Even before the Camaro was totaled, Hyser says it was poorly restored, with rust holes covered by body filler and mismatched parts used throughout the body.
The driver's side received a near-perfect restoration to factory-original specs. This time, the bodywork was done correctly, with the body filler removed and the rust treated properly. The passenger side was treated to a custom build, but the body filler and other imperfections were left intact. The idea behind this, Hyser said, was to show how much can be hidden by a coat of paint. Though it looks sporty thanks to the team's generous use of aftermarket parts, the passenger side was intentionally given an inferior refurbishment for training purposes.
The passenger side also received a number of popular custom mods, like the shaved door handles, market lamps, and emblems. The wheels on the right side are custom billet-style rims, with larger aftermarket brakes housed behind them. If you look closely on the driver's side, you'll see the wheels are mismatched. This was done to prove a point -- just because a set of wheels looks right and is period-correct, doesn't necessarily mean it's original to the car. Armed with this knowledge and hands-on experience, agents get a better idea of what to look for and what questions to ask when assigning insurance value to a classic car.
Hyser is particularly proud of the Camaro's composite drop top, which joins vinyl and cloth together using a cutting-edge adhesive. The top is fully functional, and can easily be raised and lowered. And although the car's mechanical components are in place, Hyser tells us it has no fluids and the engine hasn't been run since it was reassembled. This allows the Camaro to be displayed anywhere without fear of springing a leak. If the Camaro did run, however, we wonder how it would drive with its mismatched wheels, tires, and brakes.
As you'd expect, this Camaro's split personality continues inside the cabin and engine bay. The engine is a 327-cubic-inch Chevy V-8 that's been factory-restored on the left side, but modified heavily on the right. On that side, an aftermarket aluminum head was used, along with a polished high-rise intake and custom air cleaner -- split down the middle and welded to the factory air cleaner.
State Farm will use the '68 Camaro to teach field agents how to assess value of collector and modified cars, and will also exhibit the car at events like this year's SEMA Show in November. Hyser considers the project to be a work of art that must be seen in person to appreciate the work that went into it. We hope to one day get that opportunity and further blow our minds.
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