When you’re at SEMA, the number of cool cars to check out is mind boggling. Typically, you have to resort to only checking out the cars that you come across on your daily treks through the many halls. Or, if you have one in particular that you’re seeking you get to check out a few others while you frantically search for it by following the numbers on the floor. If you think you’ll see them all, then you’re much faster on your feet and through crowds of people than we are.

Some cars are not much to write home about, they look great but the whole execution is wrong: 28 inch wheels, gullwing doors that shouldn’t ever be on a car like that, metalflake paint left over from the 1970’s, and so much chrome that you can’t tell where one part ends and the next part begins. But that’s what SEMA is all about, right? It’s all about parts; parts that you can buy from any one of the many vendors at the show.

Then you come across a car like the 1969 Camaro Pro-Touring car that we saw at the Flowmaster booth, and you get to see what it’s like to build a car that’s worthy of SEMA. The reason it’s worthy is because it’s being built by Cotati Speed Shop in Santa Rosa, Ca. The reason it was in the booth was because it’s not finished, which allows you to see all the cool Flowmaster, B&M and Hurst parts being used in the build.

We talked to shop owner Zane Cullen and were curious about the “1-800 Camaro” nickname that the car has received. He told us, “It’s become known as the 1-800 Camaro because every time we need something we have to pick up the phone and find it.” That alone doesn’t really sound like any other build, but this one is different because the entire car, a 1969 Camaro, is being built with all new parts – including the floor, suspension, drivetrain, and sheet metal.

Rob & Jenn Pitts own the car, Rob was at the show and posed with the car for us.

Car owners Rob and Jenn Pitts wanted a car that can be driven, focusing on road racing and autocross. As he told us, “I want a car that will keep a smile on my face when I’m driving it.” We could already tell that Rob was enjoying the progress on the build, and he was all smiles when it came to the car.

Rob is a bit of a Camaro fanatic, having drag raced ’69 Camaros in the past. But this car had to be a new build from scratch, because, as Cullen said, “His drag race Camaro is too far gone.” It sounded to us like Rob likes to get into the throttle a little bit, you think?

Some of the cars at SEMA don’t look like they’d get driven much, but this car, even in it’s early stages, looks like it’s going to be driven. As Cullen said, “One of Rob’s plans is to get an invite to the Optima Battery Challenge. And we plan to be back here next year with a completed car.”

Cullen is no stranger to SEMA cars, and told us about a car that was on display at another booth. “We built that car ten years ago and it debuted at SEMA. It’s the same car now as it was then, and the owner drives it.” That’s what makes these cars so unique, they can look great on a red carpet, but they look even better on black pavement.

For power, the LS376 crate engine from GM Performance is rated at about 550 crank horsepower. With a few upgrades in ignition and fuel, the engine is already looking great, and like it’s ready to rumble. The new stainless steel headers were a great fit, and the rest of the exhaust system was finished up with a custom tip, all of which are direct from Flowmaster.

The Art Morrison suspension package has been modified with a front clip from a C6 corvette, and DSE minitubs make room for some extra meat out back. “The goal of the car is to stay true to the ’69 Camaro and not go overboard with it”, Cullen said. “We wanted to put the emphasis on what the SEMA show is all about and build it with parts you can find here,” he said.

The drivetrain on the Camaro is also performance oriented, with a Tremec T-56 six-speed trans that Cotati acquired from Hurst Driveline Conversions. A Hurst Nitro Stick inside fits the attitude of the Camaro, and though the rest of the interior is still a future part of the project, it’s pretty cool to see the brand new sheet metal and the minor custom work that was done to stiffen up the car and install the late model drivetrain.

Rob and Zane became friends through working on cars and being around them, and what better way is there to meet. Gearheads are a different breed of animal, and when you get a couple of gearheads talking about their love of cars, you know something will become of it. Something… like the 1-800 Camaro, for example.