As we gear up for the 2025 SEMA Show the focus is on booth design and wrangling cool cars to fill it. This year the spotlight falls on a time capsule of American muscle: a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 with just 408 original miles on the clock. This fourth-gen F-Body isn’t just a survivor, it’s the perfect foundation to pay tribute to an era that helped reignite the modern muscle car movement. Follow along as we chronical the build from conception to Las Vegas.

When it debuted in 1993, the Z28 was a serious performance statement, cranking out 275 horsepower, an impressive figure that far outpaced its primary rival, the Fox-body Mustang GT, which was rated at just 205 ponies. That power difference wasn’t just bench-racing fodder, it was a defining moment that set the tone for a resurgence of real American performance cars through the 1990s and beyond.

The influence of the fourth-gen Camaro extended far beyond its base form. It laid the groundwork for special editions like the SLP SS, Firehawk, and high-performance Trans Am variants. Without the aggressive LT1-powered Z28s and their later LS1 successors, there’s a case to be made that GM might never have greenlit icons like the 2002 Camaro SS, let alone the fifth-gen comeback car or today’s ZL1 1LE. That’s the kind of heritage Holley aims to channel with this build. The plan? Remove the original LT1 and replace it with a modern supercharged LT4 crate engine—essentially recreating the ZL1 1LE spirit inside a fourth-gen shell. In factory trim, the LT4 nearly triples the output of the outgoing LT1, giving this Camaro Z28 modern muscle that plays perfectly off its classic lines.

For the purists, there’s one big change that might sting: this original three-pedal car is being converted to an automatic with GM’s 6L80-E six-speed transmission. But this isn’t about compromise, it’s about showing off the capabilities of Holley’s Terminator X Max engine management system and its 6L80-E control integration. From digital dashes to fuel system upgrades, the goal is to showcase a complete, tech-savvy build, powered entirely by Holley’s ecosystem of products. Other products on the hit list include a full Holley accessory drive system, custom engine mounts, fuel delivery components, and a Holley digital dash. Simpson seats, upgraded brakes, and other modern safety and performance gear.

Shop Holley LS Engine Swap Systems here.

Visually, the team is blending 1990s Trans Am road-racer vibes with a few ZL1 1LE cues. That means you can expect some aggressive aero, maybe front splitters or even canards, if time allows. The final design will honor the car’s fourth-gen roots while embracing modern track-day aggression. Our plan is to document the process in a four-part video series leading up to SEMA, blog articles here at Motor Life, and numerous social media posts. Along the way, we’ll break down key topics like LT versus LS swaps, install tips, component compatibility, and practical considerations for builders looking to modernize their own fourth-gen platforms.

We envision this Z28 becoming more than just a SEMA centerpiece—it’s a showcase of what’s possible when you combine fourth-gen Camaro heritage with next-gen Holley innovation and horsepower. Stay tuned as we track the progress of this hard-hitting build.