Fred’s 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Photo: Ohad Kab
Hi Fred, it was great meeting you at our event in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Please introduce yourself and your special car.
Frederick Martinez, but most people call me “SUNOCO Fred.” I drive a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 that I’ve owned for about 17 years. I had it restored back in 2009 by a shop called G Force Design Concepts out of Chambersburg, PA. The car is a tribute to Mark Donahue's Penske Camaro from the Trans Am series of the 60s and 70s. We built a modern version of an old race car, AKA SUNOCO TWIST. She’s running a GM LS2 crate motor, T56 transmission, 12-bolt rear end with 4.11 gears, pushing about 500 hp to the rear wheels and still capable of 28 miles to the gallon.
What do you love about the car?
What I love most about the car is all the people I get to meet who have stories about seeing the car raced back in the day, and talking to the younger people who may not know the history. Hopefully, it will inspire the younger generation to keep the classic cars on the road.
How did your love for cars begin?
I want to say I was just born with a fascination for anything with wheels, lol. But as far as cars, it started when I was about six years old when I got my first slot car set. Every Christmas, I would get a new one. As a teenager, I built model cars and sold them to the guys from the local mechanic shop down the block, where I was really introduced to the real thing.
Photos: Ohad Kab
What drew you to the Camaro specifically?
When I was 15, a guy named Jose had a black '69 Z/28 with silver stripes, a 400ci small-block, and a four-speed. He was a well-known street racer. One day, I saw him getting his car ready for the races and asked if I could help. At the end of the day, I was about to go home when Jose asked if I wanted to come with him to the races. For a kid without a car, getting to ride in a super-fast '69 Camaro was like winning the lottery!
Fast forward 21 years, and I really wanted a 1969 Chevy Camaro. As a regular working guy, I had to keep to a reasonable budget. I met with Jason Huber, the owner of G-Force Design Concepts, and we started making plans. At first, I was thinking of a simple restoration, but when I saw a drawing Jason had of a Sunoco-themed '69, I decided to go with the blue tribute car. The idea changed a bit, with the G-Force team choosing a creative version instead of an exact copy of the famous Penske car. We aimed for great performance without spending too much on the best parts. "Maximum bang for minimum buck" became our motto for the build.
Photos: Ohad Kab
Do you have any recommended shops or mechanics in NY?
As far as shops in NYC, I don’t really know many. Most of the good ones are out on Long Island:
1) JTM Motorsports - They do mostly Corvetts and Camaros LS based vehicles.
2) Intrack
What are your thoughts on NY car culture?
I’ve been to tons of car shows over 35+ years of all kinds—import, domestic, off-road, motorcycles—you name it. All are amazing in their own right. But Wheels of NYC was the first time I’ve seen everything under one roof. That in itself is unique to me, and I really enjoyed it. The diversity and the passion that everyone has for their vehicles were on full display. Hats off to you guys!
This interview is dedicated to Fred’s wife, Helen Dempsey Martinez, who recently passed away.
May she rest in peace.
