The second-generation of Chevrolet Camaros debuted right around the time America was experiencing its first gas crisis of epic proportions. Then the government came along with horsepower-killing emissions restrictions that left the ’70-81 Camaros seriously lacking in the power department. Yet that didn’t stop GM from selling a lot of them, and 1978 was the best year for Camaro sales ever, with over 272,000 sold.

The Warren Johnson, 500 cubic-inch LSR engine sounds beautiful, but the devil is in the details with this heavily-modified Camaro.

So why has it taken so long for the second-generation Camaros to just now making it popular from pro-touring crowd? We don’t have a good answer. All we can tell you is the popularity of second-gen Camaros are sky rocketing out of control.

With the affinity for these builds growing, it’s no wonder we came across this this video from automotive instrumentation masters Dakota Digital of a second-gen Camaro nicknamed, “The Professor,” hitting their chassis dyno.

This ‘71 Camaro has gone a long way from the car GM built, as Lakeside Rods & Rides of Rockwell City, Iowa, put an incredible amount of body work into slight alterations. For example, the roof is chopped an inch; barely discernible, but it has a huge effect on reducing drag. The front fenders were widened, the hood was narrowed, and the Camaro’s beak-like nose was reduced, but not eliminated. What’s more, the completely custom interior is like nothing we’ve ever seen before. Of course, it uses a complete line of Dakota Digital gauges to keep up on all of the latest statics of the LSR powered Camaro.

So what we have is a Camaro that is obviously a Camaro, but altered in such a way that the big 500 cubic-inch LSR engine can stretch its legs. It’s a gorgeous ride littered with all kinds of high-tech gizmos, including some instrumentation and electronics from Dakota Digital.

The Professor is proof that the 2nd-generation Camaro is a blank canvas begging for a painter. Do you think we’ll start seeing more modified 2nd-gen Camaros in the coming years, or is this old breed not worth the effort?