"I'm sure everyone has their own story of the one they shouldn't have let go. For me, it's the car I owned in college-the one I owned when I met my very understanding wife. It was a bright aqua '72 Monte Carlo with a tired 350 and the three-foot-long fan shroud. Man, I miss that car.
"I always looked at that car and wondered why there was never a factory convertible option offered. It just seems so natural. I've seen a few customs over the years, but I wanted to take it a step further by giving it the g-Machine treatment, and more of a smooth, long-nose speedster look.
"I wanted this car to really have a bold, aggressive presence while maintaining a level of elegance and comfort in the interior. I took advantage of the orange/copper pearl trend that's been popular lately, and I accented it with pewter and gold striping and interior. On a convertible, it's so important to relate the gut to the shell, since you can see them at the same time.
"As for the chassis and drivetrain, I wanted something more exotic that would fill up the cavernous engine bay and turn this stylish cruiser into a guided missile. I decided that a 1,000-plus hp twin-turbo big-block was the only way to go.
"Of course, there would have to be serious attention paid to reinforcing the chassis and adding a low-profile rollcage to keep it rigid. The other major challenge is obviously sourcing and integrating all the sheetmetal and top frame from another A-body."-Ben Hermance
Exterior* '70-72 Chevelle Convertible Top* Smoothed, Tucked, And Painted Bumpers* Blinkers Converted To Brake Cooling Ducts* Added Lower Air Intake* Custom Billet Hood Heat Extractors* Custom Mesh Grilles And '87 Monte Carlo SS Mirrors
Chassis And Driveline* 1,000-Plus Hp Nelson Racing Twin Turbo 509* TH400 Gear Vendors OD Unit* Narrowed 40-Spline 9-Inch Ford Rear* Boxed Frame With X-Bracing* Air Ride Tech Street Challenge Suspension Kit* Baer Brakes With Six-Piston Calipers* 19- And 20-Inch Custom Wheels