PHR's Third Annual Photo Contest - Hometown Heroes

Bruce Barch of Syracuse, New York, had an ultra-rare '67 Z/28 that he ended up selling in the 1980s. You've heard the same line over and over, but here it is again: he wished he hadn't sold it. Nearly 20 years later, he found this particular Camaro listed in the newspaper classifieds. The ad read '67 RS/SS, big-block, and automatic. This was perfect for him. His wife Suzie even needed to have it. She always wanted a '67 Z/28, but couldn't drive the four-speed, making this one more ideal. The body was in great shape, already painted with Viper blue. It was obvious the progress had stopped there with the previous owner because the rubbing compound was still all over the car. Trim pieces were missing, the interior hadn't gotten any attention, and the engine bay was a mess. Bruce has spent a lot of time reading magazines and checking out cars, so he had his parts list all ready for his mechanic best friend to start work. Together, they whipped it into shape. As with all projects, they are never over. The next item to change will be the factory rearend, which will be replaced with a new Moser or Currie unit.

This is one special Riviera. Adam bought it as an all-original, no-rust, 25,000-mile, 401 nailhead car. It was complete with all the factory brightwork and in immaculate condition. Wanting to preserve the original looks of the car, Adam didn't go bonkers with body mods, and chose a classic black finish. Pinto's Paintworks put countless hours into priming and blocking. When the primer was finally ready for paint, it got five coats of black and eight coats of clear, and was left to cure in the hot Nevada sun for three weeks. The result was the deep gloss finish you see here. The interior got a lot of attention as well. The seats and door panels were re-covered in leather, and sewn to match the factory stitching. This car screams luxury. On the console, you can plainly see an impressive stereo display, and Vintage Air's A/C control unit. Doesn't make us feel so bad that they drove around Las Vegas for hours to find a spot to take pictures.