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PHR Photo Contest - Hometown Heroes50 Readers Compete For Top Honors In PHR's Annual Photo Contest Sponsored By Nitto! From the January, 2011 issue of Popular Hot Rodding By Christopher Campbell Photography by PHR Readers, Robert McGaffin
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To build a good looking car takes an eye for what works best for the body style and the genre you're going for. To build one that is worthy of appearing in an international magazine takes a real understanding of the finer points to separate the mundane from the extraordinary. It requires an artist's vision to see what can be made from a blank canvas, and how to proceed to make it a reality. Photography really isn't so different; little choices can make all the difference between a shot that makes your car look like it should be framed and hanging on a wall, or just a haphazard snapshot. Actually, those little subtleties can even make a car appear more striking-it's all in the perspective. We happen to believe that there is a little bit of an artist or photographer in every car lover, which is why we set out the challenge for PHR rodders and readers in our July '10 issue. This year we skimmed our top 50 favorites from the pile of entrants. As promised, 20 finalists will be getting a limited edition PHR Photo Contest Finalist t-shirt and license plate for their efforts. The runner-up will take away a box loaded with Mothers products to keep their ride shiny, and this year's big winner will have a complete set of any style Nitto tires rolling their way. If your entry didn't get chosen, all is not necessarily lost; keep an eye out because it may show up down the road in different sections of PHR. Congratulations to all 50 Photo Contest front-runners, and thanks for sharing your vision with the rest of us! Winner
'67 Camaro
Mark and Paula Ferguson - Joliet, IL
It's a '67 Nickey Camaro. For some GM muscle car fans, that six-word description might be all they need to bow down before the fender badge and disavow their worth. For Mark Ferguson, it's just the ultimate incarnation of the car he's lusted after for most of his life. "I've wanted a black '67 Camaro since I was 14, and I had posters of them all over my walls," Mark says. When the movie Better Off Dead came out, I would have killed for that car. I have the DVD just for the 5 minutes of the Camaro on screen." We feel ya Mark; we've got a few in the collection for exactly the same reason. But black '67 Camaros practically grow on trees, second only in abundance to red ones, and any color '69 Camaro, so how did Mark end up with the pick of the litter? This Nickey started out in Chicago at Nickey Chevrolet where it was purchased by William Leak from Cicero, Illinois. He sold it after three years to his brother Thomas, who also lived in Cicero and kept it for about 30 years before selling it to a collector in California. That lasted for about five years until a bad divorce forced him to liquidate his collection. That's where Mark comes into the story; being an Illinois boy and a Camaro fan, he knew all about the infamous Nickey, so when he saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have what may be the ultimate black '67 Camaro, he made the deal fast enough to bring it back home to Illinois. Of course this black Camaro actually started out as Bolero Red with a black nose stripe and a black vinyl roof, and is probably worth more in that original hue, but Mark doesn't care. He's not planning to sell it anytime soon-or probably ever.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Kim Kongpricha; Joliet, IL |
| Camera: |
Nikon D2X5 |
| Engine: |
427ci L-72 with Holley single-plane intake and Demon 750 carb |
| Trans: |
Muncie M-21 four-speed |
| Rearend: |
12-bolt with 4.10 gears and posi |
| Suspension: |
factory original with Edelbrock IAS shocks |
| Brakes: |
original discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
15x7 and 15x8 Rally |
| Great quote: |
"It's got a 427, four-speed, disc brakes, manual crank up windows, and a heater. That's it for options, and that's fine with me." |
Nitto Tires
There's nothing like an awesome First Prize to get gearheads inspired for our annual photo contest, and Nitto Tires stepped up in a big way by offering a set of any size and type of Nitto tires to the winning photographer. Thanks to Nitto, we've got one of the coolest programs in magazine land. With the legendary Nickey-built 427 under that cowl hood, this year's winner is Kim Kongpricha for her shots of Mark and Paula Ferguson's '67 Camaro. Kim will take home her choice of any set of Nitto tires for her photographic effort. If she happens to pass 'em on to Mark and Paula, we're thinking some Nitto NT05R drag radials would look pretty bitchin on the back of that Nickey. Runner-Up
'79 Caprice
Chuck Johnson • Aledo, IL
Here's something you don't see everyday, a superclean, tastefully built Caprice. And it's a two-door to boot! This sano '79 is actually Chuck's second such Caprice; the first, a '77 coupe that he and his father built when he was 15, was lost in a fire 18 years later. Though he's still not over the loss of his first love, to cope Chuck bought this 49,000-original-mile Caprice to ease the pain. His '77 had a 454ci transplant, so the '79 had to have that same big-block sound and fury. This time around, Chuck went bigger with a 496ci stoker topped with Edelbrock heads and Performer RPM Air-Gap intake, 850 Holley, and lumpy Lunati roller cam. He hasn't been back to the track with this Caprice, but the 454 in his '77 was good for consistent 12.40s, so we'd guess the '79 is packing at least that much heat. The engine break-in came via logging a few stops on HOT ROD magazine's Power Tour.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Donna Franks; Aledo, IL |
| Camera: |
Canon 40D |
| Engine: |
496ci with Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, Air-Gap intake, 850 Holley, and Lunati roller cam |
| Trans: |
700-R4 |
| Rearend: |
10-bolt with 4.10 gears and posi |
| Suspension: |
factory with 2-inch drop spindles up front |
| Brakes: |
factory discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
17x7 and 18x8 Coy's C5 |
| Great quote: |
"Big car, big-block, open highway, what a blast!" |
Mothers Picture Perfect Award
Every month we slide a big 'ol case of Mothers goodies to the Hometown Hot Rodding entrant with the best photo, and for our annual photo contest, the honor goes to the runner-up. This year, photographer Donna Franks takes the prize for her sharp shots of Chuck Johnson's '79 Caprice. Sharing the glory is mandatory, but the photo bug gets the swag, and sharing that is discretionary. Better buy her dinner or something Chuck! Finalist
'70 Mustang SportsRoof
Dave Osborn
Kalamazoo, MI
In 1970, a generous father decided his little girl was right when she claimed she "had to have a new Mustang," and bought her a brand-new SportsRoof. Unlike so many cars that didn't make it through the high school and college days, this one survived 100K miles before being parked. Twenty years later, her son decided to restore it along with his grandfather and another 35K was added to the odometer. All that happened before Dave placed a winning bid of $10,500 on eBay for the SportRoof, but he added his own large chunk of road time right away by flying to North Carolina with his girlfriend and driving the Mustang 750 miles back to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Since then the Mustang has undergone a transformation to become a killer driver with tons of custom touches while staying under his investment goal of $20K. Here's to another 100K, Dave!
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Paul Kokalas; Kalamazoo, MI |
| Camera: |
Canon Rebel |
| Engine: |
stock 302ci with Edelbrock intake and four-barrel carb |
| Trans: |
four-speed Top Loader |
| Rearend: |
8-inch with 3.73 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock front with cut springs, Boss 302 rear leafs |
| Brakes: |
Granada disc brake swap up front, stock drums in the rear |
| Custom touches: |
David completely redesigned the grille opening for a cleaner look and crafted a custom chin spoiler. The taillight panel is perforated steel, à la Ferrari. |
Finalist
'73 'Cuda
Tim Hutchinson Dundee, IA
As far back as he can remember Tim Hutchinson was fascinated with cars of all types. At 14, a Chevette was the genesis of his desire to build custom cars, and he mastered welding before moving onto a career in bodywork. After 15 years of working for others, he finally stepped out on his own this year with his own hot rod shop. Luckily he has the perfect calling card; his '73 'Cuda came to him as a rust bucket that a gent had gotten tired of storing. The paint and body resto took about six months of nights and weekends, and with a big-block transplant, it made a fun street car. Tim had a hankering for more, and the 'Cuda quickly began progressing into a very competitive drag car. To date, it runs 10s on the engine and 9s on the juice while still keeping street cruisability.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Rebecca Hutchinson; Dundee; IA |
| Camera: |
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W150 |
| Engine: |
solid-roller 383 stroked to 484ci, Edelbrock aluminum heads, Mopar Stage 1 intake with Holley Dominator |
| Trans: |
TH400 swap with a JW bellhousing, transbrake, and 5,500-stall converter |
| Rearend: |
Strange Engineering Dana 60 with 4.30 gears |
| Suspension: |
tubular control arms with Strange double-adjustable coilovers up front, Art Morrison ladder bar rear with Strange double-adjustable coilovers |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Great quote: |
When asked what his passion is, Tim says: |
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"I never get tired of working on it or just plain looking at it. If it's not at the track, it's likely in a car show or cruise night surrounded by family and friends just as proud of it as I am." |
Finalist
'70 Chevelle
Mark Garlewicz
Wheeling, IL
After selling his '69 AMC Rambler Scrambler, Mark Garlewicz quickly felt the need to fill the muscle car void in his life. Luckily he didn't have to wait long; while driving home from work one day he spotted a '70 Chevelle sitting in a driveway for sale, and knew he'd found his next car. The Chevelle was nearly perfect; Mark just swapped out the teeny 14x6 wheels for 15x7s, toned down the raucous exhaust, ditched the 4.10 gears for a set of 3.55s, and replaced some bushings in the front end. Now that's an easy weekend makeover! The sharp Chevelle now makes all the local cruises and has netted a few trophies
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
John Mastalerz; Niles, IL |
| Camera: |
Canon 30D |
| Engine: |
396ci with rectangle-port heads and a 750 Holley |
| Trans: |
Muncie M-22 rock crusher |
| Rearend: |
12-bolt with posi and 3.55 gears |
| Suspension: |
upgraded to original GM F41 standards front and rear |
| Brakes: |
factory discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
15x7 Wheel Vintiques 50 series |
| Custom touches: |
Mark wanted to keep the original Muncie shifter handle, but wanted better feel, so he upgraded the linkage to Hurst Competition Plus. |
Finalist
'74 Challenger
Craig Haburn
Wallingford, IA
When he was 16, Craig Haburn almost had enough mechanical ability to change his own oil, but he also had a deep desire to become a real hot rodder. Unfortunately those two conditions ended up colliding in the purchase of a '74 Challenger that was more than he bargained for. Overlooking the extensive rust, Craig managed to get in a couple of months of driving before the trans went out. Luckily friends took him under their wing to begin his mechanical education. Over the next 12 years of wrenching and drag racing, the Challenger went from a tired 318 to a man-eating 340, but it still looked like a four-color beater. One morning, Craig woke up and decided it was finally time; he and a friend stripped three layers of paint and performed a mild resto on the Challenger's body before spraying it yellow and adding eye-catching '70 T/A stripes, grille, and 340 Six-Pak decals.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
April Green; Manson City, IA |
| Camera: |
Fuji Fine Pix S8000 |
| Engine: |
340ci, J casting heads with 2.02/1.60 valves, Lunati Voodoo cam, Weiand X-celerator intake, and Holley 750 double pumper. |
| Trans: |
727 TorqueFlite |
| Rearend: |
8¾ with 3.91 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock front and rear with 2-inch blocks added to the leafs |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
Eagle Alloy series 211 |
| Great quote: |
"I'm still having trouble with hearing all the nice things people say about it. I'm so used to hearing 'that'll be nice someday.' " |
Finalist
'65 Mustang fastback
Bill Gerlich • Marion, IA
A few houses down from Bill Gerlich's childhood home lived two early Shelby GT-350s, one of which was a legit R-code model that the owner ran in SCCA B-production races at Road America and Blackhawk Farms. Bill was able to tag along for a couple races, and the look and sound of vintage Trans-Am has been glued in his head since. Years later, Gerlich decided to build his own version of a B-production car with some modern performance upgrades. The goal was to make it vintage Shelby inspired without sweating the original details. Bill rounded up a rusted-out shell needing the quarters, floors, rockers, trunk lid, and fenders replaced-a tall order for his first build, but he accomplished all of the design and fabrication work himself, right down to prepping it for paint. Now Bill's the object of the neighborhood kids' envy every time he backs his Mustang out.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Bill Gerlich; Marion, IA |
| Camera: |
Nikon S-8000 |
| Engine: |
Ford Racing crate engine with GT-40 aluminum heads, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, and Holley 670 double-pumper. |
| Trans: |
Ford AOD with shift kit and Lokar shifter |
| Rearend: |
9-inch with 31-spline Moser axles and Boss 302 gear case |
| Suspension: |
Shelby mod and boxed lower control arms with 1¼-inch sway bar and rack-and-pinion up front, Art Morrison crossmember with a Panhard bar and Grab-A-Trac leaf springs moved 3 inches inward in the rear. |
| Brakes: |
stock rotors with ECI calipers up front, Corvette rotors and calipers in the rear. |
| Wheels: |
16x8 and 17x11 American Racing Torq-Thrust |
| Custom touches: |
The cowl hood is actually two original hoods melded together and those vents on the front fender and the pop-top gas cap are Shelby Cobra pieces. |
Finalist
'72 Nova SS
Dwight Tomczak
Jefferson, WI
Looking for a used muscle car after getting out of the Marines, Dwight Tomczak stopped into Dale Chevrolet and spotted a '72 Nova the salesman referred to as the "Dale Duster" (which we hear is another story). With only 2K miles, the Nova already had a banged fender and door, and was getting its current 427 swapped for a 350. Still, Dwight liked the car and took it home when the swap was finished. Soon after, an Isky-cammed LT1 350 was dropped in with a BorgWarner T-10 and steep 5.38 gears. Lots of drag racing ensued. But then life got in the way and the Nova sat for nearly 15 until friends convinced Dwight that it was time to get it back on the road. After some engine upgrades and fresh paint, the Nova returned to the road and drag racing. Unfortunately the 28-inch slicks paired with 5.38 gears redlined the 7,200 rpm LT1 before he crossed the line. No big deal though; the new set of 4.56s will cure that!
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Geoff Weide; Lake Mills, WI |
| Camera: |
Nikon D3000 |
| Engine: |
350ci LT1, 202 angle-plug heads, Crane solid-lifter cam, Edelbrock tunnel-ram, Holley 450 carbs |
| Trans: |
BorgWarner Super T-10 |
| Rearend: |
12-bolt with 4.56 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock with Moroso bushings front and rear |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
Weld Pro Star |
| Great quote: |
"[The race] was not a loss for me; I walked away with great memories and a picture of my car with the wheels 9 inches off the ground and another good story. Even more importantly, my son was there to see it, and that, my friends, is priceless." |
Finalist
'65 Mustang fastback
John Illies • Grand Rapids, MN
A '75 F-250 Camper Special was John Illies' first project, and apparently the results impressed his wife because she bought him a four-post lift for his birthday. Either that, or she felt sorry for him rolling around on the garage underneath it. To celebrate, John and his wife tracked down another project, a '65 Mustang fastback. They wanted to bring the Mustang to just the way they envisioned it, so during the next eight years of wrenching in between work hours they finished everything themselves, other than the final paint and bodywork.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
John Illies; Grand Rapids, MN |
| Camera: |
Canon 50D |
| Engine: |
302 built by the Engine Factory with Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum heads and intake, COMP hydraulic roller cam, and 650 Edelbrock carb |
| Trans: |
Tremec T-56 trans |
| Rearend: |
8-inch with Richmond 4.11 gears |
| Suspension: |
Total Control Products coilover conversion up front with stock leafs in the rear |
| Brakes: |
Stainless Steel Brake Co. discs up front with stock drums in the rear |
| Wheels: |
17x7 and 17x8 Centerline |
| Great quote: |
"The photos were taken in our driveway at about 10:30 in the evening. First we had to warn the neighbors about the burst of light radiating from the house, then we had to deal with all the nasty bugs attracted to the light. Did I mention it started to rain? Anything for Popular Hot Rodding!" |
'67 Camaro
Scott Masche • Lake Mills, WI
In 2003, Scott Masche decided it was time to get back into a muscle car. A friend mentioned he'd spotted a '67 Camaro sitting in a pole barn, so Scott decided to check it out. The Camaro needed some TLC, but was surprisingly solid, and even more surprisingly, it was actually for sale. After charging the battery, Scott drove it home. The 327 was tired, so a 350 built by Dave Ringelstetter was dropped in along with a TH350 in place of the four-speed. Boy, that's something we rarely hear. All through the resto process, Scott's daughter has been drag racing it, and he has assured her that the Camaro is in the family for the long haul, and one day the keys will be in her hands for good.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Scott Masche; Lake Mills, WI |
| Camera: |
Canon PowerShot |
| Engine: |
350ci with Howards cam, Weiand Team G intake, and 750 Proform carb |
| Trans: |
TH350 |
| Rearend: |
10-bolt with 3.73 gears and minispool |
| Suspension: |
stock with 90/10 shocks up front and QA1 12-way shocks in the rear with Lakewood traction bars |
| Brakes: |
stock drum brakes all around |
| Wheels: |
Summit Racing Star |
| Great quote: |
"This car is proof that with good friends and family, anything is possible." |
Finalist
'06 Corvette Z06
Todd Sroufe • Columbia City, IN
As much as she'd like to say this sharp Daytona Sunset Orange (our personal favorite Vette color) Z06 is hers, photographer Elizabeth Woodruff admits it's the new toy of her friend, Todd Sroufe. Previously Todd had a '99 Vette, which in hindsight he refers to as a dog since the stock LS7 pulls much harder in every gear than his old C5. Funny how progress does that. We remember being impressed with the last-gen Vettes, especially the 405hp Z06, but stock versus stock, they do pale in comparison to the 505hp punch the '06 LS7 packs.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Elizabeth Woodruff; Columbia City, IN |
| Camera: |
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W330 |
| Engine: |
stock LS7 |
| Trans: |
stock six-speed transaxle |
| Rearend: |
stock |
| Suspension: |
stock |
| Brakes: |
stock |
| Wheels: |
stock Z06 |
| Great quote: |
"Todd has tried to teach me to drive it, but it didn't go so well." |
'70 Chevelle
John Rzenka • Plover, WI
Originally equipped with a 396 when he picked it up in 1993, John Rzenka briefly swapped in a 350 for a couple of years. It ran 13s, but it didn't take too long before John began to miss the big-block's torque in the heavy A-body. The 396 was rebuilt and dropped back in, supplying 360 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque to the wheels, but the Chevelle has never returned to the track since. Nowadays, John says it's just his cruiser that he occasionally uses to terrorize the backcountry roads.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
John Rzenka; Plover, WI |
| Camera: |
Sony Cyber-shot |
| Engine: |
396ci with COMP cam and Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake |
| Trans: |
TH3400 with 3,200rpm stall |
| Rearend: |
4.10 gears with an Auburn carrier |
| Suspension: |
stock front and rear |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
Cragar Street Stars |
| Great quote: |
"It can be driven just about anywhere, as long as I am willing to supply the gas." |
'82 Corvette
Randy Sferro • Rittman, OH
Technically, this is Randy Sferro's second Corvette, although the first one didn't really constitute an entire car since it was missing the floors and was so rusty the headlights fell out. This '82 needed much less-just some paint, seats, carpet, exhaust, and trans, and Randy was ready to roll. With a stock crossfire 350, 700-R4, and 3.55 gears, it's no race car, but posts respectably consistent 15-sec quarter-mile times and reportedly will easily best his son's '95 Z28 and wife's '97 Corvette to 60 mph. Of course after that Randy says they pass him like he's standing still. That doesn't matter though; he just loves the style and feel of his C3-generation Vette and uses it to unwind from his rewarding (but sometimes stressful) job of retrofitting homes for the physically disabled.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Randy Sferro; Rittman, OH |
| Camera: |
Canon PowerShot A480 |
| Engine: |
350ci with Crossfire injection |
| Trans: |
700-R4 with shift kit |
| Rearend: |
stock IRS with 3.55 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock with Koni shocks front and rear |
| Brakes: |
stock disc brakes all around |
| Wheels: |
stock 15x8 Kelsey Hayes |
| Great quote: |
"I absolutely love the style of my car; it just looks sexy and my wife says it has a nice ass!" |
'78 Mustang II Cobra
Nick Steinhaus • La Crosse, WI
You may not recognize it, but Nick Steinhaus' Mustang II has actually been in PHR not all that long ago; he was selected for a Reader's Projects feature. Since then, he's come a long way toward his goal of building homage to his parent's Cobra II. He says the guys on the forum at MustangII.net have been a great help in the resto. Bet you didn't know there were forums for Mustang IIs, did ya? Nick still hasn't had time to spray the right green Cobra II graphics, but it's still a must do. After all, to really build one right you have to embrace the full cool quirkiness of the Mustang II.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Nick Steinhaus; La Crosse, WI |
| Camera: |
Fuji Film S5100 |
| Engine: |
302ci with Weiand intake and Carter carb |
| Trans: |
four-speed |
| Rearend: |
stock |
| Suspension: |
stock with rear air shocks |
| Brakes: |
stock |
| Wheels: |
Billet Specialties |
| Custom touches: |
The headlight covers, grille, and new 3-inch exhaust are all custom made by Nick. |
'66 Chevelle Malibu
Maureen DeBello • Bensenville, IL
It was way back in high school when Maureen DeBello first fell in love with the '66 Chevelle when a mutual friend of her and her boyfriend (now husband) had one. They had half-heatedly looked for one, but one day a surprisingly cheap and solid example showed up on AutoTrader.com. Maureen contacted the owner for info and photos, and offered to pay him to take a video of the car's problem areas. The owner happily obliged and created an extremely detailed video showing every inch and angle of the Chevelle, including suspension, seams, and serial numbers-really everything. He ended it with a blast down the road and some quick shifting. Maureen was sold. When it arrived, the Chevelle was even better than expected. The first thing the transport driver said to her was, "Do you know how many people asked to buy this car?"
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
John C. Hegg; Forest Park, IL |
| Camera: |
Canon 40D, 70-200mm lens |
| Engine: |
327ci with Motown 220 heads, COMP Big Mutha Thumpr cam, Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake, and Barry Grant 650 Race Demon carb |
| Trans: |
4L60E |
| Rearend: |
10-bolt with Auburn limited-slip diff and Richmond 3.73 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock with big-block springs up front, 5-inch blocks on stock leafs in the rear |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
Centerline Scorpion |
| Great quote: |
"The awards don't hold a candle to the thumbs-up of appreciation we get while cruising in my dream car." |
Finalist
'61 Impala
Matt Ruvelson • Eagan, MN
In high school, driving a '69 Camaro that he built with his dad was cool, but just not exactly what Matt Ruvelson wanted. Even the '70 GTO that followed wasn't quite right. Matt had been bitten by the "bubbletop bug," and craved a '61 of his own. Later on while out on business trips around the country, Matt often had a copy of the local Auto Trader in his rental car so he could chase down leads in his spare time. Eventually he found the right car just five miles away from his house. The stock nosebleed height was the first thing to go; Matt got the stance in the weeds and added Intro wheels, which prompted one of this friends to dub it the "Pimpala." The name has stuck, and even appears on the tags.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Jason Stevensen; Monticello, MN |
| Camera: |
Canon 5D Mark II |
| Engine: |
350ci with COMP cam and polished aluminum intake |
| Trans: |
TH350 with B&M shift kit |
| Rearend: |
stock with 3.36 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock with 2-inch drop springs and GM 605 steering box up front, stock rear with adjustable Panhard bar |
| Brakes: |
GM disc swap up front, drums in the rear |
| Wheels: |
18x8 and 20x10 Intro V-Rod |
| Great quote: |
"My first word was 'car'-just ask my mother." |
'77 Corvette
Jake Ausburger • Lima, OH
Jake Ausburger only had a couple of months to drive his shiny red '77 Corvette around before mean Mother Nature stepped in and made a mess of the Vette via a windstorm, and the day before a big car show too. With the rear half of the body severely damaged and the glass shattered, the C3 spent the next nine months at a body shop getting repaired and resprayed its original silver. Fortunately, it was out just in time for Jake's senior pictures and to get its steering wheel autographed by the Corvette Racing Team at the American Le Mans series at Mid-Ohio Raceway. Spurred by a disappointing dyno session, the next project on the list is a new small-block that will help the Vette earn its "Hellraiser" nickname-so christened because the tag number is 6066.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Amanda Ausburger; Lima, OH |
| Camera: |
Nikon D-60 |
| Engine: |
stock 350ci |
| Trans: |
stock TH350 |
| Rearend: |
stock IRS with 3.31 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock front and rear |
| Brakes: |
stock discs front and rear |
| Wheels: |
Cragar |
| Great quote: |
"I dreamed of owning a Corvette since I was young. Now |
'69 Chevelle SS396
Stephen Story • Comstock Park, MI
Every classic car has a story; this one certainly does, a Stephen Story to be exact. Bad pun, we know, we just couldn't resist. Stephen traded an '80 Camaro straight across for this '68 Chevelle in 2009, as muscle car values were crashing and neither he nor the Chevelle's owner were having any luck selling their cars. Not bad, in our opinion. The Chevelle only had 92K on it, owing to the fact that the original owner drove it 90K before deciding to drag race it with a built 396-then was sent to prison due to alleged mob connections. The second owner only added a couple thousand miles over the next 20 years, which left little for Stephen to repair. Other than detailing, he swapped in disc brakes, replaced the twin carbs with a single 750 Holley, and put 3.07 cogs in place of the 4.10s. The purported horsepower passed from the original owner is 525, but Stephen has no plans to test it at the track.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Stephen Story; Comstock Park, MI |
| Camera: |
Nikon Coolpix |
| Engine: |
396 ci with Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap intake and 750 Holley double-pumper |
| Trans: |
T-10 four-speed |
| Rearend: |
12-bolt with posi and 3.07 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock up front, ladder bars in the rear |
| Brakes: |
factory power disc and drums |
| Wheels: |
Centerline |
| Great quote: |
"After rebuilding five personal vehicles and three classics, this Chevelle is probably the last. At 62 years of age, the wrenching is now harder on me than the vehicles." |
'67 Camaro
Jim Nilsen • Rockford, IL
It's called the Cormaro because Jim Nilsen always wanted a first-gen Camaro that could handle like a newer Corvette, and to meet that goal he purchased an entire Z51 suspension out of an '85 Corvette way back in 1993. Might sound commonplace now, but that was really original thinking back then, and Jim had to figure out the installation himself in his one-car garage. In the process, he also welded the frame into the body to make it substantially more rigid, along with a 10-point 'cage. It's been a long time in the making, but Jim finally got to debut the Cormaro at the 2010 Motorstate Challenge. More track days are definitely to come since Jim has 19 years of building to make up for. So far, the Cormaro has been to Gingerman Raceway, Road America, and Blackhawk Farms.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Jim Nilsen; Rockford, IL |
| Camera: |
Canon Rebel TLi EOS 500D |
| Engine: |
355ci with Engine Pro angle-plug iron heads, COMP XFI 280 cam, ACCEL Gen 7 EFI with wideband O2 sensor |
| Trans: |
Richmond six-speed |
| Rearend: |
'85 Corvette with 3.07 gears |
| Suspension: |
'85 Corvette Z51 front and rear with five-way adjustable shocks |
| Brakes: |
'85 Corvette discs |
| Wheels: |
'87 Corvette |
| Great quote: |
"In 2008 I was diagnosed with head and neck cancer, and almost never finished the car. By 2009 I beat the cancer and continued the work." |
Finalist
'71 Chevelle
Ryan Rosenow • Menomonee Falls, WI
Call it a midlife crisis, but when Ryan Rosenow spotted the Silver Pine Metallic '71 Chevelle with black SS stripes and black vinyl roof sitting in an old barn, he just had to have it. His wife wasn't on the bandwagon to begin with, so Ryan promised that he'd keep the resto slow and reasonably inexpensive. With only 49,000 miles on a clean body, Ryan has chosen to keep the Chevelle stock-appearing with mild upgrades, such as quicker-ratio steering, 3.73 gears, and Hedman headers with a Pypes exhaust. As a police detective lieutenant, Ryan says the Chevelle has been a lifesaver in distressing times, and has given him a good way to bond with his kids who love to go for a cruise or get ice cream. Even his wife has come around to a point, and takes it for a spin occasionally.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Ryan Rosenow; Menomonee Falls, WI |
| Camera: |
Sony DSC-19 |
| Engine: |
350ci, Edelbrock intake with 650 Edelbrock carb |
| Trans: |
TH350 |
| Rearend: |
10-bolt with posi and 3.73 gears |
| Suspension: |
factory stock |
| Brakes: |
drums all around |
| Wheels: |
stock SS wheels |
| Great Quote: |
"My kids love the attention it brings, and I can't lie, so do I." |
'63 Bel Air
John Meeks • Fairview, OR
After scoring three GM 4.3L engines at an auction cheaply, and reselling them for a profit, John Meeks suddenly had cash burning a hole in his pocket and went looking for the new home for his favorite 350 that he'd been saving. A rusty '63 Chevy tucked away in a barn and piled with parts came up for sale for less than his engine profit and John scooped it up. The deal he made with his wife was that none of the family income would be used for the car, so only bonuses and extra cash were allocated. That's the mother of innovation, and John became a bodyman and metal shaper, making his own patch panels. He became a junkyard scrounger, getting crafty and fixing parts instead of replacing them, and even made his own new wiring harness wire by wire. Our favorite bit of resourcefulness has to be the turn signal switch that was repaired with a castoff spring from a patio door roller.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
John Forton; Beaverton, OR |
| Camera: |
Canon 5D Mark II |
| Engine: |
350ci, Edelbrock Performer intake and Edelbrock carb |
| Trans: |
700-R4 |
| Rearend: |
stock with 3.41 gears |
| Suspension: |
rebuilt stock with KYB shocks, '78 Nova steering box |
| Brakes: |
rebuilt stock drums |
| Wheels: |
American Racing Torq-Thrust II |
| Great quote: |
"Just one tip about power steering swaps: Make sure the box is attached solidly to the frame. If not, high-speed cornering becomes very ... interesting." |
'67 Camaro convertible
Tracey Roath • Decatur, AL
About six years ago, Tracey Roath's husband, Brad, asked her what her dream car was. You can guess the answer. Luckily, they tracked one down that was parked at a local shipping company with weeds grown up around it. It only took a short nine months for Brad and Tracey, and friend David Fries to get the Camaro ready for paint, which was handled by the painter at the body shop where Tracey works. The blue was custom blended for the car, and the white is referred to as Pearl Ice. Now, Tracey drives her dream car to work every Friday (at least) and enjoys the constant stream of oglers that stop to look it over.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Tracey Roath; Decatur, AL |
| Camera: |
Kodak EasyShare |
| Engine: |
327ci with double-hump heads |
| Trans: |
TH350 with shift kit |
| Rearend: |
10-bolt with 3.73 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock up front, original monoleaf rear with air shocks |
| Brakes: |
factory discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
Cragar SS |
| Great quote: |
"An older gentleman once told me that I shouldn't be driving it to work because 'A car like that belongs in a garage.' Hello! A car like this needs to be driven so you can show it off and everyone can enjoy." |
'69 Nova
Frank Pulizzi • Merrick, NY
Frank Pulizzi's story is one we've heard many times; he originally built his '69 Nova for quick e.t.'s at the track, with all the best straight-line goodies like a high-compression 468ci big-block, TH400 with transbrake, and so on. It was fast too, 11s on the engine, and going 10.31 at 129 on a 175 shot. But it was a weekend-only drag car, and the novelty wore off quickly. Frank pulled the 468 and had it rebuilt for pump gas and swapped the TH400 for a TKO 600. Now he could drive it anywhere, which made him change interests toward Pro Touring-style upgrades for the suspension for more control. He must have missed the punch of the race-ready 468 though; Frank pieced together a custom ProCharger using used parts that lays down 557 hp and 591 lb-ft of torque and makes for easy and fun tail-out drifts.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Frank Pulizzi; Merrick, NY |
| Camera: |
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P200 |
| Engine: |
468ci with GM 990 iron heads and 2.30/1.88 valves, COMP Xreme Energy cam, Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake, Quick Fuel 750 blow-through carb with custom ProCharger P1-SC kit running 6 psi |
| Trans: |
Tremec TKO-600 |
| Rearend: |
Currie 9-inch with 3.89 gears and Detroit Locker diff |
| Suspension: |
stock up front with big-block springs and KYB shocks, Landrum monoleaf rear with Cal-Tracs and KYB shocks. |
| Brakes: |
CPP 13-inch Big Brake kit up front, big Ford drums in the rear with Chevy bolt pattern |
| Wheels: |
17x8 Bullitt-style wheels |
| Great quote: |
"Please give a big thanks to my wife, Jackie, for all of her support and patience!" |
'69 Camaro RS/SS
Ed Wonn • Vidalia, GA
This sharp '69 belonged to Ed Wonn's brother for almost 22 years before he was able to talk him out of it in November of 2000. Persistence pays, because Ed ended up with a true RS/SS in a reasonable shape for resto-some assembly required, of course. Ed's brother had used the car for drag racing before parking it, and built a killer 391ci stroker and TH400, but never got around to the steering and brakes, which made cruising a scary experience. Ed's youngest daughter still doesn't like it since something happens every time she goes for a ride. Once all the bugs were fumigated, Ed opted to return the '69 to it's original Cortez Silver hue, but added his own flair by changing the black hockey stick stripe to Candy Tangerine. Friends told him he was crazy, but now everyone (including us) agrees that the splash of color really makes the car.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Engine: |
391ci stroker with Dart iron heads, Erson cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap intake, Holley 750 carb |
| Trans: |
Tremec TKO 600 |
| Rearend: |
12-bolt with 3.73 gears and posi |
| Brakes: |
factory discs and drums |
| Suspension: |
original with polyurethane bushings |
| Wheels: |
American Racing 200S Daisy |
| Great quote: |
"Future plans call for a Vintage Air system, because it sure is hot here in Southern Georgia." |
Finalist
'79 AMC Spirit AMX
Fred Zeek • Belcamp, MD
Bet you didn't even know there was a '79 AMX, did you? To say they're rare is an understatement, but like the original AMX, they have a racing history; they finished First and Second in their class out of a 120-car field in a Group One endurance race at Germany's Nürburgring. Fred Zeek's was a $500 score, which he fitted with a mild 401 ci from a '77 Jeep. The AMX ran 12s in that form, but Fred wanted more, and added Indy heads and a big roller cam that rewarded him with high 10s. After a friend sprayed the current paint, Fred decided it was too nice to race anymore, and pulled the 401 for a '02 LS6 and 4L60E to make it a good street cruiser. It's back in the 12s now, but gets 21 mpg and Fred can enjoy driving it and explaining to everyone what it is.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Dick Kittell; Bel Air, MD |
| Camera: |
Nikon D80 |
| Engine: |
'02 LS6 with 228R COMP cam and LS6 intake |
| Trans: |
4L60E with 3,000-stall TCI converter |
| Rearend: |
AMC Model 20 with Moser axles and 4.10 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock AMC |
| Brakes: |
fullsize AMC calipers and rotors up front, stock rear |
| Wheels: |
18x8 and 18x9 Boss |
| Custom touches: |
LS engine aren't drop-in for Spirits, so Fred had to use F-body manifolds. That sharp color is PPG Wine Berry with a gold base. |
Finalist
'55 Chevy
Bill Collier • Eustis, FL
This '55 is actually an old gasser that was raced by two brothers and their cousin back in the '60s with a hot 265 ci, a 10 percent setback, and massive 72-inch ladder bars that practically butted up to the rear of the engine. Bill Collier bought it in '68 after graduating high school, but all he got was a roller with old tires. It took until 1973 while he was a student at the University of South Florida for Bill to get it on the road using a bunch of speed parts from Don Garlits' speed shop in Tampa. Matter of fact, the old Garlits tach is still in the car. Most of the years he's driven it, the '55 had a Muncie four-speed and Lakewood 40-pound flywheel, but in 2005 Collier had two back operations and couldn't shift anymore. Nowadays, a quick-shifting 700-R4 takes care of the gears for him.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Bill Collier; Eustis, FL |
| Camera: |
Nikon D-90 |
| Engine: |
'68 302ci with Duntov 30-30 cam, Holley intake, and 750 double-pumper carb |
| Trans: |
700-R4 |
| Rearend: |
12-bolt from a '68 Camaro with 4.88 gears and posi |
| Suspension: |
unidentified Ford straight axle with leaf springs, front; leaf springs with 72-inch ladder bars, rear |
| Brakes: |
'54 Chevy drums, front; '68 Camaro drums, rear |
| Wheels: |
vintage aluminum slot mags |
| Custom touches: |
We love the radiused rear wheelwells à la Two-Lane Blacktop and the era-correct hoodscoop. |
'64 Cobra replica
John Mackay • Sequim, WA
This is the second Cobra replica that John Mackay has assembled, but he wasn't fond of the quality of the first. He's made a few extra reinforcements under the doors and in the hood and trunk areas to his current Factory Five Racing kit, but says it's been satisfactory in every way. You do get what you pay for with kit cars, and we've always been fond of Factory Five's work ourselves. Originally, John dropped a 454 (blasphemy!) in the Cobra, but found it to be too heavy on the nose. Last winter, he pulled it out and dropped in an LS3, and shaved a solid 200 pounds off the frontend while gaining the reliability of stock GM EFI.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
John Mackay; Sequim, WA |
| Camera: |
Kodak Z981 and Z712 |
| Engine: |
LS3 |
| Trans: |
Tremec TKO 600 with 0.82 Fifth gear |
| Rearend: |
8.8 Ford with 3.55 gears and limited-slip diff |
| Suspension: |
Factory Five Racing coilovers |
| Brakes: |
Ford Racing Cobra R kit and dual-diaphragm booster |
| Wheels: |
17x9 Ford Racing Cobra R |
| Great quote: |
"My favorite use for this car is to drive the 330 scenic miles around the Olympic National Park in one day." |
Finalist
'76 Nova
Chris and Garrett Lott • Minneapolis, KS
It's rare and unusual to see any fourth-gen Novas (or really any late X-body) in this nice of a condition, but we say that's changing; these cars are great drivers that offer a lot of performance potential in an affordable package. Chris Lott spotted this one for sale on a farm and picked it up for $1,000 as a project for his son, Garrett. Unfortunately, they soon discovered the joys of having an "off-year" car; few parts are available. Chris had to fab new inner wheelwells and reuse almost 90 percent of the original parts. After lots of dent removal and block-sanding to get the body straight, a friend sprayed the GM Flame Red basecoat/clearcoat in his barn in a room he had set aside for painting farm implements. The project came together just in time to have Garrett cruise to the prom to the sound of dual Flowmasters.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Eldon Clark; Minneapolis, KS |
| Camera: |
Nikon D3S |
| Engine: |
stock 305 ci |
| Trans: |
stock TH350 |
| Rearend: |
original 10-bolt |
| Suspension: |
factory stock front and rear |
| Brakes: |
factory power disc and drums |
| Wheels: |
original six-slot Rallies |
| Great quote: |
"What a ton of work this turned out to be, but it was worth it as I caught myself tearing up when my son pulled out of the driveway wearing his tuxedo, driving his newly restored Flame Red '76 Nova." |
Finalist
'65 Comet
Sam Mullins Jr. • Fall Branch, TN
Sam Mullins Jr. drove a '65 Comet around after returning from Vietnam, so when he and his wife, Connie, decided to restore a car, it was at the top of his list. The first Comet turned out to be a rusty mess, but while looking for parts, Sam ran across an ideal candidate in California and set off to pick it up. Along the way an accident resulted in major damage to his truck, but undeterred, Sam rented a U-Haul and continued on his way to get the Comet. Now with a parts car and solid car, the resto really began in earnest with Sam handling the bodywork and mechanical parts. Though Connie and Sam made and tied each of the hundreds of buttons in the custom interior themselves, to finish the big job an upholstery shop had to be set up in their basement. Sam picked up their upholstery guy every morning and brought him to the car. Now that's dedication!
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Connie Mullins; Fall Branch, TN |
| Camera: |
Polaroid i733 |
| Engine: |
289ci with COMP Cams roller conversion, Edelbrock intake, and Holley 600 |
| Trans: |
four-speed Top Loader |
| Rearend: |
8-inch Ford with 3.55 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock front with Unisteer rack-and-pinion, stock rear |
| Brakes: |
stainless steel disc brakes front and rear |
| Wheels: |
Keystone Klassics |
| Great quote: |
"At one point I was ready to have the basement blessed or exorcised to rid this car of bad karma!" |
'69 AMC AMX
Frank Russo • Hewitt, TX
After finding a surprisingly clean and well-kept AMX in the Orange County, California, Auto Trader, Frank Russo set about making it car-show ready by applying fresh paint and freshening up the 390. After 15 years of showing it, Frank decided it was time to really play with it. The 390 was pulled and set aside and an Indy-headed 401 making 460 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque was dropped in along with a TorqueFlite with a 3,500-stall converter. Believe it or not, this wasn't just for quick e.t.'s (12.30s to be exact); Frank wanted to make the AMX into a more fun street car, and he now drives it regularly.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Frank Russo; Hewitt, TX |
| Camera: |
Canon PowerShot A540 |
| Engine: |
401ci AMC with aluminum Indy heads and intake, Erson cam, Wiseco pistons, and Barry Grant 650 Speed Demon carb |
| Trans: |
TorqueFlite with 3,500-stall converter |
| Rearend: |
AMC Model 20 with 3.54 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock AMC |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
Weld Racing |
| Custom touches: |
The hoodscoop is an original SS piece from AMC. |
'69 Mustang
Vince Poppler • Kernersville, NC
Back before stroker kits for small-block Fords were common fare, Vince Poppler went about it the hard way for his '69 Mustang, using a tech article from Street Rodder magazine. The recipe called for a Ford 400 M crank, Chrysler rods, Chevy bushings, and custom Keith Black pistons. Powerwise, it was the perfect replacement for his 302, but unfortunately, it still required a great deal of machine work, including cutting and reworking the crank. Of course as an Air Force enlistee living in the barracks, life was pretty meager for Vince for about a year as he sacrificed cash to appease the beast being built. It was worth it though; Vince says the 427 makes great power. As for the chassis, the Mustang has subframe connectors and CalTracs bars, and a full PST suspension is going in soon.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Vince Poppler; Kernersville, NC |
| Camera: |
Canon Elura 85 |
| Engine: |
427ci Windsor with World Products heads and 2.02/1.90 valves, Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap intake, Holley 750 double-pumper carb, COMP hydraulic-roller cam |
| Trans: |
four-speed Top Loader |
| Rearend: |
9-inch with 3.73 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock front, stock rear with CalTracs bars |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
unidentified mags Vince found |
| Great quote: |
"In order for me to ignore all the creaks and rattles from a 40-year-old car, I have a high-power custom stereo system." |
'72 Buick Skylark
Gerald Ziegler • Snohomish, WA
Gerald Ziegler's dream car is a completely numbers-matching Buick with only 72,000 miles on the clock that he uses as a weekend cruiser, as well as an occasional daily driver. One of the cooler things about cruising his Buick, Gerald says, is that it inspires plenty of people to come over for a closer look, and he ends up meeting a very diverse group. That's a bonus since he just moved from Seattle to the Midwest; meeting people is as easy as going for a cruise. That's actually one of our favorite parts about a cruise as well; it's like an icebreaker between folks who might otherwise never speak.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Gerald Ziegler; Snohomish, WA |
| Camera: |
Olympus Stylus |
| Engine: |
stock 350 ci |
| Trans: |
four-speed |
| Rearend: |
original B.O.P. |
| Suspension: |
rebuilt to stock specs front and rear |
| Brakes: |
original drums all around |
| Wheels: |
American Racing Torq-Thrust II |
| Great quote: |
"What's to tell? You can see from the pictures it's an older fullsize Buick, so you know it's a great car!" |
'66 Chevelle
Donny Pagel • Stevens Point, WI
Two years of searching for a Chevelle like the one he had in high school finally led Donny Pagel to this '66. Well, actually his nephew found it on eBay for him, but Donny made the deal after it didn't sell on the auction. This '66 had a 350 in it, but Donny had bigger plans in the form of a 468 big-block sitting on a stand in his garage, ready to go. After that, he had the body soda blasted and sprayed Viper Blue; he cleaned up the interior, made his own boxed rear control arms, and then set about driving it as much as possible. Since he bought it in March of 2010, he's racked up 3,000 miles of cruising-often with his two nephews driving their own Chevelle and Nova.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Dan Pagel; Stevens Point, WI |
| Camera: |
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 |
| Engine: |
468ci big-block with a roller-cam conversion, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, and 830 Holley |
| Trans: |
M-21 four-speed |
| Rearend: |
12-bolt with 3.55 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock front and rear |
| Brakes: |
stock drums |
| Wheels: |
original Rally |
| Great quote: |
"I have over 3,000 miles on it since March; it's just a blast to drive." |
'69 Camaro
Andy Louie • Sacramento, CA
At 45, Andy Louie decided he needed something to keep his mind at peace. He's been a lifetime car nut, and drag raced his '69 Mustang SportsRoof, bolting on parts when his paper route budget would allow, so a new project was the answer. Intrigued by the Pro Touring revolution he saw in the pages of magazines like PHR, Andy decided to try a Camaro this time. To tackle some of the bodywork, he signed up for a welding and metalworking class at the local junior college. To keep it from becoming a 10-year project, he had a pro shop handle the big stuff and spray it. For now he's got the look, but someday when time permits, Andy wants to learn how to autocross it and get some big Baer brakes on it to prepare for track days.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Andy Louie; Sacramento, CA |
| Camera: |
Casio Exilim |
| Engine: |
GM ZZ4 350 ci with COMP Thumpr cam and Edlebrock Performer RPM Air-Gap intake |
| Trans: |
700-R4 |
| Rearend: |
10-bolt with Auburn diff and 3.55 gears |
| Suspension: |
QA1 shocks with Energy Suspension bushings up front, Alston Chassisworks g-Bar rear with Varishocks |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
18x8 and 18x10, Boze Boost |
| Great quote: |
"In my opinion, a car is a tool, and if it doesn't get used, it's of no use." |
Finalist
'79 Malibu
Chad Chmura • Pomfret Center, CT
This Malibu was Chad Chmura's present for his middle-school graduation and he began working on it right away to have it ready for when he turned 16. With his dad serving as shop foreman, Chad learned a great deal about what it takes to build a car, and the entire project other than the interior came together in the garage. Chad also had the added benefit of attending a technical high school, which allowed him to create countless custom parts on the shop machines for little to no cost, including engine accessory brackets, trailing arms, coil mounts, carb spacer, and much more. All that hard work showed too; Chad graduated valedictorian of his class and earned a full scholarship to the University of Connecticut in the mechanical engineering program. How's that for justification for keeping tech programs accessible to students? Next on the agenda is a 496 big-block to replace the race gas-swilling 402, so Chad can drive it to college occasionally.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Chad Chmura; Pomfret Center, CT |
| Camera: |
Nikon D40 |
| Engine: |
402ci big-block with ported GM heads, COMP Magnum cam, Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake, Barry Grant 850 Mighty Demon |
| Trans: |
TH400 by built by Rossler |
| Rearend: |
narrowed 9-inch with 4.11 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock front with V-6 springs and 2-inch drop spindles, double-adjustable trailing arms in the rear with 3-inch drop springs |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
15x3.5 and 15x8, Weld Racing Draglite |
| Great quote: |
"Of course, another goal was to convince a girl or two to ride along, and last summer I managed that as well." |
'80 Corvette
John Killen • Florence, AL
Though it looked great in pictures online, John Killen says he was mighty disappointed with all the issues when the '80 Corvette arrived on a car carrier. Still, he started repairing things as he could until the recession hit. Unfortunately, John was one of thousands who were laid off in 2008. He was very close to his 91-year-old grandmother, and didn't want her to know for fear of making her worry, but he says she knew something was wrong. "You and your cars," she said, always concerned that he spent too much money on them. As time went by, bills piled up and John was preparing to put the Vette up for sale, when he was notified that his grandmother had died. At the reading of her will shortly thereafter, John had to wipe tears away as he looked at the amount of money she bequeathed to him; it was enough to pay off the Corvette and keep him afloat for a while longer while he looked for work.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Mac Sheritt; Florence, AL |
| Camera: |
Canon 40D |
| Engine: |
stock 350 ci with Edelbrock intake |
| Trans: |
original four-speed |
| Rearend: |
stock IRS with 3.08 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock original |
| Brakes: |
stock discs |
| Wheels: |
original Corvette Rally |
| Great quote: |
"When people say, 'That's a sharp car,' I automatically think of my grandmother." |
'73 Dodge Challenger
Ken Hale • Ogdensburg, NY
Eight years ago, Ken Hale rescued this '73 Challenger from a field. It was all there minus the engine and trans, but had plenty of rust to make up for the completeness. That's actually what Ken did for the first three years-replace all of the floors and framerails as well as some braces and suspension parts. The engine currently in it is a 360ci Mopar with 727 trans, which works well for Ken as a daily driver to his job as a New York corrections officer at a medium security prison. He says he regularly gets advice and suggestions from inmates who can see the car through the fence!
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Ken Hale; Ogdensburg, NY |
| Camera: |
Sansung Digimax 201 |
| Engine: |
360ci with ported heads, Crane cam, Edelbrock intake, and Holley 750 carb |
| Trans: |
727 TorqueFlite |
| Rearend: |
8¾ Mopar with 3.23 gears and limited slip |
| Suspension: |
stock up front with upgraded sway bar, Hemi rear springs with 1-inch sway bar in the rear |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
Centerline |
| Custom touches: |
The front fenders, hood, and trunk lid are all fiberglass. |
Finalist
'70 Torino GT convertible
David Conn • Oceanside, NY
David Conn spends most of his shutterbug time snapping people and events, but he said the opportunity to get his pride and joy in PHR and show off a bit was too much to resist. We're glad he did too; we've always been fans of the '70-71 Torinos. This GT was picked up as way for David and his family to get out to cruise together. The most recent outing was an invitation to cruise in the local Memorial Day parade, which his son is still talking about.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
David Conn; Oceanside, NY |
| Camera: |
Nikon D300 |
| Engine: |
stock 351C 2-barrel |
| Trans: |
C4 |
| Rearend: |
9-inch with 3.50 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock front and rear |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
American Racing Torq-Thrust D |
| Great quote: |
"The Torino has brought us many happy times and memories, and I hope it will for years to come." |
Finalist
'83 El camino
Randy Tomei • Renfrew, PA
Henry Skocz handled the restoration of this '83 Elky for Randy Tomei at his shop, Hank's Auto Refinishing. Rather than a modification, this was a stock restoration, which always surprises us; '83 still doesn't sound all that old, even though it's 27 years ago. At its first outing this year at the GM Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the Elky took Third in its class against 18 entrants. Not bad, especially considering the modest $11,600 investment including the purchase price.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Henry Skocz; Portersville, PA |
| Camera: |
Canon PowerShot S515 |
| Engine: |
original 305ci |
| Trans: |
stock TH350 |
| Rearend: |
stock 10-bolt |
| Suspension: |
original front and rear |
| Brakes: |
factory discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
American Racing Torq-Thrust II |
| Custom touches: |
Even though it's essentially a stocker, Randy couldn't resist updating, and changed the upholstery in the Elky. |
'05 Mustang GT
Jim Kaczor • Vernon, NY
This GT was bone stock when Jim Kaczor scooped it up on eBay, but as is the case with most Mustang owners, that didn't last long. Silver wasn't his top choice of colors, so Jim devised a two-tone treatment to break up the body a little, and his brother Ken sprayed it in Ford Blazing Copper. Custom pinstriping and flames were handled by Magic Mike's. The exhaust was much too quiet for Jim's liking, so a set of Borla Stingers went on. Underhood, so far it's just a JLT cold-air intake and a Bama Tunes program on a Superchips SCT3 chip, but a Kenne Bell blower is in the near future. So far, his best time at the track is 13.60, but that was before the new 4.10 gears, which he hopes will get him deeper into the 13s.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Bruce Galler; Vernon, NY |
| Camera: |
Pentax K100D |
| Engine: |
stock 4.6 with Bama Tunes tuning and JLT cold-air intake |
| Trans: |
stock 5R55S 5-speed auto |
| Rearend: |
8.8-inch with 4.10 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock with Steeda springs |
| Brakes: |
stock discs |
| Wheels: |
18x8 and 18x10, 340 Cobra style |
| Custom touches: |
The cool mirrors are retro pieces from Agent 47, and the cowl hood is from Cervini's. |
Finalist
'65 Tempest
Charles Comanich • Baytown, TX
Charles Comanich has a problem. He's torn between the very strong urge to seek out and buy really low-mile factory-original muscle cars, and the uncontrollable urge to modify and upgrade them. We think it's an epidemic; we've had this same problem our whole lives! This '65 Tempest is a typical example. Charles found it at a swap meet stone stock with 38,000 original miles-all put on by a little old lady. Charles thought, what a great car, it needs nothing. He bought it and over the next five years he was nagged every day by the desire to tear into it-prodded on by the cars he saw in PHR. The day finally came when he snapped, and began ordering the parts to make his Tempest a tourer: Hotchkis suspension, Baer brakes, 455 ci, 700-R4, Budnik wheels, and so on. "Sometimes it's just a little hard taking that first step," Charles said, "But after you do-it's on!"
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Charles Comanich; Baytown, TX |
| Camera: |
Nikon D3000 |
| Engine: |
455ci Poncho with Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, COMP Xtreme Energy cam, Edelbrock Torker intake, and Barry Grant Speed Demon carb |
| Trans: |
700-R4 from Bowtie Overdrives |
| Rearend: |
Pyle Bros. 9-inch with Strange carrier, Moser axles and 3.50 gears |
| Suspension: |
Hotchkis springs, sway bar, and 2-inch drop spindles up front, Hotchkis springs and control arms in the rear. |
| Brakes: |
Baer Track system with 13-inch rotors up front |
| Wheels: |
17x9 and 17x10 Budnik GTX |
| Great quote: |
"I guess that's why PHR is my favorite read; it seems to be a place where people like me can go and feel almost normal. |
'68 Camaro
Cullon Cabler • Bryan, TX
He'd been on the lookout for the right first-gen Camaro, but it wasn't until Cullon Cabler moved that he found it-right across the street in his new neighbor's garage. Of course it took four years of begging, and a bad trip to Vegas to make him relent, but eventually the Camaro was Cullon's. He pushed the planning on a resto project, but then he discovered Pro Touring. Rather than ordering stock parts, Cullon found himself calling Detroit Speed and Engineering for his suspension needs, and Mast Motorsports for an LS3. It took 21 months of wrenching every day, but we'd say the results were well worth the effort. We just feel sorry for the neighbor who owned it for 22 years when he sees it roll out now!
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Cullon Cabler; Bryan, TX |
| Camera: |
Canon PowerShot SX20 |
| Engine: |
Mast Motorsports LS3 |
| Trans: |
Tremec TKO 600 |
| Rearend: |
9-inch with 3.70 gears |
| Suspension: |
DSE upper and lower control arms up front, DSE Quadra-Link in the rear |
| Brakes: |
Wilwood 12.5-inch discs front and rear |
| Wheels: |
17x8 and 18x11 Budnik Fontana |
| Custom touches: |
Cullon added a few subtle mods such as shortening the rear bumper by 1.5 inches and adjusting some of the gaps for a cleaner look. |
3
'07 Parnelli Jones Edition Saleen Mustang
Richard Modica • New York, NY
In April 2006, Richard Modica attended the New York Auto Show for one reason, to see the debut of the Parnelli Jones Edition Saleen Mustang. The car was a tribute to Parnelli's winning 1970 season and the infamous yellow Mustangs that won Trans-Am. Richard was impressed when he saw it in the lobby and told the representative how much he wanted one. The guy gave Richard the "yeah, you and everyone else" look, but he really meant it. How bad did he want it? So badly that he parted with his beloved award-winning '70 Boss 302 to get it. After a 10-month wait, PJ Saleen No. 181 out of 500 built was in his garage. Unlike most, however, that's not where it stays. Richard has since installed a Saleen supercharger for 525 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque at the wheels, and regularly drives it and attends track days.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Richard Modica; New York, NY |
| Camera: |
Nikon D60 |
| Engine: |
Saleen-prepped 4.6 3V with Saleen supercharger |
| Trans: |
stock five-speed |
| Rearend: |
stock 8.8-inch with 3.73 gears |
| Suspension: |
Saleen Racecraft springs and sway bars with Watt's link in the rear |
| Brakes: |
14-inch Saleen up front, 13-inch Steeda in the rear |
| Wheels: |
19-inch Parnelli Jones Saleen Wheels |
| Great quote: |
"I have never regretted buying the Parnelli." |
Finalist
'70 El camino SS
Mike DeJong • Sparta, MI
After spending the entire day at the Goodguys Nationals, Mike DeJong and his friends decided to grab some grub at the TGI Friday's host party. Nevertheless, en route he was stopped in his tracks by the sight of his dream car for sale in the parking lot: a '70 El Camino SS. Mike took it home and spent the next two years turning it into his dream muscle car with a bed. Only the heads and block stayed from the original big-block, the suspension was swapped for Hotchkis parts, and the original rearend with its puny 2.56 gears vacated in favor of a 12-bolt with 4.11 gears. Next on the agenda is an overdrive swap to let the 454 purr more quietly on the freeway, but in the meantime Mike says that he feels like a teenager again, smiling every time he's out for a cruise or doing the occasional burnout.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Mike DeJong; Sparta, MI |
| Camera: |
Canon 40D |
| Engine: |
454 ci with oval-port heads, Lunati Voodoo cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap intake, Holley Street Avenger 770 carb |
| Trans: |
TH350 |
| Rearend: |
12-bolt with 4.10 gears and posi |
| Suspension: |
Hotchkis springs and sway bars, with Hotckis control arms in the rear |
| Brakes: |
stock discs and drums |
| Wheels: |
18x8 and 20x8, Billet Specialties Daggers |
| Great quote: |
"What other two-seat classic has the power of a big-block Chevy, the looks of a Chevelle SS, and the versatility to haul everyone's stuff to the shows?" |
'69 Chevelle SS
Johnny Greene • Bristol, TN
In high school, Johnny Greene had a '67 RS/SS Camaro, followed by an SS396 Chevelle, but like so many of us, he eventually had to step away from the muscle car fun to start a family. About three years ago, Johnny made a new buddy who happened to own this unique color combo Chevelle. Johnny was struck by it (maybe because of his name?) and told his friend that if it were ever for sale, he had to have it. About two months later, the call came, and Johnny claimed the green Chevelle. Now he spends all the time he can spare making up for the absence of muscle in his life by getting the Chevelle out and just enjoying the drive.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Johnny Greene; Bristol, TN |
| Camera: |
GE Q1250 |
| Engine: |
stock 396 ci |
| Trans: |
TH400 with a shift kit |
| Rearend: |
12-bolt with 3.73 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock original front and rear |
| Wheels: |
stock discs and drums |
| Great quote: |
"My racing days have long passed. Now I enjoy cruising the highways and byways." |
'70 Corvette
Leon Gibbs Jr. • Lorton, VA
An import dealer in Palmyra, Virginia, tried to start a Corvette restoration shop back in the late '90s, and Leon Gibb's '70 was one of the few that was turned out. The original Mulsanne Blue and blue interior car was swapped to a much more appealing silver on black palette during the resto, and a big-block hood was added "to strike fear," Leon says. Underhood, though, it's still a mild 350, which works just fine for Leon's purposes: spending time cruising with his kids. Though they do have to go one at a time, Leon says they have no trouble keeping track of whose turn it is.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Leon Gibbs Jr.; Lorton, VA |
| Camera: |
Pentax Optio MX4 |
| Engine: |
stock 350 ci |
| Trans: |
stock TH350 |
| Rearend: |
stock |
| Suspension: |
restored stock |
| Wheels: |
stock discs |
| Great quote: |
"We like to cruise up and down the Potomac River and through the local roads. Our goal is to get lost in the Shenandoah Valley." |
Finalist
'68 Camaro
Tom Tieman • Glendale, AZ
Originally, Tom Tieman bought this Camaro just to yank the 383 for his son Josh's Corvette. After getting partially parted out, it sat in the back of Tom's brother's place. Tom's wife, Shirley, was pondering buying a new Pontiac Solstice, but he convinced her that they could build the Camaro for much less-and it would be cooler! Father and son agreed to do the work, and mom paid the bills. Of course as things progressed, the project grew beyond the original plans and took two years to complete, but the results have netted trophies at shows, and a Pro Touring car that's a blast to drive. The only downside might be that the now ultraslick Camaro is, in Shirley's words, "too nice to leave in any parking lot," so she bought a Chevy Colorado for daily duties.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Tom Tieman; Glendale, AZ |
| Camera: |
Canon 20D |
| Engine: |
LS3 with GM LS6 hot cam |
| Trans: |
Tremec six-speed |
| Rearend: |
Winters 9-inch with 3.73 gears and posi |
| Suspension: |
Schwartz Extreme Performance chassis with adjustable QA1 coilovers and splined sway bars front and rear |
| Wheels: |
ZO6 Motorsports |
| Custom touches: |
Josh designed the custom interior and used late-model GTO seats, front and rear, and a sound system "powerful enough to dry your hair." |
'66 Mustang
D.L. Harris • Bowling Green, FL
This sharp little '66 coupe is the product of two crashed six-cyclinder ponies that D.L. Harris snapped up for $400. Now that's how to get yourself a classic! D.L. had three young kids to take care of, so the resto was slow, and he reused as many original parts from the two cars as possible. It turned out nice enough that all three of those kids were able to drive the finished Mustang to school for a few years before handing it back over to D.L. It sat for a few years, but then he found an early five-bolt bolt-pattern 289 ci, and decided to do a full V-8 conversion with the suspension and rearend as well. After fresh paint, the Mustang finally lives in a garage and comes out on nice days for D.L.'s favorite Saturday morning car show in Winter Haven, Florida.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
D.L. Harris; Bowling Green, FL |
| Camera: |
HP Photosmart 733 |
| Engine: |
stock early 289 ci with Edelbrock intake and 600 carb |
| Trans: |
stock C4 |
| Rearend: |
stock 8-inch Ford |
| Suspension: |
stock original, front and rear |
| Wheels: |
original 14-inch hubcaps |
| Great quote: |
"It was a good deal. I kept the better of the two coupes and fixed the other one up enough to get my $400 back." |
'69 camaro
Jason Vendetto • Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
When Jason Vendetto hauled home his '69 Camaro project when he was 16, all the other kids in the neighborhood without a car guy's vision said, "Eww" or "It's ugly." Jason didn't listen though; he knew what it would become. While they were all playing ball in the street, Jason was in the garage wrenching and putting together his dream car. It took a few years, but now all those same people say "Ooh," and "Wow, that's nice" when Jason pulls out in his '69. Local car show judges seem to be impressed as well, since he's racked up several Best in Class awards for his efforts.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Jason Vendetto; Lake Ronkonkoma, NY |
| Camera: |
Canon Rebel XTi |
| Engine: |
stock 283 ci |
| Trans: |
stock TH350 |
| Rearend: |
stock 10-bolt |
| Suspension: |
rebuilt stock with PST Polygraphite bushings and 1-inch front sway bar |
| Wheels: |
American Racing |
| Great quote: |
"I've received many Best of Show trophies, which tells me I've done an excellent job of restoring my Showtie." |
'71 Chevelle
Bob Sell • Islip Terrace, NY
Bob Sell's been a mechanic his whole life, so when he ran across a derelict '71 Chevelle missing the drivetrain and with a woodgrain paneled wagon front clip, he wasn't fazed. Besides, he has wanted, nay needed, a tilt-nose Chevelle since he was a young guy hanging out with older friends who had cool muscle cars. Using his know-how and the assistance of a few friends, the Chevelle came together completely at Bob's house. A couple of Harleys sidetracked him briefly, but when his son was born things got back on track-and the Harleys were parked. Now the once dilapidated A-body runs 11.97 at 110 mph, thanks to a stout 383 built by a friend.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| Photographer: |
Bob Sell; Islip Terrace, NY |
| Camera: |
Panasonic |
| Engine: |
383ci with AFR 190 heads, COMP cam, and Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and carb |
| Trans: |
TH400 |
| Rearend: |
B.O.P. with 3.73 gears |
| Suspension: |
stock with two coils cut off the front springs |
| Wheels: |
Weld Racing |
| Custom touches: |
Bob got his tilt nose! The front end is a U.S. Body one-piece fiberglass piece that he and a friend designed and built brackets for. |
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