Expensive builds are nice, but this is probably my favorite muscle car of the year because it’s not perfect and it gets driven. It’s a 1969 Chevelle built in a garage by a father and son duo with a hint of pro-touring so it can go autocross racing. It’s got upgraded suspension, brakes, and an LS swap. What more could you want?
Chevelles are generally great-looking muscle cars, but the 68 and 69 are my favorite because of that front end. But a new color combination was introduced here in order to give it that restomod look. The red color is apparently from Kia’s versatile Soul hatchback, and all the trim has been powder-coated gloss black, including the bumpers. She’s also got some decals here and there, but nothing too crazy.
You’ve got to love how the black air dam and blacked-out grille look next to that metallic red. 21-year-old Nick Smith and his dad painted this car themselves in a garage, and they did a fantastic job, especially considering they didn’t have prior experience. The owner got this Chevelle from his grandpa when he was 18 years old. It was a shell with no interior and a seized motor.
The 307 small-block had to go, and in its place came a new motor. It’s a Chevy Performance LS376/480, the one where the stock camshaft is replaced with a racing-inspired LS Hot Cam. The 6.2-liter LS3 makes about 500 horsepower, which goes out through a Tremec T56 6-speed manual sending power to a Currie 9-inch rear end.
Stock subframe, custom suspension
The pro-touring aspect of the build comes from the Speedtech Performance Track Time system which upgrades the suspension. This $4,700 package includes upper and lower tubular control arms, Viking Double Adjustable coilovers, sway bars, and everything needed to mount this to a 68-72 Chevelle. What’s interesting is that this still has the stock subframe, although the roll cage does add some rigidity.
The front has no inner fenders, so you see every suspension component when you open the hood. For wheels, this has 18-inch gunmetal alloys with some meat on them. Behind those, we’ve got a brake upgrade in the form of 12-inch discs and 6-piston Wilwood calipers up front and 10-inch discs with two pistons at the rear.
The interior is nothing too crazy, all-black with some racing upgrades. Because Nick likes to go autocross racing, he installed a couple of Corbeau leather bucket seats with harnesses, a detachable Sparco steering wheel and aluminum door panels. It’s got cup holders and a 6-speed, so you know this Chevelle can show you a good time.
