'57 Bel-Air
Mike Karns
Dayton, OH
Blessed Be The Icon
We're suckers for a clean '57, but when they're as pristine as Mike's, we babble and drool. It's more about the iconic presence than anything else. Mike's had this piece for 38 years, folks. Aside from modernization with 17- and 18-inch Coy's M-5 wheels, an all-wheel disc brake conversion, tubular control arms, and a Borgeson quick-ratio steering box, the raggy's recipe is straight out of the old days. A 355-inch motor passes torque to an M-21 four-speed and on to the 4.11:1 Posi rear. "I assembled the chassis, driveline, suspension, and brake system," says Mike. "Tim Dolle and Bob Minnish did the paint ['06 Chrysler Blaze Pearl Red] and bodywork, while Cragers Auto Interior [Centerville, Ohio], did the top and the interior. Mike Dolle built the engine, Joe Klepacz built the transmission, and Scott Bell [Dayton] performed the electrical work."
'66 Nova
Eric Brown
Pomona, CA
Rollin' His Own
Mr. Brown bought the car as a basket case and did 90-95 percent of the work in his home garage. It seems that the Nova is caught somewhere between full-on race car and street and 'strip. Regardless, it's a very clean rendition of a body style we can't seem to get enough of. Eric and friends inserted a full interior that all but hides the eight-point rollcage. He also did the bodywork and applied the medium blue paint. The car has a 406 small-block with Dart heads, a roller cam, a 850-cfm Holley on a Victor Jr. intake manifold, Hooker Super Comp fenderwell headers, and a 3-inch exhaust system with Dynomax mufflers. For those random, insane bursts, he plumbed in an Edelbrock nitrous kit. He spreads power to the tarmac through a Turbo 350 transmission behind a 4,200-stall converter to a mini-tubbed 9-inch axle with 4.10:1 gears.
'67 RS/SS Camaro, '69 RS Camaro
Rick And Joan Aron
Rogers, AR
Hard Head & Topless Dancer
Here's a switch: a hot rodder and his wife who like driving more than lying underneath and massaging their prides and joys. They bought the '67 convertible from a retired mechanic four years ago all the way over in Philadelphia. Rick and Joan enjoy tooling it to Classic Chevy and Goodguys shows as well as local events. Whenever possible they drop the top and drive it everywhere. Its 350 is plied by an Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap intake and a 600-cfm carburetor and rumbles through Dynomax mufflers. The '69 RS coupe is more of a daily driver. Future plans include a lowered front suspension, new paint, a 300hp 350ci crate motor, an Edelbrock RPM intake, an Edelbrock 600-cfm carburetor, and a butt-kicking audio system.
'90 SS Silverado
Zac Ansted
Whitehouse, OH
Gramps Would Dig It
This truck started out as Zac's grandfather's toy. Zac was just going to fix the body and leave the engine for later. A friend had a similar truck with a blown up motor and also happened to be a terrific bodyman. Zac traded the 454 and Turbo 400 for a slick Mercedes-Benz black paint job. His bud Junior Streib helped him with the motor, now a 496 with an Eagle crank and rods, aluminum heads, a complete MSD setup, and an Edelbrock intake topped off with an 850-cfm Demon carb. The engine has been proofed at over 530 lb-ft of torque. Zac added a 3,000-stall converter and a beefed Turbo 400. Future props include a Team G single-plane, drag radials, a locker differential, and a manual valvebody. Yup, Gramps would be proud.