'71 Camaro
Michael Deviney
Union Mills, NC
Blackjack In White
Michael Deviney's '71 began life as a 307 'Glide car. To some, this minimal impression represents the perfect palette. There's nothing of historical value or a pedigree to fret over with a car like this. It's a free-for-all rebuild with absolutely no rules to break nor will you to receive poisonous notes, electronic or otherwise, concerning the destruction of a national archive. If anything, this Camaro was in a pure state when Michael dove in. The full restoration consumed about 31/2 years and Mike is responsible for all the work you see here, save for building the engine, which is the ever-popular 383 stroker. The engine is built from a combination of an Eagle forged rotating assembly, Air Flow Research L82 aluminum cylinder heads, Comp Cams Nitrous HP camshaft, and a Weiand intake manifold straddled by a Demon carburetor. With over-the-road visions not dancing in Mike's head, an overdriven top gear really might seem unnecessary. He settled for a Turbo 350 lead by a 3,000-stall converter that sends torque to a 12-bolt axle spinning 3.73s. Paint is a custom-mixed white pearl with charcoal stripes; a simple combination that flat works. The pearl is offset and complemented by a jade green interior and understated 17x7 and 17x8 Coy wheels.
'69 Camaro
Tommy Bazan
Oakdale, CA
Daily Performer
Mr. Bazan purchased this F-car off of eBay about five years ago. Since then he's been hard at it, literally making it into a new car. The only thing he carried over was the interior. The chassis is quite complete, from the Heidts tubular upper and lower control arms hosting a coilover conversion to the 12-inch CPP rotors, drilled and slotted, and capped with 18x8 Esajian wheels. He infused the car with a Chris Alston G-Bar setup, installing adjustable coilovers and a Moser 12-bolt axle with Detroit Trutrac differential. The rear stoppers are 13-inch polished Wilwood hats covered by Esajian 20x10 hoops engineered with the "perfect offset." The engine is a crate 350 with aluminum heads, a Holley 750 mixer, larger radiator with an electric fan, and a Billet Specialties serpentine accessory drive. The exhaust system is altered as well. Stainless Works headers dump into a stainless exhaust with Pypes polished mufflers. For the drivetrain proposition, a Tremec TKO-600 five-speed transmission. If the Popsicle Orange paint doesn't grab you, then maybe the sail cloth (not vinyl) convertible top will. "The next step," said Tommy, "will be an interior makeover. Because this car is a daily driver, the transformation process has necessarily been a long one, but my license plate frame says 'Driven Not Trailered'."
'67 Camaro
Tom Yanus
Port Orange, FL
The Girlfriend In The Garage
Originally a 327/210 Sport Coupe, Tom Yanus changed its orientation to an SS 350 tribute car. The Marina Blue was an RPO color; stock steel wheels and a suspension attitude appropriate for the day complete the modern picture. Yanus says it sports a "mild but very fun" four-bolt main 350 bored 0.040 and fortified with a Comp Thumper cam. Flat-top pistons work beneath iron Chevy heads hosting finned rocker covers, spacers, and Harland Sharp roller rockers. "She runs great with an Edelbrock RPM intake and a Holley 600 carb," says Yanus. "Ignition is fed from an Accel HEI distributor and an MSD 6A box. Headers let her breathe though a 2.5-inch cross-pipe and 40 series Flowmasters." Yanus converted to a "race ready" Turbo 400 with a B&M shift kit and an old-school Hurst ratchet shifter. The 12-bolt rear houses 4.11 gears and Posi-Traction. This car took 12 years to get it where it is now, a labor of love. As we all do, I keep adding small things here and there and cruise in her as much as possible."