Author Archives: Cameron Tunstall

About Cameron Tunstall

265-400 SBC, third generation F-bodies, anything Oldsmobile... and a little modular 2V as well.

SEMA 2024: Nissan 300ZX Widebody by Shea Seefeldt

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If there’s one thing the SEMA Show never fails to deliver, it’s bold builds that mix unexpected performance with radical style. These are the type of custom vehicles you will find in the Toyo Tires Treadpass pavilion. Among the many high quality vehicles at the 2024 event was a striking Nissan 300ZX Z23, built by Shea Seefeldt in collaboration with 10 Tenths Motorsports in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This isn’t your average Z car. Under the hood, the original Nissan engine has been swapped in favor of American muscle: a GM LS3 V8. But it’s not just any LS3. It’s been upgraded with PRC heads from Texas Speed, dual valve springs, titanium retainers, and a GPI SS4 camshaft, giving it that extra boost of power.

The exterior grabs attention with a Pandem widebody kit, complete with enlarged wheel openings to house the aggressive stance and oversized rubber. The car rolls on gold-plated Rohana wheels that were designed in collaboration with Rocket Bunny, and wrapped in Toyo tires, of course.
Now, those dramatically flared fenders might not appeal to every purist out there, but I’ll be honest: I sort of dig them on this car. They give the 300ZX a lot more personality than the typical appliance aesthetic found in many Japanese cars.

This build is a perfect example of what happens when you combine creativity, craftsmanship, and a willingness to break the mold. This Z23 is not just a showpiece, it’s a statement.

For more, follow @shea_seefeldt and @10tenthsmotorsports in Instagram.

SEMA 2024: 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am “The Hammerhead”

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With more than 2,000 vehicles on display, the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas was a sea of custom builds and cutting-edge performance machines. One car stood out at the Hot Rod magazine booth in the Central Hall, not just for its aggressive styling, but for the sheer audacity of its engineering. Plus, it’s nickname is “Hammerhead,” so there’s no way I could not write about this car.

This 1973 Pontiac Trans Am isn’t just another restomod car with an LS crate engine (and SEMA has plenty of those!), it is a complete re-imagination of what a classic American muscle car can be in the modern era. The Camerons set out to build the ultimate time attack machine, and from what I saw, they have set the bar extremely high.


At the core of the Hammerhead lies a 400 cubic inch LSR V8 engine from Concept Performance, buried deep under the firewall and pushed 28 inches rearward from its factory position. This all-aluminum beast produces an eye-watering 1,800 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque, thanks to twin Garrett G35-900 turbochargers feeding a custom LME dual throttle body intake manifold. Fuel is delivered by high-flow Injector Dynamics ID1700 injectors, which ensures the 6.5-liter engine has adequate fuel when the pedal is mashed to the floor.

Backing that engine is a unique transmission: a Reynard Champ Car six-speed transaxle, originally sourced from a 2001 IndyCar. Shifts are handled by a Motec pneumatic paddle system, bringing F1-style responsiveness to the Trans Am platform, which is a sentence I never thought I would hear.


The Hammerhead rides on a full custom tube chassis from Horizon Motorsports, designed to handle the extreme forces of time attack racing. The driver and passenger seats have been relocated 8 inches rearward, helping the car achieve a finely tuned 47/53 front-to-rear weight distribution. Despite its giant engine and massive widebody kit, the car tips the scales at a surprisingly lean 3,100 lbs.

Visually, the Hammerhead is a lot to take in. Every body panel has been reworked for function and aggression, with only the cowl, roof, and original VIN tag remaining untouched. It’s almost a caricature of the Trans Am form, with the exaggerated wheel arches, massive front air dam, and mega wing in the rear. It looks every bit a race car, even standing still on the convention center floor.

What I love about this car (besides the fact that it’s an F-body) is the story behind it. Cavan and Russell Cameron didn’t just build a car, they executed a vision. As a father and son team, they combined decades of experience and passion into a custom car that blends different generations of performance. At SEMA 2024, this car drew a lot of attention from passersby.

The 1973 Trans Am “Hammerhead” is more than just a showstopper. It’s a purpose-built track weapon that shows what’s possible when old-school muscle meets cutting-edge race technology.

For more, follow @horizon_motorsports_llc on Instagram.

1991 GEO Dirt Tracker Concept Vehicle

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With so much nostalgia online for the 1980s and 1990s, here’s one only the real ones will remember: the GEO automotive brand. GEO was a short-lived partnership between General Motors and three Japanese automakers: Toyota, Isuzu, and Suzuki. Sales were discontinued in the U.S. after just eight years.

One of the better-selling GEO models was the Tracker, a mini SUV that initially was a four-wheel drive vehicle, with a two-wheel drive model introduced later.

The cars were equipped with a wheezy 1.6-liter engine that coughed out about 96 horsepower on a good day. While the Tracker was light and nimble, it was very underpowered.

Jon Moss was the head of GM’s Special Vehicle Group. They cooked up a one-off concept called the GEO Dirt Tracker. The original 95 horsepower engine was replaced with a 3.4-liter L32 V6 engine from the Chevrolet Camaro making 200 horsepower.
Coupled to this is a 4-speed automatic transmission, and an all-wheel drive transfer case from an Oldsmobile Bravada.

What they created is a capable off-roader that can sprint from 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds. The vehicle was reviewed by Motor Trend Magazine in August 1996, and they praised the Dirt Tracker, calling it a “well-finished machine that presents some tantalizing possibilities for a toughened Tracker image.”

Well, GEO ceased production in North America by 1998 and the remaining models were sold as Chevrolets. The Dirt Tracker was to only be a one-off concept vehicle and not a production model.

This 1-of-1 concept car recently appeared at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Fall 2024 auction with just 1,365 miles on it. Barrett-Jackson is one of the only places you can see and bid on concept vehicles like this one!

This unique car sold for $12,100, including the buyer’s premium.

What are your thoughts on the GEO Dirt Tracker?

SEMA 2023: 1998 Chevrolet C1500 Truck by Carson Hendershott

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I have long been a fan of the GMT400 platform, having owned 1997 Chevrolet and 1988 GMC truck. When I saw this custom C1500 single cab at the 2023 SEMA Show, I could tell it was something special.

The truck was built by Carson Hendershott of Ontario, Canada. At just 26 years old, he was a finalist in the Young Guns category and a Top 12 finalist in the Battle of the Builders competition.
As you will see, his customized pickup is anything but stock. The metallic red paint really pops against the Steve Stanford Designs paint scheme that has a “rad minitruck” feel to it. Additional bodywork includes a shaved tailgate, roll pan rear bumper, extended wheel tubs, and a narrowed front bumper.

The showstopper is under the hood – an LSX 376 engine with a Harrop TVS2650 supercharger and titanium intake that is pumping out 1,000 horsepower. Coupled to that is a Tremec T-56 Magnum transmission, so that you can row your own gears.

The rest of the driveline is built to handle the power: a carbon fiber driveshaft, Custom 9″ Moser rear differential, and 6-piston Baer disc brakes at all four corners. The truck rides on Forgeline wheels that measure 19×10 in the front and 20×12.5 in the rear, wrapped in Michelin tires.
The front suspension has tubular control arms with drop spindles, QA1 coilovers and a QA1 front swaybar, with a custom 5-link suspension with QA1 coilovers in the rear. The modified box floor of the bed conceals a 20 gallon fuel cell.

The interior looks better than stock, too. A dashboard and door panels from a 1993 C1500 was sourced, then wrapped in black leather. The steering wheel features an OEM design, recreated in Carbon Fiber with black leather accents and contrasting red stitching. The Cobra carbon fiber bucket seats with diamond stitched inserts provide plenty of grip during cornering. A set of Dakota Digital gauges round out the interior.
This is an impressive build for anyone, let alone someone who is just 26. Huge congratulations to Carson and his team on making it to Battle of the Builders – what an achievement!

SEMA 2023: 1968 International Harvester Travelette Custom Truck by Restomod Air

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Like many readers of this site, I consider myself a “truck guy.” I previously owned a 1965 Chevrolet C10 pickup and a 1997 C2500 pickup, and currently drive a 1988 GMC 3500 Extended Cab long bed dually.

One of my least favorite things about the SEMA Show are the mega-lifted show trucks. The ones with painted driveshafts, LED underbody lights, train horns, and light bars that will never see so much as a spot of dirt because they are strictly for show. Unfortunately, this formula is repeated many times over at SEMA, and I just have no interest in these vehicles.

However, I did come across a truck at the 2023 SEMA Show that caught my attention. The Restomod Air booth in the Central Hall featured this unique 1968 Travelette crewcab truck from International Harvester.
Make no mistake, hiding behind the patina blue paint and rusty bumpers, this is a fully custom built truck. In fact, I sometimes prefer the original patina over a flawless paint job. It is a truck, after all.

Owner Tony Leal hauled the truck out of a field and brought it to the Old Anvil Speed Shop in Orange, CA. The body was removed from the chassis and a completely new frame was made from scratch out of 3×6 steel. The new frame has an independent front suspension and a 4-link rear suspension, with an Air Lift Performance 3H system with Slam Specialties bags, VIAIR compressors and a FLO air tank that can drop it to the ground.
Under the hood is a Chevrolet L83 5.3-liter V8 coupled to a 6L80E automatic transmission. Fuel management is a Holley Pro-Flo fuel system coupled to a custom tank made by Old Anvil. Other goodies include Speed Engineering headers, Mattson radiator with Spal electric fans, and a stainless exhaust with Borla mufflers. The powertrain is rounded out with a Strange Engineering 9-inch rear end, Dutchman axles, and an Eaton limited-slip differential.

There are 12-inch Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners providing safe stopping power. The truck has Avant Garde SR10 wheels measuring 20 x 8.5 up front and 20 x 11 in the rear, wrapped in Nitto NT555 G2 rubber.

The truck is nicknamed “Slammedelette” and even has custom fender emblems, which I thought was a clever touch.

The interior was given a full treatment by MST Upholstery in Brea, California. The factory bench seat was wrapped in fresh vinyl, and new custom carpet on the floor. An Ididit steering column, MOMO steering wheel and Dakota Digital gauges add all of the necessary comforts to the interior. And of course, the Restomod Air HVAC system provides efficient and reliable heating and cooling for the cab.

Hidden in the truck is a full custom audio system by Define Concepts in Orange, CA. It features Rockford Fosgate amps driving Hertz 6.5-inch speakers and JL Audio subwoofers.
The natural finish pine wood slats in the bed look nice with the faded blue paint.

When people come to SEMA, they expect to see crazy, full custom builds, and this truck checks all the boxes. A scratch made frame is a serious undertaking, and to do that with a Travelette is a truly unique project, and one that I am happy to feature on this site. Great work to Old Anvil and all of the shops and people that worked on this amazing truck.

“Green With Envy” – 1994 Mercury Cougar – AZ Facebook Marketplace

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Being able to make the most out of what you have. Modifying something to make it more fun and unlocking some kind of hidden appeal. There exists very few rear wheel drive, two-door cars that are still within the reach of someone looking for a running car that can provide cheap thrills. It appears that the lesser of the MN12 chassis still flies under the radar.

Yes, the questionable green-on-green color scheme is a throwback to malaise domestic market. But if you’re willing to look past the color and aerodynamic treatment that quietly echoes the old fox-body Cougar’s design you will find an interesting package: The same IRS found in it’s chassis mate the Lincoln Mark VIII. This time in iron instead of the Lincoln’s aluminum construction. The 4R70W 4-speed automatic, which is a huge step forward for reliability from the old AODs that the previous 5.0L cars were saddled with. As well as a 205hp SOHC V8 that is one of the better-sounding engines after maybe the 5.0L HO itself.

There are junkyards full of PI-headed Panther cars for those looking for more power, however living in a world where Toyota has been churning out a 14-second v6 Camry for at least a decade it seems a moot point. That being the case, why would you even bother with this car? Because there is an element of cool that cut springs, Flowmaster rumble and rear-wheel burnouts that can’t be replicated by a Camry. Even the fastest Tesla just doesn’t have the same old school charisma found just under the unassuming and obnoxiously green surface.

In a previous life it may have shuttled grandma to Bingo night, still bearing the permanent UV scar in the dash from where the fit-over sunglasses used to rest following a cataract surgery. Maybe it still smells a little like Chanel no. 5 and Metamucil farts, but that’s not anything a set of test pipes can’t fix.

Beware of cat.