SEMA 2015: 1967 Camaro ‘Snowblind’ by East Bay Muscle Cars

1967-camaro-ebmc-rearIf you have ever attended the SEMA Show before, you might have noticed that certain models of cars tend to dominate the show floor. Mustangs and Camaros (particularly first-gen Camaros) can be found at every other booth, so it takes a lot to really stand apart from the crowd. While wandering the floor at SEMA 2015, I happened upon this 1967 Camaro at the K&N Filters booth.

This car was built by East Bay Muscle Cars in Brentwood, CA. Like most of the cars at SEMA, it has been built as a pro-touring car with big power, big handling, and modern comforts and amenities for dominating the autocross course. What caught my attention was the clean and simple lines of the car, and I drew in for a closer look.

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SEMA 2015: 1965 Mustang ‘Splitr’ by Ringbrothers

1965-mustang-splitr-profileAlong the banks of the Wisconsin River in the sleepy town of Spring Green, WI, there is a hot rod shop owned by two brothers. It is here that Mike and Jim Ring, also known as The Ringbrothers, create their unique brand of automotive art. These guys are one of my favorite hot rod builders, and I have featured their amazing work several times before:

1970 Mustang Mach 1: “Dragon”
1964 Fairlane 500: “Afterburner”
1965 Mustang: “Blizzard”
1971 Pantera: “ADRNLN”
1966 Chevelle: “Recoil”

Their latest creation is this heavily customized 1965 Ford Mustang, which they nicknamed “Splitr.” I saw it on display at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

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SEMA 2014: Dan Duffy’s 1956 Chevrolet 210 Post

1956-chevrolet-210-post-frontThe tri-five Chevrolets of 1955, 1956, and 1957 are some of the most loved cars by collectors and hot rodders. The Belair is the most famous, but it’s closely related to the 210, which is what we see here.

This completely customized Chevrolet 210 belongs to Dan Duffy of Marietta, GA. Dan’s friend Tom Manner did the body work, but completing the car required help from other experts. The paint was done by Thunder Valley Customs in White, Georgia and the interior was restored by M&M Hot Rods in Holly Pond, Alabama.

Like many hot rodders, Dan has opted to do a resto-mod with an old body and brand-new everything else. The tired old frame has been replaced by a cutting-edge Art Morrison chassis with an AME front suspension and a four-link in the rear. With antiroll bars, Strange adjustable coilovers, and Baer disc brakes, this car drives and stops like a much newer vehicle. Continue reading

SEMA 2014: Steve Tornari’s 1967 Chevy Nova

1967-chevy-nova-meguiars-frontMeguiar’s is like the hotshot director of Hollywood in that they only invite A-list cars to their parties. This year was no exception, with Steve Tornari’s 1967 Chevrolet Nova taking center stage at the Meguiar’s booth.

This ’67 Nova was the GoodGuys Custom Street Machine of the Year for 2014, a Top 5 Finalist in the Barrett-Jackson Cup, and a Great 8 Finalist in the 2014 Detroit Autorama. Those are some extremely prestigious honors for a car!
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The Roadster Shop’s 1964 Chevelle ‘MaliciouSS’

roadster-shop-1964-chevelle-maliciouss-rearPeople love the look of old cars, but one thing they don’t love is the handling. While muscle cars like the Chevelle were big on power, their handling and braking are vastly outperformed by today’s modern cars. Upgrading these components can do a lot to improve the driveability and safety of a classic car.

There is a distinction between bolting on some parts from a catalog and making them yourself. With this 1964 Chevelle, they chose the latter.

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SEMA 2014: 1965 Mercury Comet R Racer

1965-mercury-comet-r-craftsman-frontThis car began its life as a 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente – the souped up version of the Ford Falcon. That was before the guys at Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle transformed this sizzling car into a Trans Am-inspired street machine!

The “Craftsman Comet” made its debut at SEMA 2014 at the Craftsman Tools/Stewart Warner booth. It features a Roush 427R motor with a Hillborn EFI stack and a Holley computer. This period-correct setup would have been on a high-performance race car of the day. The engine is coupled to a Hurst Driveline Tremec T-56 six-speed transmission with a Moser engineering rear end. Continue reading