In April of 2008 I bought what was described by its seller as a complete 1969 Camaro� that was completely in pieces. The car was to be a project for my father and I to work on. With the most na�ve but noble of intentions we set out to claim our prize. It was situated in a quiet neighborhood at the base of the Sunrise Mountain along the North East corner of Las Vegas. Looking back, it seems almost poetic that the car came from Vegas, especially considering the grand homecoming it was to receive upon its return for SEMA 2010. In 2008 we were little more than two idiots standing outside the seller's garage, facing the startling realization that we had no idea how to get the car back to San Diego. In 2010 we somehow held a GM Design Award in our hands.

So, what happened in the ensuing years between 2008, SEMA 2010 and the present? In short, we have made great friends, had great life experiences, and learned a thing or two about the cycle of building things and breaking them. As for the car in question, in roughly three years we have undergone two mad thrashes for SEMA. That doesn't begin to tell the entire story though. In addition, the car has been built, driven, raced, wrecked, built and driven again.

As we have learned in a short three years, there is much more to the hobby than we originally thought. A blue haired man far more knowledgeable than myself once told me to take my budget, double it, then add 20 percent. Truer words were never spoken. Budgets are meant to be broken, and that is because project cars are never done. That or they're broken. In any case, because these cars are constantly being worked on, it is best to surround yourself with good company. If you're going to get towed off the track, you might as well do so with your friends in company. Similarly, if you're going to pull apart your half destroyed car, following an impact with a rogue red light running Saturn SL6, it doesn't hurt drag your car over to a shop that hands you food and beverage more often than an invoice.

A big thanks goes out to Best of Show Coachworks and company for handling the majority of the build!

Specs:

550 horsepower LS2, Precision Metal Craft intake manifold, Dart heads, Vintage Air frontrunner
T56 Magnum
Speedway Engineering 9" Full Floater
Wilwood W6A/W4A Brakes
Detroit Speed Hydroformed Subframe and Quadralink rear with double adjustable remote reservoir shocks
ISIS Wiring Harness
Vintage Air

Forgeline ZX3P Wheels 18x9 front, 18x12 rear
BFG KDW tires 275/35/18 front 335/30/18 rear

Marquez Design interior with Recaro Style seats and matching rear sculpted and upholstered by James Perales of Southern California Upholstery
Classic Instruments gauges
Tilton floor mounted pedals with dual master cylinders and balance bar

Body:
Anvil Auto carbon fiber inner fenders, cowl panel and rear spoiler
AMD aluminum hood with custom heat extractor vents
Marquez Design lower valance panel
Custom notched front spoiler
Reworked quarter "gills"