In the heart of Hesperia, California, a rust-covered gem lay waiting to be transformed into a roaring street racing legend. Rodger of Ironworks Speed and Kustom had just acquired the skeleton of a 1967 Camaro – a blank canvas that held the promise of being something truly extraordinary. Little did he know that this Camaro would not only undergo a remarkable transformation but also bear the stamp of a long-time Fairway GM dealership owner, Greg Heinrich.

As the story goes, Rodger’s phone rang on the way home from his Hesperia acquisition. It was Greg Heinrich, a loyal client of Rodger’s, who couldn’t contain his curiosity about the newly acquired Camaro. Greg was known for his affinity for Summit white, a classic GM color, earning it the affectionate nickname “Heinrich White” among his peers. The conversation that ensued was a mix of excitement, vision, and humor, as Rodger playfully joked about Summit White’s alternative moniker.

20/20 Vision

The vision for the Camaro began to take shape at the SEMA Show, where the LT4 engine was unveiled. Without hesitation, the decision was made to order one, along with GM’s eye-catching “self-illuminating bowtie,” which had generated quite a buzz. With these new acquisitions in hand, the stage was set to create a street race car that embodied the essence of power, speed, and handling— a vehicle that could easily land you in jail if pushed to its limits.

Ironworks Speed and Kustom, known for its innovative automotive creations, stepped in to turn this vision into reality. They introduced several groundbreaking features that set this Camaro apart from the rest. Machined engine bay parts, interior panels, and an extensive use of 3D-printed components brought a touch of innovation to the project. Sean Smith’s contribution to the interior design, including a magnet base panel, was a game-changer in the customization of the car’s interior.

Guts ‘n Glory

The aesthetics of the Camaro were equally as impressive as its engineering. A set of 19″ Forgeline monoblock wheels were selected to give the car a modern and aggressive appearance. Meticulous work was done to ensure perfect wheel fitment and be able to fit a 305/30/19 Michelin tire in the front and massive 345/30/19 Michelin tire in the rear. 

Behind the Forgeline wheels are a set of Wilwood 14″ brakes with highlighter yellow calipers, reminiscent of Porsche Carrera design cues. These brakes compliment the wheels and suspension package.

Underneath its sleek exterior, this Camaro boasts Speedtech front and rear suspension, with a torque arm rear, and ridetech coilovers, ensuring a balance between comfort and high-performance handling. 

The LT4 engine makes 640HP and 630 lb-ft. of torque right out of the box. Backing the powerhouse is a T56 transmission which offers buttery smooth shifts and double overdrives. All those ponies travel through a Gear FX Ford 9″ differential while a Rick’s Fuel Tank feeds the beast.

Finishing Touches

The Camaro’s interior received special attention with carbon fiber Sparco seats, painted and recovered by Sid Chavers, showcasing a distinctive Houndstooth interior design. The interior is right at home on the car show circuit, but it’s all business. The seats are designed to hold you in place during cornering. 

Even something as simple as a door panel, Rodger went above and beyond. With help from Sean Smith, they created the first magnet base door panel. There’s no screws or janky clips holding the custom door panels on, it’s all done with magnets. 

Dakota Digital Gauges, fitted within a custom billet gauge cluster, provided the driver with essential information in style. A Vintage Air AC system provided some comfort in the midst of the speed and adrenaline.

The Camaro’s front grille was custom-made, and the lower front valance was extended, not only for a distinctive appearance but also to accommodate a larger diameter fog light. The body was sprayed in Henrich’s favorite PPG Summit white paint, ensuring the car’s appearance was as stunning as its performance.

This masterpiece made its debut at the Mobil 1 booth at SEMA 2017, where it garnered the attention of General Motors and earned a GM Design Award. The 1967 Camaro, a symbol of precision engineering and craftsmanship, was not just a vehicle; it was an embodiment of Greg Heinrich’s vision and Rodger’s dedication to turning a rusty shell into a white-hot street racing marvel.

The post Greg Heinrich’s 1967 Camaro: A Speed Demon in White appeared first on BangShift.com.

I’ve got plans for another one of my cars to carry on the sleeper legacy this year, but when I saw this 1971 Nova it made me smile. I mean look at this thing! Slapper bars, steelies, flat hood and more. Wow. Check out the full feature video below and let us know what you think of this beast.

Video Description:

I’ve wanted to build something like this car for a long time but I just never had the chance. I recently found out that someone I know wanted to put this up for sale. I had to immediately go check it out!

The post Car Feature Video: A Sleeper 1971 Chevy Nova That Is LS Swapped Turbo Perfection! This Thing Is Sick! appeared first on BangShift.com.

Check it out.

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Automotive royalty with an additional connection to the King of rock and roll? it can only be the McLaren M1A.

The post This McLaren M1A Is One Of The Sexiest Sports Cars In History. It’s Also Got Plenty Of Nasty! Jay Leno’s Garage Feature appeared first on BangShift.com.

You know and I know how popular GM trucks have gotten lately. Finding an intact wrecker for under $3K that runs and drives? Rust or not, that’s still not a bad find. The question here is how good (or bad) will this be on Kevin’s wallet. It doesn’t look like a Ford F-series, and to my knowledge he has no tow-truck experience. But now ain’t a bad time to learn!

The post Draggin’ Ass: Can This Squarebody Tow Truck Live Once More? appeared first on BangShift.com.

In this feature video you’ll get to see why this thing really is something special even though it is super simple. I dig it.

Video Description:

The McCarthy family is known for building fast cars and driving the hell out of them! Always leaning towards old school, raw & sleeper builds this one has been a while in the making. Mason started building this car when he was 15 years old and built a true badass sleeper. 355 ci making around 500HP, straight cut gears on the vertical gate “no lift shift” dog box trans and all manual with no amenities whatsoever. This is a pure drivers car and not only can Mason build but he can DRIVE so sit back and enjoy the ride.

The post Plain Vanilla: A Garage Built Sleeper Chevelle Powered By A 355 With A “No Lift Shift” Dogbox Trans appeared first on BangShift.com.

When you’re used to rebuilding piles of rust from the ground up, restoring a car that doesn’t need major repairs is a walk in the park. For Rodger Lee of Ironworks Speed and Kustom, that’s what happened with the ‘68 Camaro you see here. 

Greg Heinrich brought him this car, much as you see it here. Faded paint with surface rust – patina. The car was bone stock. But Greg didn’t want to make it perfect, he wanted it to stay patina. He wanted a car that could be a daily driver, parked wherever, and never have to worry about scratching the paint. 

Ironworks Takes the Wheel

Rodger, known for his craftsmanship at Ironworks Speed and Kustom, took charge of the 7-month build. The vision was clear – a car that wouldn’t demand an appointment to drive but would seamlessly become a part of everyday life. He wanted to infuse the Camaro with a spirit that transcended the ordinary.

Rodger started by removing the only rust on the car; the floor pans. With a new floor pan installed, the body was already done! Next in line were the suspension and drivetrain, where the Ironworks team worked their magic. Speedtech Performance Extreme subframe in the front, Torque arm rear suspension in the back, Fox coilovers, and Hyperco springs – each component carefully chosen for their performance, reliability, and comfort. 

Powering the Crusty Camaro is a 430 HP LS3 engine with Ultimate Headers, providing plenty of reliable power for Crusty. Sitting behind the LS3 is a Bowler blue-printed T56 transmission which sends power to the Gear FX 9″ rear end.

Putting all the power to the ground are Michelin 295/35/19’s at all four corners so Greg can rotate the tires like a true daily driver. The tires wrap around a set of Forgeline wheels, which cover up the 13” Wilwood brakes at each corner. 

On the inside, Greg wanted to keep things even more simple. The interior was restored to stock at first. After sliding off the stock seats a few times he had Rodger upgrade the seats to a set of Recaro seats with houndstooth inserts to keep him firmly planted while a set of Dakota Digital gauges provides accurate readouts. 

A Journey of Reliability

The Crusty Camaro became a testament to Ironworks’ commitment to reliability. This wasn’t just a car; it was a communal vehicle, loaned out to friends and even served as a student driver car. A true road warrior, it covered 8,000 miles and conquered three Goodguys Road Tours, solidifying its status as the hop-in-and-go car that Greg wanted. 

The post Car Feature: The Crusty Camaro 1.0. Near Perfection, Patina And All. appeared first on BangShift.com.

Building for Fun

Eric Pierce, owner of Pro Touring Texas wanted to build a car that could haul ass, and haul all his buddies as well. What he decided on was a 1978 Chevy Suburban but with a twist. The reason? Pure fun. With a love for C10s and a desire to inject power into a sizable vehicle, Eric’s project is a bold statement. The ’78 Suburban, often overshadowed, was destined for greatness under his watchful eye.

The Quest Begins

Originally discovered behind a house in Bullard, TX, the Suburban had an interesting journey. The original owner sold it to someone in New Orleans, and eventually, Eric became its proud owner. The small world twist? Bullard, TX, was just a stone’s throw away from Eric’s family farm in East TX. The Suburban, found under a carport, became the canvas for Eric’s automotive dreams.

Marrying Power and Size

The drivetrain was the star of this show. A 738-horsepower LSX engine, meticulously machined by Farris Automotive, was built by Eric. With 9.6:1 compression, a Brian Tooley Racing cam, and LS9 heads, this engine rips. A set of Hooker turbo manifolds was used to supply exhaust to the Borg Warner S480 turbocharger. Exhaust is spent through a pair of Black Widow 250 mufflers. The choice of a 4L80e transmission built by Jakes Performance with a 3200 stall and a rebuilt 3.73 ratio 12-bolt rear end with Moser Axles ensured that power was delivered to the wheels.

Chassis and Suspension

The Suburban’s chassis received the Pro Touring Texas touch. With a stock frame, an axle flip kit from Belltech brought the rear down, while a set of CPP modular spindles dropped the front altitude. All ProForged components were used to ensure steering was as crisp as a freshly cracked beer. Viking Performance shocks were utilized at all four corners to dial in the ride.

Exterior Transformation

Nature in Springtown, TX, worked its magic on the exterior. Hiding the intercooler while maintaining the stock grille proved challenging but resulted in a seamless and eye-catching front end. The Suburban’s original paint was polished and ceramic-coated by Justin Boyd at Detailing Garage in Keller, TX, adding a modern touch to the vintage charm. A set of Coy’s wheels gave a stock aesthetic to the ‘Burb.

Memorable Moments

For Eric, the most memorable experiences were cruising down the highway at 105 MPH, overtaking stock C10s, and enjoying the blast of the AC. Lone Star Throwdown trips, with a carload of friends, became cherished memories.

The Open Road Beckons

Eric’s build isn’t just a car; it’s a testament to his love of big power and big Chevy trucks.. From Bullard to Springtown, the ’78 Suburban has traveled a road of transformation, embodying the spirit of Texas in its power, style, and the open roads it now calls home. With the roar of its turbocharged engine, Eric’s Suburban stands as a reminder that dreams, no matter how big, find their place on four wheels.

The post Truck Feature: Eric Pierce’s ’78 Chevy Suburban – Texas Turbine on Four Wheels. appeared first on BangShift.com.

Dalton has been working on the world’s largest model kit-bash project in his shops for a bit now. He’s got an original GMC van that came with four-wheel drive, but unfortunately the body is little more than a pasta colander now. When he went out to Arizona with Kevin from Junkyard Digs last year, he found a neat little rust-free Chevy Van that would work. But then there is the issue of a big-block…and that’s been answered by an old church van that was rocking 7.4 liters of motivation. So we have an engine, a chassis, and a body…on three different vehicles. The end goal is a shorty 4×4 van with a big block, right? That’s a pretty tall order in your backyard shop that doesn’t have a lift…

The post Body-Swapping A Chevy Van To A 4×4 Frame Is Easy…If You Believe Pole Barn Garage! appeared first on BangShift.com.

Our friend Steve Magnante has been out of commission for a few months as he’s literally been fighting for his life from a bad brain infection, but he’s back! You may know Steve from all his years in the magazine world where he wrote for a ton of great magazines like Hot Rod and Car Craft, but in recent years he’s been the rain man of muscle car and classics knowledge on Barrett-Jackson’s TV auction shows. He’s also been making great YouTube content of his own, walking through junkyards full of great finds and sharing all the info on cool old rides. But for the past several months we weren’t sure he was going to make it.

Thankfully, he had great doctors who didn’t give up on him even after putting him into a coma to try and fight this brain infection. To be honest, there were lots of folks who have known him for years who were not sure he’d pull through. I’m so thrilled to say that he is in fact on the mend and working at getting back to his normal self. He’s still in the hospital, but has some new content out and we’re going to share it with you right here, along with a message from Steve himself in the hospital.

I first met Steve more than 20 years ago on Hot Rod Power Tour and was lucky enough to work with him a few times over the years. He’s a real treasure, one hell of a guy, and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to be sharing these videos with you now.

If you missed the previous Magnante videos, CLICK HERE

Video Description:

What’s a SPID? Learn about it in this video as Steve examines this truck that has TWO of them. And where do dump trucks come from anyway, the M&M factory? In this case…YES!

The post Steve Magnante Is Back And Truck Week Continues. Truck Week Feature #5 – We’d Love To Own This GMC 6000 Dump Truck. appeared first on BangShift.com.

Video Description:

Factory drag cars are fascinating because of the rarity and extremely high value, but also for the WILD combinations that the big 3 manufacturers (General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation) threw at these race cars. All of them were built to meet the homologation requirements set by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) for inclusion in Stock Eliminator categories.

Recently, the Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville, Georgia put together a Factory Drag Cars exhibit, assembling nine amazing cars to represent what the Big Three brought to the table from 1963 through 1968. By no means does this cover ALL of the factory drag cars in existence, but it does hit the high points, and also covers a couple of outlying muscle cars. Here’s a list of the cars you’ll see in this video:

1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11 – Production Numbers: 50 – 427ci – Wally Bell’s New York Shaker

1963 Pontiac Catalina “Swiss Cheese” – Production Numbers: 14 – 421ci – Arnie Beswick

1964 Ford Fairlane “Thunderbolt” – Production Numbers: 100 – 427ci – Steve Honnell, original owner

1964 Ford Galaxie 500 Lightweight – Production Numbers: 50 – 427ci – Larry Davis

1965 Plymouth Belvedere A990 – Production Numbers: 101 – 426ci – Steve Atwell

1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS Z16 – Production Numbers: 201 – 396ci – Technically not a factory drag car

1965 Chevrolet Chevelle 300 COPO – Production Numbers: 1 – Also not a drag car, but special ordered with 396/425hp, M22 Muncie 4 speed and 4.88:1 gears

1967 Mercury Comet Cyclone – Production Numbers: 60 – 427ci – Steve Honnell, original owner

1968 Dodge Dart LO23 “Hemi Dart” – Production Numbers: 80 – 426ci – Mr. 4 Speed, Herb McCandless

This display of Factory Drag Cars was awesome, and we were able to experience it on a “hoods up” weekend to get the full experience of these super rare cars.

Z11 FULL VIDEO: https://youtu.be/K6kHPM3xkBc

Swiss Cheese Pontiac FULL VIDEO: https://youtu.be/5eOA7jGs928

The post FACTORY DRAG CARS Exposed! The Hot Rod Hoarder Finds The Holy Grail from GM, Ford and Mopar. appeared first on BangShift.com.