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.

ARP Fasteners is the sponsor of the ARP America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award and the winner will take home $12,500 and the 9 foot tall trophy. Yeah, a 9 FOOT TALL TROPHY! This is one of the most prestigious awards in car building and we love the competition that we see each and every year. Styles differ, but all of them are the cream of the crop.

This year it is an all-Ford field, after 2022 was won by a Chevrolet, but that’s where the similarities end. Each of these is truly unique from the other.

Below you’ll find all of the contenders for 2023’s America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, and a gallery full of images of all of them below that. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OUR OTHER GRAND NATIONAL ROADSTER SHOW PHOTOS

1932 Ford Roadster: Owned by Scott Williams and built by Swillco Speedshop in East Bethel, MN

1936 Ford Roadster: Owned and built by Danny Hyde in Laguna Niguel, CA

1927 Ford Roadster: Owned by Jon Hall and built by Shadow Rods in Saginaw, MI

1932 Ford Roadster: Owned and built by Jack Chisenhall with final assembly by Brizio Street Rods in South San Francisco, CA

1932 Ford Roadster: Owned by Joe Kugel, and built by Kugel Komponents in La Habra, CA

1932 Ford Roadster: Owned by Ken Sapper and built by Dominator Motorsports in Tracy, CA

1932 Ford Roadster: Owned by Steve Schmidt and built by Kugel Komponents in La Habra, CA

1929 Ford Roadster: Owned by JF Launier and built by JF Kustoms in Osoyoos, BC Canada

1932 Ford Roadster: Owned by Sandie and Charlie Chadd and built by Rad Rides by Troy in Manteno, IL

The post Grand National Roadster Show 2023: Here Are Photos Of All The America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Contenders! appeared first on BangShift.com.

(Photos by Bob Chiluk) The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals are the World’s Largest indoor car show showcasing muscle cars, Corvettes, and dealer-built supercars, and thanks to our friend and BANGshift contributor Bob Chiluk, we’ve got galleries of photos from this awesome event to share with all of you. This is a very large show and one that has all kinds of cool vehicles on display, along with vehicle debuts, celebrity appearances, and more. There is no shortage of stuff to drool over, and they’ve even got a really neat survivor area of the show that has some really epic finds.

There are a lot of rare and interesting muscle cars at this show, including stuff that was designed to travel the show circuit and then disappear, and never again see the light of day. This event has those kinds of cars in spades, and it is awesome to see them in one place.

You need to put this show on your list of events that qualify as “must attend” for next year. We already have and we want to join our Chicago area pals to help with the coverage in 2023. Yeah, it is cold and crummy up there this time of the year but that is part of the fun. ANYONE can do a badass car show in great weather but only the hardcore fans will battle the elements. These photos are great.

And Bob has done such a great job covering this event in years past that they allowed us to have a Bob Chiluk, BANGshift.com, Pick for this year’s show. We’ll have a dedicated gallery just to that awesome Mopar coming later in the week. In the meantime, check out our first gallery and use the link below to see any you’ve missed before.

Thanks again Bob for doing such a great job at this show.

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR OTHER PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW

Click the images below to expand them and then scroll on to see them all –

The post Muscle Car And Corvette Nationals Photos: Bob Chiluk Chooses A Bad Ass Mopar For The BANGshift Pick Award. appeared first on BangShift.com.

Lucille, the 1934 Chevrolet Roadster owned by Jeff Breault, was built at Devlin Rod and Customs with help from Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop, Chuck Rowland Interiors, The Roadster Shop, Wright’s Custom Chrome, EVOD Industries, ARP Fasteners, and FMW, Inc. This one is special not only because it is a Chevrolet, but also because it has this great mix of sex appeal and lurking power. I love it.

The fact that it is LS-powered is not immediately apparent as everything on this car was done to keep the traditional look in place. This car is all modern when it comes to function but keeps that classic style that everyone wants to see.

I think this year’s AMBR contenders were great because they really did embody hot rodding. I look at several of these and think they would just be a riot to drive up and down PCH, and what could be better than that in an old roadster?

CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED OUR GALLERY OF PHOTOS OF ALL THE CONTENDERS FOR THIS YEAR’S AMBR AWARD

The post America’s Most Beautiful Roadster 2022: Jeff Breault’s 1934 Chevrolet Takes Home The Win In A Sea Of Fords appeared first on BangShift.com.

Holley’s LSFest shows celebrate all that is LS engine related, along with their newer LT siblings, and that means not only all the late model cars and trucks that came with them from the factory but also every single swap you can imagine. And trust me, people imagine some pretty amazing things. Hell, there is a Dodge Daytona or Plymouth Superbird winged car here that is on a modern NASCAR chassis with an LS engine in it. No, seriously! It’s sitting in front of the QA1 booth looking all badass. It’s weird, and it’s cool, and it has an LS in it, which is all that matters.

Like I said, we’ll be bringing you all kinds of galleries from the event and they will include Drag Racing, Drifting, Autocross, Burnout Contest, Power Wheels Racing, and so much more. This is an event like none other and we can’t begin to tell you just how much we love it. This is the kind of event you want to be a part of. Check out the photos, and plan to be here next year!

CLICK HERE IF YOU HAVE MISSED ANY OF OUR LSFEST GALLERIES

The post LSFest Photos: Carnage And Fun At The Powerwheels Downhill Challenge During LSFest! appeared first on BangShift.com.

But the name. Throngs of traditional Mustang supporters lost their mind when the four door crossover styled Mach-E was released with a charging horse on the nose and the Mustang name. This was about the same as how the lovers of the Porsche brand reacted when the company started making SUVs or selling four door sedans. It echos the same feelings that Mopar devotees had when Dodge had the gall to start selling a four door car named Charger of all things! Can we all remember the way the world reacted at the advent of the Bronco II and a host of other models that have been released across the automotive spectrum using iconic names on machines that were evolutionary and reflective of the current period they were being introduced in rather than the one where they started?

I’d submit that the Mustang hardcores were not ever going to be Mach-E shoppers anyway and the company knew this. Shrewdly they also knew that there are oceans of people who have always wanted a connection to the Mustang brand, the Mustang mystique and could never justify a coupe with the demands of their regular life. Maybe commuting to the office, hauling kids, hauling groceries, and doing regular things that a machine like a GT-500 is not exactly designed to excel at. And lest we not forget that for those who don’t see this as a “true Mustang” you have quite literally the best version of “your” Mustang the company has ever built on dealer lots across America. If anything, whether you want to admit it or not the better the Mustang Mach-E does, the longer life the traditional style and powered Mustang will last.

So let’s be done with the naming chat, shall we? At least in terms of this particular conversation. This is not a car that’s about the Ford marketing department, it is a car that is about the Ford ENGINEERING department and this is  a wonderful tour de force that shows once and for all that Detroit can and will produce electric cars rivaling or besting what anyone else can. Not little appliance cars, but actual fun to drive, technologically advanced, cool looking, dare we say interesting, electric cars. It’s almost like a sleeping giant has finally risen in this genre.

Our 2021 Mustang Mach-E was the Premium AWD model, which means that it has the better battery, a slick interior, and of course, all wheel drive. The retail price on this model is right around $50,000 which places it on the upper end of the Mach-E pricing scale. Depending on how you spec and order one, you can likely leave a dealer for $10,000 less than the cost of the example you see here. This said, these are going to be in incredible demand when released, so plan on dealer markup.

The Mach-E is the first non-Tesla to have a 300-mile battery range. The AWD model takes that range and lowers it to 270-miles but I’d still recommend the all wheel drive to anyone who lives in a climate like mine where snow and ice are a thing each winter. The AWD system works great and the torque vectoring is done seamlessly, especially when you are attempting aggressive acceleration from a stop around a corner or getting into the power coming out of a tight bend at lower speeds. More on that in a minute.

For those looking to get the most raw performance possible out of a Mach-E, the GT model will be your jam. The horsepower rating is 480 but the reality is that the lack of a transmission and the fact that the torque is instant means that the GT will be able to get to 60mph from a standstill in about 3.5 seconds.

Our Premium AWD model as shown here is rated at 4.5-seconds to 60mph and we can say that some unofficial iPhone stopwatch action got us there time and time again on some closed roads we were experimenting. The quickness of the acceleration was fun and the overall driving dynamic is so far superior to typical crossover SUVs that it’s nearly unfair to even try and make a comparison in that vein. More accurately we should say that the quiet speed of the Mach-E makes it far less visceral than a thumping V8 powered traditional Mustang but for the core audience that Ford is looking for, we think the noises which we truly love may be the things that they’re trying to avoid.

In terms of handling and the feedback of the driver experience, the Mach-E delivers as compared to other crossovers which typically inspire about as much passion behind the wheel as a garden tractor. The Michelin 255/55/19 tires on stylish wheels grip the pavement well but again, outside of a class comparison it would be pushing it to say that the Mach-E is some kind of inspired handler. You will not drive a better crossover in the segment than this for dynamics but it is not a low slung sports car with ultra-wide and sticky tires. It is a wonderfully composed crossover with enough grip to be fun and enough steering weight to feel sporting when you want it to.

Ultimately I found the most impressive parts of the Mustang Mach-E where I hoped I would. That’s in the passenger compartment, interior, technological integration, and the overall diving experience. The shining points of the Mach-E are not the fun acceleration or even the lithe styling but rather how good a job Ford did in making sure the details that customers in this emerging segment want were executed properly.

By their mechanical nature electrified cars are quiet. The Mach-E is the quietest vehicle I think I have ever driven, especially in the passenger compartment. Devoid of not only mechanical noise but road noise as well, it was a jarring experience for the first 10-15 miles of driving the Mach-E. This will be a feature of the Mach-E that hooks many new buyers, especially those that have never driven electric cars before. Having a fair amount of experience and still being blown away means that those uninitiated will be downright stunned.

Interior quality and space is great and frankly a bit surprising considering the outward design. Normally a roofline like this means that rear passengers do not have a lot of headroom. Not the case here. My 6’4″ son fit back there nicely. This Mach-E had “vegan leather” which is to say it ain’t real. It was nice material and most people would not know the difference. Shifting is done with the dial style unit that so many Ford cars have adopted over the last few model years. Driver and passenger seats could use a little more bolstering from my experience. It would be a safe bet to say that the GT model will have more bolstering in the seats to enhance the performance driving experience.

The massive touchscreen controls all facets and functions of the Mach-E. From the radio to the HVAC controls, to the three different drive modes (Whisper, Engage, Unbridled) and every other setting that the car has to offer. There is a small screen ahead of the steering wheel that serves as the driver’s information center for things like speed and battery charge. This screen is mammoth and certainly captures the attention of all who get in the Mach-E the first time.

Functionality is also in full effect here. The rear storage space  is more generous than is typically found in this class of vehicle and we’re guessing because of the ability to shift interior space when not having to work around other mechanical aspects of the car, engineers were able to free up some room in the rear. We hauled all manner of things, including tractor brake parts around with room to spare. Oh, and yes, the frunk! This front trunk is a neat little storage area which also has a drain hole in the event you wanted to fill it with ice and beverages for a tailgate party or something. Interesting and fun use of the space.

If there is one area that the Mach-E surprised me on it was the recognition that the styling got. Picking my sons up from school brought a load of kids to check the car out, cruising around town got loads of long glances at traffic lights and people staring on the way by. Heck, even in the course of shooting the photos you see here, a guy walking by stopped and was gawking at the Mach-E before saying, “Wait…is that a Mustang?!” There are elements of the traditional Mustang in this one from the look of the head and tail lights to the contours across the hood, but overall this design stands on its own and is distinctive to capture the attention of kids and the normally zombie-like driving public. That’s a good thing for the Ford design department.

In conclusion, this is a milestone car for Ford and one that they literally could not afford to get wrong. Releasing this 2021 Mustang Mach-E with a heritage name, bold looks, and all the technology the company can muster means that they have pushed their chips into the middle of the table. In so many ways, this is a winning gamble in my own eyes and from my own experience. The chips were well spent.

No, this is not the thrill-seeking, visceral thumping experience of a V8 Mustang coupe. No, this is not car designed to replace that. What this Mustang Mach-E is though, will be widely embraced by the buying public who wants a car that fits their lifestyle, is chocked with modern technology, and is sold at a price they can afford.

Driving your Mach-E to work during the week and your Mach 1 to the drags on the weekend doesn’t sound like such bad thing, right?

Hit the images to expand them and scroll on to see ’em all – 2021 Mustang Mach-E

The post Electrified Or Electro-Fail? We Spend A Week With The 2021 Mustang Mach-E appeared first on BangShift.com.

Whether tall and narrow tires on pizza cutter wheels are your jam or more low-slung modern designs spin your crank, there’s something you will like in this group of photos. As you may have noticed, we have changed the way you check out photos here on BangShift and we think that is a change for the better. Simply click the images below to expand them and after you blow one up you can rip through the rest of them as well. Play, “spot the t-buckets in the roadster pile” that’s America’s new favorite game. Trust us.

CLICK PHOTOS BELOW TO SEE THEM IN LARGER FORM – LOTS OF COOLNESS

The post Here Are 50 Roadsters (And A Couple Of T-Buckets) We Would Love To Own appeared first on BangShift.com.

Fast forward, and it is time to see the car in its entirety, finished to original perfection, and ready to drive again. I have to say, I LOVED the originality of this car and the patina that it had. It was amazing. But seeing a one owner car brought back to this level of originality is just amazing as well. I love it. I’d drive it as is. And everyone would love me for it.

There is a gallery of photos, and video of the car from when it was new and since it has been restored, below.

Here’s the story from the guys at MetalWorks.

Part 2 “The Restoration” of Sheridan Hale’s 1937 Willys Coupe

After the crew at MetalWorks had a good long look at Sheridan’s incredible survivor coupe to appreciate how special it was, they got busy on its restoration. Typically the guys would immediately start the tear down process, but the cracks in the sheet metal were addressed first while still attached to the car. After some welding and metal filing they got busy with the actual tear down process.

The body came apart easily with hardly a broken bolt; the dry California climate had really treated the coupe well. The Willys was gently disassembled down to a gutted shell in preparation for acid dipping to remove the paint and any rust. MetalWorks has been dipping their restorations for over 20 years and it’s always interesting to see what comes out of the tank. Most times the bodies come out looking fine, but sometimes hidden sins are revealed, even as crazy as 2 car bodies being welded together. The 37’s body came out beautiful and original.

The coupe’s main area of rust was the far back edge of the trunk that tied into the bottom of the body, and small areas in the doors and bottoms of the rear quarters. The guys fabricated a panel to fix the trunk and other small areas and the coupe was rust free in no time and off to body work. MetalWorks has produced many custom builds and high end restorations that leave the shop radically nicer then when they left the factory, but when it comes to an OEM style restoration, you have to be careful not to “over restore” the car. Very careful attention was paid to the Willy’s body during the body and paint work to ensure that the desired result was achieved.

The body was sprayed in a correct shade of factory 1937 green along with running boards that were sourced from Willys guru Jon Hageness in Osseo, Wisconsin. As a base model, the coupe did not come from the factory with running boards, but it was agreed that they would be a nice addition. The under body and inside of the trunk were treated to Raptor undercoating.

While the body was being tended to the chassis and drive train were also being restored. The coupe’s original engine had been replaced with an Army surplus Jeep engine at some point, but luckily the original engine was kept by the Hale family. Not so lucky was the fact that the engine block was severely cracked, and the head had a hole the size of a softball. The initial thought was to locate another 1937 engine, and surprisingly a pair were located rather quickly through the help of the Willys community. One of the engines was the power source for a portable generator and the crew at MetalWorks was able to get running with very little effort, but sadly it had leaks when the engine reached temperature. The 2nd era correct engine was also found to issues with cracks. In the end, and to make a very long story short the factory block and head were able to be saved by the very talented team at Rick’s Cylinder Head in Milwaukie, Oregon. The cracked block was fixed and the head’s massive hole was patched using metal from one of the spare engine heads. The original fly wheel and clutch were also salvaged, then, the best components from each of the 4 engines were utilized in the final product. The connecting rods from the factory had poured babbit bearings, so they were upgraded to bearings with replaceable shells. All the machining work was handled Springer’s Performance in Eugene, Oregon. The engine was a battle, but now purrs like a kitten making all the effort salvaging the coupe’s original 4 cylinder worthwhile.

If you remember in the first story the Willys was parked due to a broken headlight that could not be located. Well a replacement was certainly no easier to find some 50 years later, but thankfully Al Lindgren in Minnesota had a pair he was willing to let go of that he sourced from a museum. The guys had some sweaty hands assembling the delicate and extremely odd headlight assemblies, but they turned out great. The assembly process went smoothly and soon the 37 was ready for upholstery with was kept OEM in style, but upgraded to leather. The stock gauges were rebuilt except for the white faces as they were very presentable. The NOS hubcaps along with many other rare parts and knowledge were provided by “The Willys Man” Ron Ladley in Pennsylvania.

Sheridan’s coupe lives again thanks to the skilled crew at MetalWorks and the dedication of his family who had it restored in his memory. The Willys has already been in the Hale family for 80 years, and will now be enjoyed for many more generations to come. And we can all rest easy that there is a fine example of a mostly original 1937 coupe still out there cruising the back roads of the Pacific Northwest.

We have a full gallery of feature photos below. Check them out. Click on any one of them to make them larger and to look through them like a slide show. And get even more photos by visiting MetalWorks page as well!

SEE THE VIDEO BELOW THE PHOTOS!!!

The post This Willys Coupe Was Bought New And Kept In The Family. This Survivor Is Now Fully Restored And Awesome appeared first on BangShift.com.

We had a great day at the Hullabaloo.  We walked a lot, saw plenty of great cars, heard some awesome music, ate good BBQ, and ultimately contributed to a great cause while enjoying the company of fellow gearheads.  I call that a lasting win and better than any trophy.  If you get a chance to catch one of the Shelby’s Way events I suggest you do. A day out enjoying our hobby with others is still better than most days doing anything else.

The post Hot Rod Hullabaloo Coverage: An Awesome Gathering Of Photos Featuring Late Model Muscle and Performance appeared first on BangShift.com.

The group with the highest numbers were early Chevys (’47-’53 made a strong showing) which I will not complain about much because they are so good looking.  I will admit my favorite truck was the red ’79 Ford sport-side with a paint scheme I remember well from commercials, ads, and brochures back then.  The hot-air device under the hood was unexpected and makes this rig quite appealing.  It’s got a good, driveable ride-height and an overall killer appearance.  That kick-in-the-pants boost makes it a ride I’d be proud to roll in anywhere.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one more gallery left.  Check back to catch it.

The post Hot Rod Hullabaloo Show Coverage: Trucks Take Center Stage At This Event – Loads Of Rigs To See Here appeared first on BangShift.com.