We spend hours, days…hell, some of us, years…plotting out the perfect build for our projects. I’ll fully admit every one I’ve ever had a concept for: the 2001 Regal GS was going to be a street sweeper like you see on one of 1320video’s YouTube collections, the 1973 Chevelle was going to be an old-school hood-off brawler, and the Dodge Mirada was going to be ugly but functional, kind of like Max Rockatansky’s personal restoration project. But we all have Genesis, the first car that got our minds going, and that’s where today’s Question of the Day is coming from: what was the layout you had for the first project car you had?
In my case, the car was a 1974-77 Camaro, and it would have to be a Type LT…because the car that really got me into this gearhead mess was the Luxury Type, not a Z28 or a Rally Sport. I first figured out the car I wanted when I was five, and got my first car when I was 12, a pretty much shot 1976. Up to this point, Pro Touring hadn’t really taken off and I wasn’t a big fan of Pro Street then. I did want a blower through the hood and I wanted loud and violent. When the carcass of the Camaro was finally hauled off to the junkyard from where it probably came, I forgot about that plan and moved on to the next car, a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass. And I didn’t give a Camaro much thought until I saw the video of this car, “Methrat”. It all came full circle after watching this…paint it green, slap on the 1974 Z28 stickers, and make mine a six speed, please.
Of all the projects that were attempted, only my 70 Nova SS was the closest to being the perfect car ( for me anyway).
Bought it with a blown engine ( connecting rod failure). Built a hot 355 setup and ran mid-12’s. Didn’t look pretty but ran like a scald animal!
Unfortunately had to sell to buy my first house. Hopefully one of these days, will duplicate the project.
Not one project car ever got finished. Datsun 510 got wrecked. 73 Gremlin never got the 401. Chevy van never got the 70’s van treatment, too rusty. 66 Chevelle convertible never got a motor, neither did the 79 Camaro Berlinatta , 66 Impala, or 74 Chevy pickup. All the rest of the square body Chevy pickups never got beyond work truck status. 71 Ambassador barn find never got revived from 30 years improper storage. 1965 John Shoemaker dragster I never got to run correctly, a 12 second dragster was just too embarrassing. So now my projects are limited to installing Weather Tech floor liners and applying wax once in a while.
Just dumped my 65 Chevy II 10+ year project to a relative. I will never buy another car needed a full restoration until my 3 kids are grown and I have time to kill. Used the money to buy a driver 72 Buick Skylark convertible. Body is a lot better, it runs, the interior is done and the stuff that needs attention is mostly bolt on.
“METHRAT” plate on the front. That has to be a unique person