Are you the type of person who looks at an immaculately restored Chevelle in Hugger Orange and says, “It’s not enough?” This is your car! With the old saying “if it don’t go, chrome it” as a starting point, this beauty has more sparkle than a jewelry store. Then again, some of that shine is bolted to a 557HP 496 stroker – so much for that theory!

Starting with a RESTORED, true SS 350 body, every part from the bottom of the frame to the roof was replaced or redone, and done spectacularly. The frame is a flawless gloss black. The bottoms of the floor pans are shiner than anything coming from GM today. You could eat off of the suspension! From the brand new grille (which, by the way, was sent out to be chromed, for an added “wow” factor) to the brand new taillights, I dare you to find a subpar part on this car. The chassis, dash, motor, engine compartment and underside was done by Jeff Sommers, a PPG factory rep – how many cars have skilled hands like those massaging their flanks? The rest of the bodywork, interior and paint was done by Joe Jennings at Jennings Auto Body in MA, a shop which has created numerous show winners.

Down to business: A R Racing-built 496 cubic inch. 557 horsepower, 632 lbs/ft with the sheets to prove it. All new parts inside a seasoned, select block. Big valve aluminum heads, Eagle rods, 1.7 roller rockers, 246/.578 single pattern cam, 10.5:1 compression, Holley carb on a Professional Products big single plane intake. With a hardware list like that there’s no question the car moves out. More surprising is how docile it is and how manageably it runs – there’s a serious lope to the cam, and with the chromed Doug Thorley headers, stainless X pipe-equipped exhaust and polished stainless Spintech mufflers the sound is all fury, but the car takes 93 octane pump gas, pulls plenty of vacuum at idle and has no ill-mannered traits in traffic.

From the reupholstered driver’s seat, your eyes catch the Grant Signature Series mahogany steering wheel. Relaxing your gaze, you’re found staring at all the running information you could ever need in the form of a full complement of Auto Meter Phantom white face gauges in a custom Covan dash. Crank the tunes on the custom Pioneer and Infinity $2100 stereo. Look around and notice that you’re sitting in a factory-fresh, spotless white interior. You’re right where you need to be … to cruise, be seen, and be heard.

On a side note, the builder took a small bit of whimsy straight over the top – FLAMES. From the pedals to the custom appliqués on the door panels to the valve covers and air cleaner to the perfectly smooth silver flames flawlessly integrated into the hood stripes, this car is, dare I say, en fuego!

Notice I use the word “new” a lot? I have the receipt book to prove it. From the gas in the tank to the motor to the sun visors it’s all catalogued for you. Not only is this peace of mind for you, a stack this thick protects your investment. Workmanship builds cars, but documentation is king!

Fire it up and drive away. No worries here, either – all fuel and brake lines are new, all suspension bushings and fasteners are new, the brakes, power steering and every other piece of running gear is new, and the tires wrapping the new American Racing Torque Thrust IIs are so new we haven’t even pulled the stickers off of ‘em.

Whether your passion is driving the wheels off of your cars, or sitting back and watching the trophies roll in, this flamin’ HOT car delivers!