By Douglas R. Glad
Like you, we tend to bench-race cars to the absurd end, imagining complete chassis reworks and rowdy drivetrains purporting high g loads and flight suits. We'd like to get all the way there, but the reality of this job usually supplies the dope slap and we continue to sit behind the computer.
But not this guy. He's used every trick we've thought of and enough powdercoats to ensure a million-year half-life. He's taken our foggy image of performance and reliability way into the troposphere, then managed to pull it off. His name is Bob Bertlesen, and he drives the Kool '67. Check it out.
The Details
Owner: Bob Bertelsen
Car: '67 Chevrolet Camaro
Engine: 383ci small-block Chevy, bored 0.030 with an Eagle stroked crank and 8.5:1 pistons
Heads: Aluminum Canfields, 2.05/1.60-inch valves
Induction: Weiand 142 supercharger, Momar EFI billet throttle-bodies on a custom B&M intake (originally designed for Webers)
Camshaft: Competition Cams, 230/244 at 0.050, 0.480 intake and 0.501 exhaust lift, 113 LDA
Transmission: Borg Warner T56 six-speed, Weir Hot Rod Products bellhousing and throwout bearingRearend: '85 C4 Corvette Dana 44, custom chassis kit from Wayne Due's Chassis Shop
Suspension: '85 C4 Corvette front suspension, custom subframe from Wayne Due's Chassis Shop, Stainless Steel brakes 13-inch front and 11-inch rear rotors with stock Corvette calipers
Wheels and tires: Billet Specialty GTX-01, 17x11 and 17x8, Bridgestone Potenza RE 730, 225/45ZR17 and 285/40ZR17
Body mods: PT Cruiser door handles, flush third-brake light, remote fuel door, exhaust molded into rear valance, flush-mounted power antenna
Paint: ChromaBase Mazda Sunburst Yellow, DuPont 7800S High Glamour Clear, DuPont Chroma One GM Medium Beige