Custom built projects can take years, but if you’re like
David Wynne of Denver, Colorado, you know the satisfaction of achieving a
substantial build in only a matter of months. That’s exactly how Wynne’s ‘69
Camaro convertible came to be, astonishingly taking less than a year to
complete. But don’t discount this car as one that’s been quickly thrown
together. In fact, it’s anything but and we have the story to prove it.
On Display
We first came across Wynne’s first-generation Camaro at the
Colorado Super Chevy Show at Bandimere Speedway this
summer. Sitting at the end of the first-generation Camaro row with the hood up,
this blue beauty was attracting tons of attention. But what was really
surprising about this fabulously fabricated musclecar was not the amazing craftsmanship
put into it but the finished product considering that the car only took about 6
months to complete. Talk about some long nights in the shop fabricating.
Although 6 months is no time at all when it comes to custom
builds, this isn’t the first magnificent project Wynne has cranked out in a
short time. As the owner of Camaro Dave’s (a nickname his friends gave him back
in the day), Wynne builds Camaros, as well as other classic Chevy musclecars
full time, specializing in the mild to the wild.
“If you can dream it, we can build it,” Wynne told us in a
phone conversation, admitting that most the projects he does at his shop tend
to be a bit more on the extreme side. But who would we be to complain about
that?
The Back Story
Wynne got into cars at a young age, purchasing his first
vehicle, an Aztec Avenger, at the age of 12. At age 19, Wynne acquired his
first Camaro and started working on cars along with remodeling houses. Finding
his true passion with vintage sheet metal, Wynne left his career in home
remodeling and opened his own shop in Denver. Ever since, he’s been immersed in
building dream muscle cars for his customers. Building the blue ‘69
convertible, however, was all about the shop and doing something Wynne and his
crew hadn’t done before.
“We have done coupes for about the last 7 years,” Wynne
said. “So I was sitting at a car show and said it’s time to build a
convertible.”
Getting the perfect base car for the project wasn’t as easy
as deciding on the build, however. After purchasing a convertible out of state,
Wynne decided he had to find a different car to build from. “It was extremely
nice and a real SS,” Wynne told us. “I didn’t have the heart to cut that one
apart.”
So he found another convertible body, luckily being sold by
a buddy of his that would make for the perfect starting point. With the car
completely in pieces, media blasted and containing patches of bondo and primer,
Wynne went to work, building the car during times away from customer projects.
Built to Perfection
To kick things off with the Camaro build, Wynne started with
a full frame-off restoration, during which time the car got a full suspension
upgrade. As a pro-touring beast turned show car, the Camaro now boasts a Chris
Alston billet G-link in the rear, along with a FAB 9-inch rearend, and
mini tubs. The Camaro also features an air ride suspension system all the way
around backed by an additional Chris Alston Chassisworks G-Machine subframe and RideTech Shock
Waves. For stopping power, the Camaro makes use of massive 15-inch rotors and
6-piston calipers from Baer Brakes up front.
With a suspension built for a beast, Wynne made good on the
rest of the performance setup on the car, equipping it with and LS1 engine out
of a 2004 GTO boosted with a Magna Charger supercharger. This is fueled by none
other than a stainless gas tank from Rick’s Tanks. Adding fuel to the Camaro’s
fire is a TREMEC T-56
six-speed manual transmission which allows 532hp and 525 ft-lbs of torque to be
transferred to the rear wheels.
Fabulous Fabrication
While the suspension and powertrain of the Camaro is pretty
impressive, the real head-turner about this car is the exquisite fabrication
work that makes it one-of-a-kind. There are 20 hours in the hood alone, giving
the car a unique presence set off by billet hood inserts.
The rest of the car follows suit with smoothed and molded
bumpers, a custom trunk lid with the spoiler extended to both rear quarters,
custom flush door handles, a custom fabricated tail panel with custom one-off
taillights, shaved marker lights, an RS headlight conversion, and shaved and
molded stainless accents. Even the windshield and side mirrors are custom with
the windshield being flush mounted to the front of the car. So how many hours
are in the car? “I wouldn’t even know where to start,” Wynne said,“Thousands.”
Enhancing the exterior appearance are billet accessories,
including the grille and front turn signals, not to mention the billet hood and
trunk hinges. The Camaro also features extremely unique exhaust tips, which
Wynne modified from a Lexus LS 460 and flush mounted in the tail panel. Tying
the entire exterior together is a smooth coat of Corvette Jet Stream Blue
paint, which Wynne told us was chosen after he opted not to paint the car PPG
Hot Pink (the Camaro was initially planned as a female’s car) and Cadillac
Diamond Black, and a custom off-white cloth top. Even the undercarriage is
painted body color. “It’s a little too nice to beat up on anymore,” Wynne told
us.
The whole package sits atop 19×8-inch front and 20×12-inch
rear, three-piece Intro wheels.
Elegant Surroundings
Keeping with the creativity of the car, Wynne decided to
carry the customization into the interior as well. Inside you’ll find a custom
dash with Double Din Head Unit stereo system, console with air ride controls
built in, door panels and leather seats all finished in off-white to match the
Camaro’s custom convertible top.
The trunk is just as nice with leather-wrapped panels, a
mounted amplifier and speakers, while more Billet can be found on the door jam
and door sill plates.
In the future, the trunk might get redone since it was
rushed, according to Wynne, to make the SEMA debut- that is unless Wynee sells
it first.
Success in Accomplishments
Nicknamed the Situation, because “everything that could go
wrong went wrong,” according to Wynne (or Blue Dream, depending on who you
ask), this amazing Camaro is a true example of quality custom work. Being such,
the Camaro debuted at the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association as a
feature car, was awarded Best in Class and the Adam’s Award at the November
2011 Greybeard Show, and won Best in Class, Editor’s Choice and Best Camaro
awards at the 2012 Colorado Super Chevy Show. Not bad for a car that only took
half a year to complete!
source: http://www.chevyhardcore.com/features/david-wynnes-first-gen-camaro-a-fabricated-form-of-individuality/
by Linsey Fisher
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