Wednesday, January 16, 2013

1967 - 1969 Camaro Parts - David Wynne’s First-Gen Camaro a Fabricated Form of Individuality - Steves Camaro Parts San Bruno






 

 

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


No comments:

Post a Comment