Ever since the release of the first pickup trucks, aftermarket companies and custom shops have been looking for ways to make them more rugged for off-road driving. Shortly after WWII, a company called NAPCO began offering 4x4 conversion kits for civilian trucks from Dodge, Ford, and GM. Soon, GM started offering these kits as factory-installed RPO options, and then developed its own 4x4 system to meet demand. A few decades later, trucks like this K5 Blazer were built with off-roading in mind, and buyers upped the ante even further by modifying them with lift kits and bigger tires.

On Sunday, June 8, 2025, the rolling hills of Valley Center, California, played host to the 31st Annual Buicks at Bates car show at Bates Nut Farm. This iconic gathering, renowned as the largest Turbo Buick event on the West Coast, attracted over 100 classic and turbocharged Buicks, including the legendary Grand Nationals and Turbo Regals. Also in attendance were several early Buick GS’s and close to 20 GMC Syclones and Typhoons with one of the 10 Marlboro special edition Syclones coming out of hiding for the show.

Consider this, if you will. You have an impressionable 10-year-old boy, who worships his dad and has gone to car shows with him since he was four years old. Thanks in large measure to his pops, he appreciates and learns about cars from the early 1900's up to the present day, but has a soft spot in his heart and his gearhead brain for automobiles from the Art Deco Design 1930's up through the swingin' muscle car 1950's, 60's, 70's and the exotic super and hyper cars of today.

Power is nothing without control — this old saying certainly rings true when it comes to working on cars. Our friends at All Chevy Performance already handled the power aspect of their 1971 Camaro project by installing a modern GM 5.3L LC9 V8, but the control side of the equation still needed to be addressed. This led them to update the Camaro's steering, pedals, and shifter so it'll be able to turn, accelerate, stop, and change gears smoothly. We were happy to assist with some much-needed parts from the Classic Industries Camaro catalog.

The Ford Maverick, introduced in April 1969 as a 1970 model, marked a key moment in Ford Motor Company's evolution. Positioned between the era of muscle cars and the dawn of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, the Maverick was Ford's answer to growing demand for economical, compact cars—especially in response to competition from imports like the Volkswagen Beetle and Toyota Corolla. Over its production run from 1970 to 1977, the Maverick carved out a niche as a stylish yet practical alternative in the compact car segment.

You have a recipe for American muscle car success, when you mix up a jet-black exterior paint scheme. Add 18-inch custom three-piece dog dish wheels. Achieve the perfect stance with custom chassis underpinnings both front and rear. Install disc brakes fore and aft. Drop in a new stroker V8 engine, backed by a five-speed manual. With the car being a 1969 Camaro that's just dying to be driven - your time was well spent bringing another piece of American automotive history back.