EXTREMELY SUBTLE

Concepts On Wheels: At the Heart of Ontario’s Car Culture

Concepts On Wheels (905/470-7257) is located about four hours north of Detroit, in Markham, Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area, as are the Blue Jays, the Raptors and the Maple Leafs. Yes, hockey is big there, but so are other hobbies, including a strong and growing car culture.

Introducing Concepts On Wheels and Oddball Kustoms

Concepts On Wheels, a company headed by Howard Meyer, Terry Cyr and Keith McDaid, and its “badboy” alter ego, Oddball Kustoms, headed by Stony Smith, are familiar with the local rodding community and have a growing following stateside. Combining decades of experience in various automotive interests, Concepts On Wheels is well acquainted with a wide range of vehicles, which can be seen in the current batch of cars that are either in process or next in line. An interesting finished example of the workmanship this shop produces is this understated but overwhelming ’64 Chevy Impala.

A Cadillac Heart in a Chevy Body

It looks basic, but once you get intimate with the go pedal, “basic” is the last word that comes to mind. While we’ve not made the trip ourselves, it’s obvious that once the hood is opened there’s something other than an ordinary Chevy V-8 smacking at your senses. There, nestled between the fenderwells and well below the hood line, is a well-equipped Cadillac 32V Northstar V-8, fitted with a custom turbocharger system and an equally trick ignition system from Electromotive.

Turbocharged Performance and a Smooth Ride

As expected, the visual elements of this engine are right in keeping with this car: subtle and tasteful. However, most of this detailing is forgotten once the car is underway and the twin intercooled turbos spin to full song. The capability of this diminutive 4.4-liter engine is expanded considerably by 12 pounds of intercooled boost, and without considering caution, that’s the sinister side of this slick Chevy, which makes its presence known while keeping the effort all GM.

Chassis Reinforcements for Performance and Style

A substantial increase to somewhere beyond 500 hp came easily, as did impressive levels of torque, much lower in the rev range. Mated to the torque multiplications of a modified GM 700R4 automatic transmission, the acceleration of this Chevy is nothing if not stimulating, and yet it cruises with the best of them.

Attention to Detail in Design and Suspension

Part of the reason this big Chevy rolls so nicely comes down to the chassis, which incorporates new technologies along with proven approaches to achieve a proper balance between style and grace. Before any alterations could be made, the entire frame was fully reinforced with steel, and a new front crossmember was installed to accommodate the cool little Cadillac engine.

Exceptional Bodywork and Sleek Aesthetic Enhancements

For most people who luck out and happen along this low-key Bow Tie, the immediate attraction is not so much the car’s performance or the trick hardware hidden below—it’s the paint and the fine bodywork beneath it that grabs the lion’s share of attention. Although the body was in good condition to start with, considerable efforts were employed to smooth away 43 years of aging, starting with the bare-metal panels.

A Classic Interior with Modern Touches

In keeping with the understated approach of this project, the interior maintains a look similar to that of the original, except for a few small details made in the name of even more detail. The seats, for instance, have been fitted with black Ultrasuede, and the car features black wool carpet.

A Premium Sound System to Match

Of course, what good would all of these fine surroundings be without a little music to complete this transformation? For that, Concepts On Wheels chose to modify the original stereo facing to house the display unit controlling the Clarion AM/FM/CD player in the glovebox.

Concepts On Wheels: A Blend of Creativity and Engineering

When Concepts On Wheels and Oddball Kustoms first opened their doors, the intent was to shake things up a bit, and from what we can see, they’ve done that. So, even if you are a die-hard Chevy fan who doesn’t appreciate that non-Chevy power was used, cut them some slack—it’s new technology and all GM engineering, along with a slathering of hot rod parts for that personalized flavor. As with other Concepts On Wheels efforts, drawing attention is what it craves, which this car does everywhere it goes, and that’s what it’s all about. It proves one thing: when something is done right, no matter how unusual and creative, or where it’s from, people will take notice.