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Almost Twins

Two of a kind? Not quite. Chip Rhodes’ ’68 Nova SS clone and Donnie Childers’ ’66 Chevelle are as different as they are similar. Different body styles, small block vs. big block, SS vs. non-SS—but, my, there is a family resemblance: pale yellow in color, each with a black vinyl top, black interior and gray five-spoke wheels. Fraternal twins, then?

R-CODE Refined

Neal Hensl is a true muscle car enthusiast. Over the years he’s owned plenty of them, including Novas, Chevelles, Corvettes and a Fairlane. Not long ago, he picked up a ’68 Mustang fastback, and it wasn’t just any fastback—it was a rare R-code.

A 2000 EL CAMINO

Regardless of where high school student Wyatt A.K. Freitas of Makawao, Hawaii, drives his very unique ’83 Chevrolet El Camino around the island, he always gets the same response: “I didn’t know that Chevrolet made a 2000 El Camino.” Of course, we know that they didn’t, but maybe Chevrolet should have.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: BTR’s Red Hot Camshaft

Alright, let’s talk camshafts—and not just any camshaft, but the BTR Red Hot Cam from Brian Tooley Racing. If you’re looking to unlock some real grunt from your LS engine and make it scream like it’s ready to tear the asphalt in half, this thing is the hot ticket. No fluff, no filler—this cam delivers straight-up power, attitude, and everything you love about LS engines dialed up to 11.

RADICALLY DIFFERENT

During the latter part of the 1950s, as America fell into a recession, the American industry machine suffered. The Big Three Detroit automakers felt the hit and quickly began building affordable cars that would appeal to the public.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: DIESELSITE’s Stand Pipe and Dummy Plug Kit for 2004.5–2010 Ford 6.0L Powerstroke

If you’re a Ford 6.0L Powerstroke owner, you already know the score. The factory stand pipes are a disaster waiting to happen, and most of the aftermarket replacements aren’t much better. Torn o-rings, flimsy oil ports, and cheap materials? Yeah, those sound like problems you don’t want to deal with when you’re halfway through a road trip or hauling a trailer up a steep grade. But don’t worry—DIESELSITE has your back with their Stand Pipe and Dummy Plug Kit, a complete overhaul of the weak link in your 6.0L system.

THE PROJECT

When the time comes to begin building a new project, the process can often end up going in a different direction. By the time you are finished, the truck you started with can take on a whole new appearance, as if the French built it. That wasn’t going to happen with Rick Parsons’ project.

TEST AND TUNE

A stroll through the pits at the local 1/8-mile dragstrip is always fun for us, as you’re likely to see any number of cars that use a full-tube chassis, fiberglass body and monstrous slicks to click off consistent 5-second elapsed 1/8-mile times. However, it’s far more entertaining to see a stock-appearing car hit those same numbers, and that’s exactly what Greg Corbin’s ’98 Trans Am is capable of doing.

MAXIMUM DETAIL

With its immaculate details throughout, this ’06 Mustang GT never fails to grab attention, but we’re sure Frank DeFeo isn’t finished modifying his Ford. An aggressive lower valance, smoked headlights and a billet grille lead the way, and the Torch Red finish is complemented by black stripes, painted by McClure Collision of Charlotte.

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