n the world of custom car building, there are a lot of terms that get thrown around to categorize certain styles and types of vehicles. The idea of “Day Two” projects is the only way to fly for many enthusiasts who value the importance of modifying their vehicles using only period-correct OEM and aftermarket components. This type of build can be very rewarding but can also pose a substantial challenge while sourcing the right parts for the job.

Recently, we met up with Chas Swanenburg of Long Beach, California, who just finished up a beauty of a ’67 Camaro build. “My dad was always a car guy—mainly classic Porsches though,” Chas says. “He always used to drag me to swap meets and shows as a kid, so I learned to appreciate the hunt. One night my wife and I were watching the movie Remember the Titans and I commented about the main character Gary’s Camaro on screen. My wife asked if I knew what the exact color of the car was because she thought it was nice. ‘Granada Gold,’ I answered. The very next morning, I happened to run a search on available Camaros on Craigslist and I couldn’t believe what turned up.”

very hot rod and muscle car has history and, more often than not, an interesting story to accompany it. As time marches on, many of those stories get lost or are forgotten once that car is sold to another bright-eyed hot rodder who has his or her own vision of the car’s future to start a new journey while hopefully preserving much of the car’s original history. Fortunately, a good chunk of the history regarding Dennis and Marcie Williams’ ’57 Chevy Bel Air remains just as intact as the car itself.

here are a few ways to approach a project car. Some folks plan for years, make parts wish lists, and eventually buy the perfect start to their dream build. Others happen upon a project and start the rebuilding journey without a long-term plan filed away in their mind. Christian Peich falls into the latter category, as he wasn’t looking to dive into a full build, but this ’66 Nova Super Sport landed in his lap. His friend who had just moved to Kansas spotted the car in a field and brought it back to California.

rowing up, Eddie Gunder and his core group of friends would do the typical neighborhood kid stuff that went down in the ’70s—riding bikes, taking part in football and baseball pickup games—all the things considered normal in the town of St. James in Long Island, New York. One thing from the old neighborhood that stuck in Eddie’s mind over the years was a gold ’72 El Camino SS. The hauler belonged to a local plumber and was used as his everyday work truck. At the time, Eddie didn’t think too much about it, but that Elco was a staple of Long Island for many years.

he memories of our youth are much more vivid than the ones we log in our later years. Back then our gin-clear and receptive minds were firing on all cylinders, devouring daily data with senses as sharp as broken glass, our minds brimming with recollections that would ring true for years to come. These formative years are the ones that shape our lives in most every way.