ow that we’re nearing, or for many of us, the end of the cruising and outdoor show season, it’s time to go over our rides and do some general maintenance or fix what broke from all the driving we did over the summer months. For us Southern California folks, the cruising season is pretty much year-round, but if there is a time for upgrades or repairs, now is good.

For me, I’ll use the downtime doing some fixing and a little upgrading. Strangely, the driver side window on my 1971 Camaro went through a rapid unscheduled disassembly while aggressively taking a corner combined with a dip in the road. First thought was that someone unhappy with a loud muscle car driving by shot out the window, but being it happened in an industrial area surrounded by other automotive-related businesses, the local tenants are pretty much used to the sound of loud cars. The reality is that some of the original window hardware finally failed. No surprise being those parts are about 54 years old.

If you are familiar with second-gen Camaro side windows, then you know the one-piece glass is long and heavy. Even though the window itself was aftermarket and only a few years old, the window mounting hardware, regulators, and guides were original. The window has always been a bit loose, so it was on my short-term “fix it” list for the last few years, but putting it off was easier, so I did that instead. Now, among other things, that’s on this Winter’s to-do list.

hile working with the owner on the initial ideas for this build it was apparent that the boxy and simple looks of the 1965 Nova were something that needed to be retained. The goal would be to create something subtle with a nice stance and a timeless look. To accomplish that we settled on Forgeline RS5 wheels, which fit the overall vintage vibe.

What makes the whole build special is the plan for the drivetrain. Legacy EV and J-Rod & Custom have been tapped to make this Nova fully electric. Range isn’t too much of a concern since the primary use will just be local cruises and zipping around town. Range may not matter too much to the owner, but performance does. The plan is to have front and rear motors making it AWD with at least 400 hp. Instant torque should make the lightweight Nova a decent neck snapper!

f you want to build a ride of the highest level you need three things going for you, as far as owner/builder Keith Seaman is concerned: “You got to have taste, talent, and plenty of money. With modern parts, you’re looking at $100K easily. It’s an expensive hobby that’s not for everyone.”
       
Keith’s been at the game for a long time, adding mega muscle to his street cars since he was a teen. When you see one of his rides, you know instantly it was born and bred at his shop, KMS Kustoms in Ronkonkoma, New York, situated smack dab in the middle of Chevy country.

The Long Island native started way young, procuring his first Chevelle at age 15. He built it up, drove the snot out of it, and then let it go when he needed some capital to move on in life; start a business, buy a house, raise a family.

hen car show promoters navigate their way to running a highly successful annual event for the third time in a row, said event tends to run smoother than the prior two, which was certainly the case when Bobby Alloway and Gary Case plowed through the 3rd Annual Triple Crown of Rodding presented by PPG held at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee, September 5-6, 2025. The only inconvenience was when a bit of rain made an unwanted appearance on Saturday morning, which was obviously out of their control, but by early afternoon had given way to some sunshine in time for the highly anticipated trophy presentations.

There was no doubt that the third Triple Crown of Rodding would surpass the previous two events, as early vendor and participant registration had risen substantially. With that in mind, Alloway and Case rallied their crew to ensure the show ran smoothly. Parking was effortless, providing easy access for families looking to enjoy the weekend. Entrants were welcomed with plenty of space to set up camp and showcase their classic vehicles.