Having to dish out only $700 for the car may sound like Ryan landed a bargain of a buy, but it was extremely rough and was far from running condition. In fact, Ryan spent the first year of ownership removing everything under the hood and inside the car all the way down to the chassis.

“While cleaning the exterior of the bellhousing with a wire brush, I was hoping I’d be able to remember how to put it all back together, Ryan states. “My father, Paul, helped me understand the intricacies of engine components and vehicle mechanics while we rebuilt each section of the car, including the construction of a 350ci small-block. We also refreshed the thrashed interior and had the car painted black with SS stripes.”

The car served its purpose and ran great through Ryan’s high school years until, in his words, he “nuked” the engine in the early ’90s, sidelining the car indefinitely. That incident led to the car being parked in the driveway at his parents’ house for the next 30-plus years, a project left on hold but never forgotten.

Ryan recognized working alongside his father on the car sparked his interest in the automotive world and shaped his trajectory. Over the years, he gained extensive experience in the industry, from chassis setup for a late-model circle track team to working at a Chevrolet dealership in Bristol. Eventually, he advanced to roles in purchasing and marketing at a large automotive distributor and spent a decade as VP of purchasing and marketing at Jegs. Today, Ryan is the VP of sales and marketing at QA1, a testament to the lifelong passion his Chevelle helped ignite.

“I promised my mom (Susan) that I would restore the car one day and in the meantime to keep telling those who would stop by that the car was not for sale,” Ryan recounts. “That time finally came in 2018 when I brought the car to Garret’s Rod Shop in Columbus, Ohio.”

Garret’s Rod Shop undertook a meticulous restoration and modification process to transform the aging Chevelle into a modernized masterpiece while still retaining its classic style.

The heart of Ryan’s Chevelle consists of a 496ci big-block machined by PAR Race Engines in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and assembled by M&H Machine in Delaware, Ohio. The engine is armed with an upgraded rotating assembly, including Manley crank and rods and JE pistons. Also on board is a Comp Cams hydraulic roller cam and Brodix aluminum heads. An Edelbrock Pro-Flo 4 EFI system is complemented by ceramic-coated Hedman Hedders and MagnaFlow 3-inch exhaust with electric cutouts. With a hefty 650 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque available on call, not only is the car a beast on the street, but the Chevelle’s previously unpredictable nature has become predictably reliable as Ryan now claims it’s a joy to take on long drives with his wife, Kendra, and his son, Seth.

The drivetrain features a Chevrolet 4L85E transmission with a TCI 3,000-stall torque converter, paired with a 12-bolt rear axle equipped with a Detroit Truetrac differential, Yukon 3.73 gears, and Moser 35-spline axles.

The car currently rolls on an air suspension system, but plans include a full QA1 coilover suspension makeover for a more performance-oriented ride. Speedtech’s boxed frame kit was used to strengthen the chassis, while Baer disc brakes provide superb stopping power.

Billet Specialties Reaper Extreme wheels, sized 19×10 in the front and 20×12 in the rear, are wrapped in Michelin Super Sport tires (275/35R19 front, 345/30R20 rear), delivering both style and performance.