here seems to be two kinds of muscle car owners: those who are perfectly content with having a car that looks and runs fine and handles the equipment it’s had for years. Then there are those who are never fully satisfied, always chasing the latest and greatest parts in search of better performance or sharper looks. I respect both camps.

I fall somewhere in the middle. I tend to subscribe to the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy, but if you show me something that’s going to improve performance, I’m all ears. That’s exactly where we find ourselves with our long-term project car, “Project Orange Krate,” a 1971 Camaro that began its journey years ago in the now-defunct publication Camaro Performers.

For years, not much had changed with the car. But as time went on, parts wore out, technology evolved, and eventually things needed a bit of freshening up. That’s the whole point of a magazine project car, after all: to try new products and keep pace with the latest aftermarket offerings.

Without diving into every detail just yet, as we’ve got a series of updates in the works, engine upgrades are underway, new driveline components are on the list, and a fresh exhaust system is planned. Of course, with any project car, those plans are subject to change.

Given the number of track days, autocross events, and street miles Orange Krate has endured over the past 15 years, we’ll also be addressing some of the inevitable bumps and bruises. For those of you interested in bodywork and paint articles, we’ll be sharing practical tips for tackling minor scratches and dings that may apply to your ride. Some you’ll be able to do in your garage or home shop.

From a driving standpoint, there was nothing really wrong with the car, but some parts were getting a little long in the tooth, so it was time to breathe some new life into the engine, both visually and mechanically. We’ll reveal what’s new underhood in an upcoming issue, but I can say this: with the few upgrades we’ve done so far, it runs better today than it has in a long time.

When it comes to long-term magazine builds, Orange Krate has been relatively stagnant in recent years. It was high time to shake off the dust, start bolting on new parts, and show how some of today’s aftermarket products perform in the real world.

We’re looking forward to putting this car back into action and bringing you along for the ride. In the realm of long-running magazine project builds, Orange Krate might trail only Project X, arguably the most famous 1957 Chevy in existence, which debuted in the Aug. ’65 issue of Popular Hot Rodding magazine. By that measure, our Camaro is keeping some seriously respected company.

As we head deeper into 2026, I’m excited to share all the cool stuff we have in store for Project Orange Krate in upcoming issues of All Chevy Performance magazine.

You in?