ike many of us, Steve English of Vail, Arizona, has been a car guy since he was very young (8 years old in Steve’s case). When he grew out of playing with Hot Wheels, he made the leap into buying a 1978 Firebird Formula in 1981. A year later he joined the U.S. Air Force, first stationed in Jackson, Arkansas, and then overseas. That car followed him for both trips and when Steve got back home in 1988, he made more plans for the Firebird. He decided on selling it off to buy a 1985 Monte Carlo SS that he held onto until 2015. By this time, Steve had retired from the service and had owned that Monte Carlo for over two decades. He decided it was time for something new, and luckily his partner in crime, his wife, Margot, was thrilled to be along for the ride.

e are, in many ways, shaped by our environment and the people we spend time with, as well as the interests they pursue—intentionally or not. The passions we develop, the skills we acquire, and even the paths we choose often reflect those influences. Growing up, Scott Mayo’s automotive tastes were shaped early by the car guys he hung out with. “I had been hanging around with some guys who had ’67 Camaros,” he recalls, “roughly two years before I bought my first Camaro at 16.” That was in 1973 when he dove in with a slightly abused ’68 Z/28. “The original engine was gone, and it had a 396 big-block when I bought it. I tracked down the original owner—his car had been stolen three times, and the insurance company sold it after the third theft.” Over time, Scott’s collection grew to include a 1990 1LE IROC, a 1970 Z28 RS, a 1997 Z28, a road-race-prepped 1968, a 2002 35th Anniversary Edition sent to GMMG for a Phase 2 conversion, and an all-original black-on-black 1969 Z/28 RS with factory JL8 four-wheel disc brakes. Though these cars were exceptional, Scott sought something more personal: a Camaro that reflected his tastes, one he could enjoy without worrying about devaluing a rare numbers-matching drivetrain or scuffing original paint.

t’s a familiar story: the one about someone chasing the car that shaped their high school imagination. The only variable is the years they strolled those sacred halls. For Mike Nation, the formative metal came by way of Mötley Crüe and the third-gen Camaro—more specifically, the 1987 IROC-Z. “I’ve always wanted one since they first came out,” Mike says. “I couldn’t afford one back then, but I was finally in a position to set my sights on a clean, original IROC-Z when I found this gem with just 28K on the clock.”

There was just one catch. The seller insisted the car remain original before turning over the Bowtie key chain and attached Camaro keys. “I did not tell him my plans for the car,” Mike says with a sheepish grin. “But in my defense, I did attempt to keep the car as original-looking as possible. One example is that we kept the stock radio and had it converted to Bluetooth, so it looks factory. If he saw the car today, I really think he’d approve.”

t’s no secret that California is a gold mine for classic car hunters who know where to look. The dry climate has long been a protector of Detroit sheetmetal, offering up sunbaked survivors instead of rusted-out basket cases. For the right buyer, that means finding a solid starting point for a project car that won’t require half your budget in quarter-panels and floorpans.

Larry Fannin of Lewis Center, Ohio, knew exactly where to dig. Back in 2005, after a lengthy Internet search that led him to eBay, he found his dream machine–a 1969 Chevelle sitting in Ontario, California, commonly known to the locals as “The IE” or “Inland Empire.” Larry tells us the car originated from a lady who bought it new and drove it daily for decades. The car took a less predictable turn and spent time in the hands of a local drug dealer who wound up in prison. The car languished in storage until a police officer rescued it and held onto it for years before finally listing it for sale Online.

“The officer had his price and I had mine,” Larry recalls. “After a month of sitting on my offer, the cop finally called and said, ‘You’ve got yourself a deal.’ I jumped on a plane to check it out in person, made it official, and arranged for a hauler to ship the car back to Ohio. I didn’t know the car’s running condition, so I chose not to risk driving it across the country.”

oing things with your father, for your father, or in memory of your father is one of life’s great pleasures. And so it was that Jeff Pont reworked this 1969 Camaro in memory of his father, Duane. 

“Duane was a lifelong muscle car enthusiast and for as long as I can remember,” Jeff says, “he dreamed of owning a 1969 Camaro. Years ago, I was blessed to spend a weekend with him at Barrett-Jackson where he fell in love with one particular ’69. I’ll never forget the moment it came across the auction block—I placed a bid, won it, and looked over to see his face filled with pure joy and disbelief.

ard to believe, but we’ve completed another lap around the sun and November has rolled in once again right on schedule. For most holiday-minded folks, the highlight is Thanksgiving. But if you’re the type who prefers a full plate of muscle cars, the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, remains the perfect warmup to Turkey Day. Think of the MCACN show as a feast—a variety of irresistible dishes served in one place. No matter which automotive brand you favor, you can count on seeing something new each year thanks to the ever-changing themed displays. It has arguably become the most influential indoor muscle car event in the world.

The 16th edition once again delivered plenty of Bowtie eye candy. In the lobby, attendees were greeted by Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins’ 1972 Pro Stock Vega. A few steps into the main hall brought another iconic racer: Fred Gibb’s first race car, a freshly restored 1967 Camaro Z/28 unveiled on Saturday to help raise the excitement level. Further inside, the Class of 1965 Invitational showcased several L79-equipped Chevelles, including a sub display that featured an entire row of ultrarare 1965 396 Z16-optioned cars. The Fine 09’s Invitational added more Chevrolet flavor, bringing together numerous 409-powered models spanning several years. The Camaro Legends Invitational was a return display once again due to its popularity.

Official unveilings have become a hallmark of MCACN, with restoration shops timing their projects specifically for the show. On Saturday, Peter Brock revealed his latest reinterpretation of the 1963 Corvette from the Peter Brock Studio. The newly restored 1967 Fred Gibb Camaro Z/28, a 1969 Yenko 427 Nova, and a 1969 Baldwin-Motion Phase III Camaro—both the latter owned by Phil Mitchell—also had their covers pulled for their public debut.