Classic Industries Brings Camaro Heat at SEMA

The Specialty Equipment Marketing Association hosts an amazing annual event in Las Vegas, Nevada each year. Not only do major car manufacturer’s get to bring in the big guns, but other companies as well. Classic Industries, for instance, revealed two stunning Camaros from yesteryear. One was a 1968 Camaro that belonged to Tim Allen, and the other was a 1969 Camaro built by the one and only “Mr. Chevrolet” himself, Dick Harrell. When Tim Allen needed someone to bring his automotive vision to life, he called upon the master of all things automotive, Bodie Stroud. Everything from the oil change to the construction was set up by the master, who you may know from Travel Channel’s “Rock my RV with Bret Michaels.” The Camaro features a Detroit Speed subframe and Detroit Speed suspension, as well as Brembo brakes and Wheel Vintique Rally 66 series wheels that are wrapped in Nitto tires. As soon as the hood is popped one sees a Chevrolet Performance LS7 427 cubic-inch engine with a March Performance front drive and a forged steel crankshaft.

Alongside Tim Allen’s beauty was the ’69, that was built by drag racing pioneer Dick Harrell for The Flying Dutchman funny car crewmember John Penso, and just recently became part of the Classic Industries collective. It originally began as an SS 396 car, but now it features an iron-block 427. The ZL1 camshaft, 4.56 gears, and Lakewood traction bars were all installed by Penso, and the battery was relocated to the trunk. The “Built By Dick Harrell” emblem remained on the glove box, and a stinger hood replaced the original that ripped off at high speeds. The car was finished in beautiful Candy Blue. Harrell’s daughter Valerie was able to find the vehicle and restore it using mainly restoration parts offered by Classic Industries and their Camaro catalog. Jeff Leonard, CEO of Classic Industries, bid on and won this beauty at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, and all we can say is that he sure won one beautiful vehicle.