July 2002 Feature Car

 
Member:  Chris Recker
Year: 1967 
Engine: 350 c.i.
Transmission: 350 Turbo
Rear End: 12 Bolt
Options: Power Brakes, Power Steering, Air Conditioning
Story:  
Chris Recker was in the ninth grade, working at Chuck E Cheese Pizza when he first saw this ’67 RS/SS. The paint was faded and upholstery torn, but he knew the potential. The car was all original with only 60k miles. The guy driving it told Chris it was his Grandma’s car who had bought it new and it wasn’t for sale. Two years passed and Chris’ family moved unbeknownst to them to within one block of the car. When Chris saw it, it had a kayak tied to the roof, a few more dents and due to the death of the driver’s Grandma, was now owned by the guy who drove it by two years earlier. Chris persuaded the guy to trade the Camaro for a ’76 Cutlass with "cold A/C". He worked two jobs over the next three years to finance the restoration. He did all his own work with a lot of help and guidance from his older brother Todd. When finally done, the first trip was to the track where coming home he got into a street race with a 5.0. Things didn’t go as planned and Chris wound up taking out 60 feet of guardrail and fence, facing the wrong way in traffic and his Camaro with pieces scattered along Loop 820. He was alive but the Camaro was definitely dead. It sat for two years until Chris started to do a complete frame off restoration. Three years and many new parts later it was completed. This time Chris took it to the Ft Worth Rod and Custom show as part of the NTCC display and wound up winning an award. Chris plans to hang onto the car and pass it down to his daughter, who he is expecting in August.