Throwback: LS3-Powered 1970 Chevelle is Dazzling Restomod

A Cherished Chevy Aspiration

As with most gearheads, Ryan Kochen has always dreamed of owning a custom resto-mod that combines classic styling with modern performance. Specifically, Ryan had always envisioned this resto-mod to be a 1970 Chevelle. Eventually, he would find his '70 Chevelle just a few hours drives from his house in Hoover, Alabama, but the car needed a significant amount of work to once again be roadworthy. Ryan was eager to get started on the project and immediately took it to a local shop for paint and bodywork, but the project apparently dragged on to the point that he began looking for a new shop to perform the restorative work. In steps Goolsby Customs.

Goolsby Take The Wheel

A friend of Ryan's turned him onto Goolsby and he let their creative work run free with the car. Ryan explained that they initially sat down and came up with the idea that he wanted a high-performance muscle car combined with the finish and craftsmanship of a European exotic. From that point, the Goolsby took the reigns. The first step involved prettying-up the body by shaping the front bumper, tucking the rear bumper, shaving the drip rails, glassing-in the marker lights, and fitting a set of sleek Lokar billet 12-volt door handles. Every bodyline was perfected before the car was primed and subsequently painted in a classy Glasurit Nardo Gray finish.

Powerplant Retrofit

Under the bonnet sits a 485 horsepower LS3 courtesy of Pace Performance. Goolsby opted for a C&R 12-row aluminum radiator to provide cooling for the healthy LS3. The accessory drive setup was pulled from the Vintage Air catalog while the 3-inch exhaust system was fabricated in-house by Goolsby themselves. Ryan was adamant that he wanted this car to be a stick-shift, so Goolsby sourced a Tremec T-56 Magnum from Bowler Performance Transmission and matched it with a Currie Enterprises limited-slip Ford 9-inch rear end with a set of 3.73 gears.

Unconventional Cabin

The interior work was outsourced to M&M Hot Rod Interiors of Holly Pond, Alabama to achieve that exotic European flair that Ryan was after. Using classic Ferrari interiors as inspiration, M&M opted for perforated tan leather throughout the cabin. The front seats were sourced from a Hyundai Tiburon to provide a bit more comfort and support over the OE seats whereas the original rear seats were kept intact, albeit finished in a Ferrari Daytona pattern. Other interior components include a Classic Instruments AutoCross gauge set, custom wrapped Billet Specialties steering wheel, a Bowler shift knob, and a set of Lokar pedals.

Honing The Handling

A lot of work went into making this Chevelle quite pleasing to the eye, but the attention to detail continues throughout the structure of the car. A set of Speedtech AFX performance spindles coupled with tubular a-arms were installed to correct steering geometry for precise handling. Additionally, RideTech HQ coilovers with adjustable rebound were installed to allow for fine-tuning of the ride depending on the intended driving style. With 485 horses on tap, a Wilwood slotted and drilled disc brake setup was fitted to slow the car in a hurry. The finishing touch was a set of B-Forged Touring Series 500 wheels wrapped in a sticky Pirelli P Zero ultra-high performance sport tires. The 18x9" front wheels are fitted with 255/35/18 tires and the larger 20x10" rears sport 295/40/20 meats.

A Dream Materialized

Three years after purchasing a Chevelle that was in need of some TLC, Ryan Kochen was finally handed the keys to his dream car. Thanks to Goolsby Customs, Ryan received a resto-mod that will not only turn heads when cruising downtown but will also make for a capable car on the backroads or at the strip. With such an extensive build, it would not be surprising if it were to simply be used for car shows or cruise nights, but Ryan has other plans. He explains that it was ultimately built to be driven and that is exactly what he is going to do!

>>Join the conversation about this Classic Chevelle from Goolsby right here on LS1Tech.

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