Chris Krozel and his 1969 Camaro SS
Hometown: Gallitzin, PA
1969 Camaro SS
355 V8
Muncie 4-speed
Lemans Blue, Dover White stripes
17"front, 18" rear American Racing Torq Thrust IIs
My parents originally bought the car for me for my 16th birthday. It was our first attempt at a restoration, and at first glance it seemed to be in pretty good condition. We just didn't realize how much was actually missing. The guy we bought it off of started a full on resto, and because of this he was pretty brutal on alot of original parts that could have been saved. The wiring was all chopped up, he actually cut the grill out of it because he could not locate all of the screws. The interior was completely gutted. However it did have a "rebuilt engine" and new quarter panels.
I immediately picked up 2 part time jobs to pay for the restoration. I started by buying a new interior kit for it, and then saved up for the paintjob. I decided to go with Lemans Blue and White...I love the color combo. I finally got the car back about 3 months before I was to graduate highschool, and was trying desperately to get it together in time to take it once. We finally got the car back together, but soon realized that the "rebuilt engine" wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. It ended up having bad rings and a cracked head. Needless to say, on a minimum wage budget and with only a short time left in high school, it never made it .
I save up and did a mild performance rebuild over the summer. 350, bored .30 over, flat top pistons, comp cam, edelbrock intake, etc. The guy who built it for me said it should be good for 400+hp.
The following summer I saved up for some new wheels/tires. I had originally had the gray cast torq thrusts from American Racing, and upgraded to the polished Torq Thrust IIs in 17" & 18". I always liked these wheels, it just took a long while to save up for them. I think they really make the car pop. It just takes hours of polishing...haha.
I love the car, and it is never dirty. I take it to alot of car shows during the summer, and as long as the sun is out I am out cruising. When I am done driving around, it gets whiped down with final inspection from Meguiars every night before being covered up. I also spent the past winter stripping and painting the floor boards. Trust me, aside from the chemical stripper falling down on me and burning me, the cold concrete floor during a Pennsylvania winter is not an enjoyable place to be, but I love the finished result.
I have had several prople try to buy the car from me, but I would never sell it unless my family desperately needed the money. There is soo much sentimental value because my dad and I built it together. It was really tough making very little money and trying to restore this car, but looking back I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Struggling to build want I wanted makes me appreciate this car that much more.
My entire family is very proud of what we accomplished as amateur restorers with my Camaro. So much so that when my grandfather passed away, my grandmother told me and my brother how much he loved the sound of our cars, and requested that we drive the cars in his funeral procession. My brother and I sent him off in style with a side by side burnout with my Camaro and his Chevelle.
