Hugger Orange code 72: how to prove it on your own trim tag
Hugger Orange was code 72 on the 1969 Camaro and code 990 Monaco Orange on the 1969 Corvette, the same PPG 2084 paint under two names. Where the name came from, the Carousel Red argument, and how t...
Why the 1969 Camaro model year ran 16 months and the 1970 1/2 never existed
Broken quarter panel dies at Fisher Body, not a strike, kept the 1969 Camaro in production until November 1969 and pushed the second gen to February 1970. Why 1969 is the longest Camaro model year ...
Why vent windows disappeared: Astro Ventilation, flow-through air and AC
The 1967 Camaro has a pivoting vent window. The 1968 does not, and it never came back. Here is what GM's Astro Ventilation replaced, why no documented reason for the change exists, and why your C10...
The 1973 5 mph bumper law never applied to your truck, and still does not
The federal 5 mph bumper standard blamed for ruining 1970s car design covered passenger cars only, from 1972 to today. Here is what FMVSS 215 and Part 581 actually required, why 1974 is the year yo...
The 1970 to 72 Chevy 396 was really a 402: how to tell what you have
For 1970 Chevrolet bored the 396 out to about 402 cubic inches and, in the Camaro, left the 396 badge alone through 1972. Here is which cars really kept the badge, why nobody knows the reason, and ...
1967 vs 1968 vs 1969 Camaro: What Actually Interchanges
First-gen Camaros look interchangeable and are not. Glass and kick panels carry all three years, door panels and power window kits split at 1967, and the dash and A-pillars are 1969-only. Here is t...
The Recirculation Button: Why Long Drives Make You Sleepy, and Why Your Restomod Has It Worse
The recirculation button seals your cabin and CO2 climbs. Here is what the research actually measured, what it does not prove, and why a finished restomod with flush-mount glass and aftermarket A/C...
How Fesler Builds Custom Seats by Hand in Phoenix: Bench, 60/40, 50/50, Bucket and Rear Seats
Fesler fabricates the steel frame, cuts and shapes the foam, and wraps the cover for every custom seat in its Phoenix, Arizona shop. Bench seats, 60/40 and 50/50 splits, bucket seats and matching r...
Dash Overlay vs. Full Dash Restoration: Which One Your Build Actually Needs
A cracked dash pad has three fixes: a drop-in fiberglass overlay, a gauge-area insert, or a full strip-and-restore. Here is what each one actually costs, what it hides, what it does not, and how to...
Power Windows in a Classic: What It Takes, What It Costs, and the Mistake That Doubles the Bill
A complete four-window power window conversion runs about $580 to $1,300 depending on the platform. Here is what belongs in a real kit, where the switches should go, what goes wrong on the install,...
The Chevrolet 427 Big Block: Every Version, and How to Identify One
Between 1966 and 1969 Chevrolet sold six meaningfully different 427 cubic inch big blocks, and the gap between the cheapest and the most valuable is now roughly two and a half million dollars. Ever...
The Best Pro-Touring Platforms for 2026, Ranked by the People Who Build Them
Eight platforms ranked for aftermarket depth, buy-in cost, build difficulty, and finished value. A working shop's honest 2026 list, from the C10 to the sleeper picks.
Camaro flush-mount glass: the complete 1967 to 1981 builder's guide
The flush-mount glass upgrade for the 1967 to 1981 Camaro, start to finish. First-gen and second-gen fitment, what the frameless look changes, DOT certification, leaks and wind noise, where glass f...
The car that started as a panic: how the first-gen Camaro became the ultimate restomod
GM was caught flat by the Mustang and rushed out a fighter under the code name Panther. The story of the 1967 to 1969 Camaro: the scramble, the SEPAW reveal, the homologation-special Z/28, and why ...
Flush-mount vs trim ring glass: What actually changes about your build
The difference between flush-mount and trim ring glass is structural, not just cosmetic. Here is exactly what changes about the look, the install, the sealing, the weight, and the long-term ownersh...
DOT certified glass for classic cars: what it actually means
DOT certification on automotive glass is a federal stamp confirming the part meets FMVSS 205 safety standards. Here is exactly what that means, why most reproduction classic car glass does not carr...
In the late 1960s, GM had a rule: no engine over 400 cubic inches in anything smaller than a full size car. Don Yenko and Fred Gibb used Chevrolet's own special order system to get 427s into Camaro...