A teenager’s inherited 1967 Chevy Chevelle evolves into a wild LS3-powered restomod, blending family history with modern drag-strip performance.
When most teenagers inherit an old car, they get a fixer-upper or a project with little more than sentimental value. For California tuner Roger Holder, however, the hand-me-down was a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle—a car that would define his life, his family, and eventually his business.
The Chevelle first belonged to his father, who bought it as a teenager and kept it in the family for decades. Over the years, it became more than just a daily driver. It was street-raced, torn apart, rebuilt, and modified countless times. At one point, it carried a 427-cubic-inch big-block V8 that Holder and his family tuned for drag racing. When Roger inherited the car, it was less of a relic and more of a tradition, one that had logged decades of grease, paint layers, and hard-fought races.
Holder eventually turned to Ironworks Speed and Kustom in Bakersfield, Calif., to help reimagine the Chevelle entirely. The shop stripped the car down to bare metal, replaced its chassis with a Speedtech ExtReme setup, and fitted JRI coilovers, custom control arms, and a nine-inch rear end. Wilwood brakes with six-piston calipers provide stopping power worthy of modern supercars.
The heart of the build is a supercharged LS3 V8 prepared by Darn Hardy Racing. Mated to a Bowler 4L80 four-speed automatic, the engine delivers enough thrust to humble modern exotics on the drag strip. Supporting hardware includes a roller cam, forged internals, and reinforced cylinder heads, all tuned to maximize both reliability and adrenaline.
Inside, the Chevelle retains its original dashboard but pairs it with updated touches like an aftermarket steering wheel and shifter. While some purists might object to the fake SS badges or the extensive modifications, Holder views the car as a living heirloom—a family legacy brought into the modern age.
What began as a teenager’s gift has become a one-of-a-kind blend of nostalgia and performance, destined to stay in the Holder family for generations.
