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Automotive Lifestyle
VINTAGE: Custom Camaro Graduates With Honors
San Diego man’s first major custom-car project blending tradition with modern performance is all ready for auction at Barrett-Jackson.
The young Camaro builder wanted to achieve a super-clean custom look for his 1969 coupe. (Photo: David Harris
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale is like finals week for San Diego resident Alex Vavaro. Today, he’s selling his first big project – a 1969 Camaro resto-mod – one he started as a newly graduated college student a little more than seven years ago.
Lot 966 is among the multitude of immaculate collector cars that’s crossing the block as SPEED’s 39 hours of live Barrett-Jackson coverage continues today here at WestWorld.
“It’s a California car,” said Vavaro, who was putting last-minute touches on his ride before it goes up for sale today. “The guy I bought it from was a student who had it passed down from his grandpa. I bought it for myself, took it in to get it painted which led to new wheels, new brakes, etc… And seven years later, and about a $100,000 in, this is what I have.”
This car is trick, yet thoughtful. The color is an era-traditional Hugger Orange, while the satin-black 20-inch rear and 18-inch front wheels highlight a striking exterior. Like the rest of the vehicle, every bit and piece was poured over and reflected on.
“I’m a resto-mod guy. I like the modern, and am not really a fan of old technology,” Vavaro said. “But there’s no color like Hugger Orange. I wanted it to where it looked like a ’69 – it wasn’t too custom – but it had modern brakes, transmission and fuel injection. I wanted that modern feel, but the classic look. That’s what it’s about – having both.
“If I had painted it pearl or something wild, it would have felt too new, taking away from the car,” he added. “I wanted a bright color that just kind of popped. Orange is the Camaro, and the black wheels give it that mean stance. It’s my favorite color combination.”
Even though this is Vavaro’s first build, the car’s presentation is that of a seasoned pro. Every bit of it is upgraded. Fully rebuilt internals and high-performance add-ons like an Edelbrock fuel injection system, new pistons, rods, high-performance cam, Hooker Headers, MSD Ignition, a custom built and polished intake manifold, all lead into Vavaro’s favorite part of the car – it’s highly stylized 396 cubic-inch V8.
“It screams monster, but it’s so classy and elegant,” Vavaro said. “The lines on it are so clean. A lot of people don’t take that into consideration. The lines of a motor and the lines of a car are extremely important. I went with a very sharp-lined intake manifold (design) because they never get old. If I had done something very curvy, very modern, it would have gone out of style after a couple of years.
“When you keep a simple, clean line, that’s what makes a Camaro a Camaro. It’s that line through the fender. It’s so sharp and it stands out. It’s bold, but it’s not too evil looking or dirty.”
Interestingly, this Camaro became sort of his graduate education. Through the project, Vavaro found that this was his life’s passion. Ironically, in order to pursue his dream, he has to sell the car that helped him realize it.
“I’ve been so nervous,” he admitted. “The past maybe week or so, it’s really been hard to sleep because you put so much time, effort and money into it. But you are rolling the dice just hoping someone appreciates it as much as you do.
“It’s kind of hard to tell what they are thinking when they look at it. You know that most people love it, but to what degree do they love it? I designed the manifold, the engine valve cover, the doors and the trunk. There’s a lot of my own design – which is what I want to do, is sell fabricating and this is my first car. You don’t know if people see what you see or if they are completely not into it. You never know until that gavel drops.”
It’s hard to imagine his time on the auction block not being an emotional one.
“This not just a project, it becomes a part of somebody,” Vavaro said. “And you hope that it’s appreciated by someone as much. The important thing to remember is that, when you look at it, it’s not just a cool old car with brakes on it, there’s a lot of thought put into it.
“That’s a lot of energy, and a lot more than what money can buy.”
(Editor’s note: Vavaro’s Camaro resto-mod was hammered sold for $48,000, plus 10 percent bidder fee.)
Lot 966 is among the multitude of immaculate collector cars that’s crossing the block as SPEED’s 39 hours of live Barrett-Jackson coverage continues today here at WestWorld.
“It’s a California car,” said Vavaro, who was putting last-minute touches on his ride before it goes up for sale today. “The guy I bought it from was a student who had it passed down from his grandpa. I bought it for myself, took it in to get it painted which led to new wheels, new brakes, etc… And seven years later, and about a $100,000 in, this is what I have.”
This car is trick, yet thoughtful. The color is an era-traditional Hugger Orange, while the satin-black 20-inch rear and 18-inch front wheels highlight a striking exterior. Like the rest of the vehicle, every bit and piece was poured over and reflected on.
“I’m a resto-mod guy. I like the modern, and am not really a fan of old technology,” Vavaro said. “But there’s no color like Hugger Orange. I wanted it to where it looked like a ’69 – it wasn’t too custom – but it had modern brakes, transmission and fuel injection. I wanted that modern feel, but the classic look. That’s what it’s about – having both.
“If I had painted it pearl or something wild, it would have felt too new, taking away from the car,” he added. “I wanted a bright color that just kind of popped. Orange is the Camaro, and the black wheels give it that mean stance. It’s my favorite color combination.”
Even though this is Vavaro’s first build, the car’s presentation is that of a seasoned pro. Every bit of it is upgraded. Fully rebuilt internals and high-performance add-ons like an Edelbrock fuel injection system, new pistons, rods, high-performance cam, Hooker Headers, MSD Ignition, a custom built and polished intake manifold, all lead into Vavaro’s favorite part of the car – it’s highly stylized 396 cubic-inch V8.
“It screams monster, but it’s so classy and elegant,” Vavaro said. “The lines on it are so clean. A lot of people don’t take that into consideration. The lines of a motor and the lines of a car are extremely important. I went with a very sharp-lined intake manifold (design) because they never get old. If I had done something very curvy, very modern, it would have gone out of style after a couple of years.
“When you keep a simple, clean line, that’s what makes a Camaro a Camaro. It’s that line through the fender. It’s so sharp and it stands out. It’s bold, but it’s not too evil looking or dirty.”
Interestingly, this Camaro became sort of his graduate education. Through the project, Vavaro found that this was his life’s passion. Ironically, in order to pursue his dream, he has to sell the car that helped him realize it.
“I’ve been so nervous,” he admitted. “The past maybe week or so, it’s really been hard to sleep because you put so much time, effort and money into it. But you are rolling the dice just hoping someone appreciates it as much as you do.
“It’s kind of hard to tell what they are thinking when they look at it. You know that most people love it, but to what degree do they love it? I designed the manifold, the engine valve cover, the doors and the trunk. There’s a lot of my own design – which is what I want to do, is sell fabricating and this is my first car. You don’t know if people see what you see or if they are completely not into it. You never know until that gavel drops.”
It’s hard to imagine his time on the auction block not being an emotional one.
“This not just a project, it becomes a part of somebody,” Vavaro said. “And you hope that it’s appreciated by someone as much. The important thing to remember is that, when you look at it, it’s not just a cool old car with brakes on it, there’s a lot of thought put into it.
“That’s a lot of energy, and a lot more than what money can buy.”
(Editor’s note: Vavaro’s Camaro resto-mod was hammered sold for $48,000, plus 10 percent bidder fee.)
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