By Scotty Lachenauer – Photography By The Author
When Paul Tusini learned his health was worsening and he needed medical treatment for the third time, the Boxford, Massachusetts, resident decided it was finally time to stop delaying and truly work toward fulfilling a childhood dream. “When I was 11, I saw a 1967 GTO for the first time and fell in love with its design. I immediately wanted one for myself. Since that moment, it’s been one of my lifelong dreams,” Paul states.
However, like many of us, life can sometimes get in the way of youthful dreams. First came school, then a career, and raising a family; these always took priority in Paul’s life. After paying off the house and helping the kids start their own lives, Paul finally found time to do something for himself. He never forgot about that Poncho fantasy ride that lingered in the back of his mind. Now, Paul was ready to move forward and get that GTO convertible he always wanted.
So, in 2016, Paul started searching across the country for a good donor to build his custom GTO with. “I looked everywhere for a solid 1967 convertible, but after a long search across the states, it was ultimately my neighbor who helped me out in the end. My brother Scott Wilson is an experienced car builder who lives nearby in Northern Massachusetts. Scott quickly found a low-mileage stock GTO for me to start my project with, which was luckily only 20 miles from his place. I bought the car he found, a well-kept, triple-black convertible. Once I saw it, I fell in love with the car instantly.”
Now, Paul wasn’t aiming for a perfect 100-point restoration. “My goal was to turn this GOAT into a fire-breathing restomod, complete with an upgraded suspension and interior, and, of course, a lot more power. Unfortunately, Scott didn’t build cars commercially, but one thing led to another and he offered to do the work “while I ‘helped,’ which I would soon find out wasn’t really how Scott operates,” Paul states. But this project was just what Paul needed to stay focused and keep his mind off his medical situation.
The build commenced with Paul and Scott getting together to write an in-depth build strategy. Once that was accomplished, the fabricator had some thoughts that he relayed to the owner. “Scott told me to drive the car before we tore it down, so I would have a good ‘before and after’ driving experience for a comparison. To give you an idea of the handling, the GTO came with manual steering and drum brakes from the factory, so it was a handful,” Paul states.
Number one on Paul’s want list was the desire for at least 500 hp, so the guys initially settled on a fresh crate LS3 with a hot cam already installed for the GTO’s motorvation. Art Morrison supplied the updated chassis for the build, and Paul chose a four-link setup in the rear. A Corvette suspension was installed up front for ride quality, and a Mustang II rack-and-pinion adds a modern feel and performance to the car’s steering. A Strange Engineering 9-inch rear differential would handle the power to the back tires, and JRi adjustable coilovers were added to give the GTO a comfortable yet sporty ride.
Stopping power is provided by Wilwood with 14.5-inch rotors at each corner, six-piston calipers up front, and four-piston calipers in the rear. A Hydroboost setup was installed to ensure effortless braking, and ceramic brake pads were installed for reduced dust. Overall, the build progressed quickly. “Scott worked seven days a week on the GTO. I went away for a business trip, and when I returned, the body was already back on the frame, the LS3 was installed, and the car’s suspension was fully completed with brake lines in place.”
Scott also fabricated a pair of beautiful 3-inch polished stainless exhaust tips that peek out under the rear bumper and are fed by a custom exhaust featuring electric cut-outs and a set of Flowmaster mufflers. The owner would visit the shop as much as possible and try to lend a hand, but Scott was much happier and faster while he worked by himself. “Hey, it’s your money,” was Scott’s friendly warning to Paul when he tried to get too involved. That usually kept the owner at bay… well, sometimes it did.
The GTO’s current black paint job was just fine for now, which sped up the fabrication process tenfold. A dark red PUI stock-vinyl interior was sourced and installed, along with Dakota Digital gauges in the dash. Vintage Air supplies the HVAC, while power windows, a remote trunk release, and a tilt column add modern amenities. Billet Specialties not only supplied the valve covers to give the LS a vintage vibe, but they also provided the wheels for this ride. “I went with the SLC Series GTO for my GTO! While pricey, I never regretted choosing those wheels,” Paul admits. The 18×8 front and 18×9 rear rims are fitted with Nitto Redline tires in 245/40-18 and 275/40-18, respectively. “Those 275s are the largest rear tire we could fit without tubbing it,” Paul states.
After just three short months in Scott’s garage, the GTO finally hit the road. They added an oversized radiator, a heavy-duty electric fan, and OEM-style LED headlights. Paul took it out for a series of shakedown runs, finding a few bugs, but nothing Scott couldn’t easily fix. As expected, the GTO handled like a modern sports car and was a real eye-catcher. “When I left Scott’s for the last time, he said to me, ‘You’ll be back. Guys like you are never satisfied.’” I left his garage smiling, laying down a long patch of rubber in front of his house.
Well, Scott was right. After a summer of driving excitement, Paul was looking to make a few adjustments to their original rodder’s recipe. “I had a great time driving the GTO during those summer months, though I was plagued by electrical issues. Using OEM wiring was a big mistake. There were also issues in the LS’s power curve that could be caused by several factors.” Luckily, Paul soon met a local car guy, Arthur Thomas (Tom), at a cruise-in. He insisted that Paul go see his friend, Gene Nici, at Nici Automotive. “He had some ideas about what was causing the GTO’s power problems. He then asked me, ‘What do you want from this motor?’ I blurted out, ‘I want as much horsepower as you can give me!’”
The answer was straightforward for Gene. He ordered a 2.9L Whipple supercharger, housed in a polished casing for extra flair. He disassembled the motor and found several issues that caused the LS’s poor performance. He then installed a Brian Tooley Stage III cam to ensure everything ran smoothly together. Gene also upgraded the throttle body, injectors, fuel lines, and fuel pump. To fix electrical problems, he installed a new wiring kit from American Autowire, along with a Speartech tap-shift module, a high-flow polished water pump, and an Asco intercooler for more power. A new dyno test showed a smooth curve, with over 960 hp at the crank at 5,000 rpm with the low-boost pulley.
With the added power, another issue arose. Paul realized his current transmission wasn’t enough to handle all the new power. “That’s when I had Kyle Genesse of World Class Transmissions build me a 6L80 to handle what this GTO was putting out.” The transmission was assembled with heavy-duty bearings, extra clutches (made with upgraded clutch material), and Genesse also added a billet intermediate shaft during the process.
With the power issue settled, one other thing started to bother Paul about his new-to-him GTO. “I started seeing some bubbling in the paint and some rust, so I was now dissatisfied with the body. I was introduced to Sean Larose of Paintworks in Dover, New Hampshire, a high-end restoration shop. Their work is amazing.” The GTO was stripped down, the rust issues eradicated, and the panel fit was perfected. Some custom touches were added, such as the tail panel with flush LED lights and a charcoal gray finish. “I wanted subtle yet elegant, and that’s what I got.” Once finished, the car was basted in single-stage black to make touch-ups easy.
The COVID shutdown had caused some issues with getting some work done. Paul had shipped his trim out to be fixed and polished, but it sat unworked for some time. With the body nearing completion, Paul retrieved his stainless steel and learned to do it himself, achieving excellent results. During this downtime, Paul also decided to upgrade to a custom interior, using foam sculpted by Clinton Morton. The top is also a one-off, hand-sewn in canvas. He also added a carbon-fiber pattern to the console and dash using a hydrographic process. “I reused the original door armrests but installed new, freshly designed door cards that also house speakers. The long, low, original-style center console was refabricated to include new controls and an armrest. I finished it off with a Kenwood radio and rear speakers for tunes.”
Once the GTO hit the street permanently, Paul had time to reflect on the build. “Car projects can spiral out of control. Mine certainly did. After Scott’s initial work, I kept wanting more. My wife, Kathy, never complained even once about the time invested or the cost. How does one thank a spouse for that amount of patience and understanding?”
As Paul gains new experiences in the classic car hobby, his appreciation for the high quality of Scott Wilson’s masterful work has grown. “I am grateful he agreed to build my GTO. The fun of those three months remains a highlight of my custom car experiences. I dare say the day will come when a Scott Wilson–built car will be desirable to own.”
Nici, who performed the engine upgrades, deserves a top spot on the list of people to thank. “I describe [Nici] as having motor oil for blood. Similarly, (Tom) Thomas was a fortunate encounter at my first car show. He first introduced me to [Nici] and then to Sean Larose, owner of Paintworks Restoration, who did the exceptional bodywork.
When asked about his GTO’s driving experience, Paul sums it up this way: “People frequently ask how the car drives. After the modifications, it handles like a modern car, responding quickly and effortlessly to steering input. It’s rock solid on the highway, even in crosswinds. The car’s acceleration seems limitless. And the car is very loud- well, it is, after all, a bit of a hot rod. But that’s half the fun now, isn’t it?”
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