By Nick Licata – Images by Luke Munnell
It’s not uncommon for guys who grew up in the late 1960s and 1970s to gravitate toward building the muscle car they’ve always wanted—typically one from back in their high school days but they just didn’t have the cash to do so at the time. Fast-forward 30-or-so years and decades of service in the workforce has enabled many the financial freedom to finally build that classic muscle car they’ve always wanted.
Brian Myers is one of those guys who harkens back to his high school days when many of his friends were driving cool hot rods, and one friend who owned a distinctive 1970 Chevelle. “That car was just so cool to me, and I’ve wanted it ever since,” Brian recalls.
At the time, Brian had a 1967 C-J-5 his dad brought brand new and handed it down to him to use as his daily driver. Unfortunately, the Jeep was stolen from the parking lot during his high school’s homecoming football game. A year later the Jeep was found at the bottom of Oakland Bay. To make a long story short, Brian retrieved it and in true hot rodder fashion, turned it into a sand drag racer, and beat on it like that for a few years. Now that’s what we call making Limoncello out of lemons.
As Brian navigated life’s journey, he regularly thought about that 1970 Chevelle and kept it on his “wish list” for so many years. Finally, in 2001 he found a 1970 Chevelle SS in Phoenix. It was black on black with white rally stripes and even came with the build sheet. The original 396 was long gone, but the car had a healthy 454 and a TH400 trans. The engine ran good and the interior was like new. “When the owner took me out for a testdrive and banged through the gears, I was instantly sold on the car and ended up buying it right then and there,” Brian says.
“I was living in Colorado at the time and drove the car when weather permitted and stored it at a friend’s heated garage during the winter,” Brian mentions. “In 2009, I moved the car to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and being I wasn’t driving the car much, it started leaking from just about everywhere, so it sat even longer.”
In 2019, Brian made the decision to get the car running right while at the same time throwing a bunch of upgrades its way. He purchased a ZZ572 crate engine, and an upgraded chassis to handle the car’s newfound horsepower. From there he bought new suspension, brakes, and tires, but he soon realized it was time for a complete overhaul from the ground up. The “snowball effect” was on.
He brought the car to Lakeside Speed and Shine in Lake Havasu, Arizona, where he and Lakeside owner Jim McKay put together an elaborate plan to turn his car into not only a street performer, but an absolute stunner outside and in. McKay and his crew are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to building high-quality muscle cars, and with Brian’s Chevelle being in decent shape from the start was a good candidate for the Lakeside makeover.
Initially, Brian had envisioned using a blower on the big-block, but hood clearance was an issue and he was reluctant to have a blower poking through the hood as he liked the smooth hood line as it is. Discussing alternatives with McKay led to using a Chevrolet Performance LT4—a supercharged 376ci mill that would deliver 650 hp without disrupting the car’s classic aesthetics. This way Brian still got a supercharged engine combined with the benefits of reliability. Equipped with Patriot headers, Lakeside custom 3-inch stainless exhaust, and MagnaFlow mufflers, the ensemble features black Cerakote to perfectly complement the engine’s muscular character.
The transmission and drivetrain upgrades were essential to ensure Brian’s Chevelle could handle the increased power output. The Lakeside team installed a GM 4L75E automatic transmission along with a GM 12-bolt rearend, Eaton Truetrac posi unit, and 3.73 gears. This setup delivers smooth, seamless shifting and the strength to handle aggressive launches off the line.
Performance handling and ride quality come by way of a Ridetech front suspension system featuring Wilwood Pro spindles, control arms, and Ridetech ShockWaves. A Borgeson quick-ratio steering box delivers a balanced mix of stability and agility. The rear received a Ridetech four-link setup along with ShockWaves. An AccuAir air suspension system provides ride height options for various driving conditions. Wilwood brakes, with 14-inch rotors and six-piston calipers in the front, and four-piston calipers in the rear, were added for optimal stopping power.
Beyond performance, Brian also wanted his Chevelle to be visually stunning inside and out, and the interior overhaul became one of his favorite parts of the build process. The Lakeside team worked with Brian to create a fully customized interior that would win him the Best Interior award at the 2024 Grand National Roadster Show. The TMI Distressed Red leather upholstery and seats offer a bold, refined look that complements the Chevelle’s aggressive exterior. The original dash was fitted with a TMI dashpad and Dakota Digital gauges while a Flaming River column and Billet Specialties steering wheel create a functionally stylish motif. A Kicker head unit armed with strategically placed speakers and twin 10-inch subwoofers provide the soundtrack, and a Vintage Air HVAC system keeps the cabin climate-controlled.
The exterior transformation was equally impressive, with a focus on balancing classic design with custom touches. McKay’s team shaved the Chevelle’s driprails, side markers, and trim for a smooth, sleek profile. They prepped the body to perfection prior to spraying on a gorgeous layer of Matrix GM Shark Gray pigment—a modern choice that complements the Chevelle’s classic lines. Details like the painted and Cerakoted grille, as well as smoothed and tucked bumpers, bring a sleek custom touch to the otherwise bulbus ride. Ringbrothers side mirrors, Kindig It door handles, Dapper Lighting headlights, and Dakota Digital taillights add a good amount of modern flair to the overall design.
To accentuate the car’s refined look, Brian chose custom Hot Rods By Boyd (HRBB) wheels, 19s up front and 20s out back, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport rubber. A formula that offers plenty of grip for those instances when Brian takes out the car for a “spirited” drive. With AllCoat in Kingman, Arizona, handling the powdercoating on various parts, the final product was a testament to Lakeside’s attention to detail and craftsmanship.
For Brian Myers, this restoration fulfilled a lifelong dream. After two years of meticulous work, his Chevelle emerged as a masterpiece, combining vintage spirit and modern performance. Reflecting on the journey, he shared, “It’s fast, beautiful, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Jim McKay and the crew at Lakeside absolutely killed it on this build. I’ve never seen a 1970 Chevelle done to this level. It’s hard to believe this is the same car I bought nearly 25 years ago.”
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
TECH CHECK
Owner: Brian Myers, Lake Havasu, Arizona
Vehicle: 1970 Chevelle SS
Engine
Type: Chevrolet Performance LT4
Displacement: 376 ci
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Bore: 4.065
Stroke: 3.622
Cylinder Heads: A356-T6 rotocast aluminum
Rotating Assembly: Forged steel crankshaft, forged powdered-metal steel connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons
Camshaft: Hydraulic roller
Induction: GM-Eaton TVS R1740 1.7L supercharger
Assembly: GM
Exhaust: Patriot 1 7/8-inch headers, Lakeside custom stainless 3-inch exhaust, and MagnaFlow mufflers, all black Cerakote
Valve Covers and Supercharger Lid: MPI
Accessory Drive: Street Machine Works (formerly Drive Junky)
Ancillaries: Eddie Motorsports hood hinges, SPAL electric fans, Griffin aluminum radiator
Output: 650 hp
Drivetrain
Transmission: GM 4L75E
Shifter: Lokar
Rear Axle: GM 12-bolt, Eaton Truetrac posi, 3.73 gears
Chassis
Front Suspension: Wilwood Pro spindles, Ridetech control arms, Ridetech ShockWaves, 1 1/8-inch sway bar, Borgeson quick-ratio steering box, AccuAir air suspension
Rear Suspension: Ridetech four-link, Ridetech ShockWaves, AccuAir air suspension
Brakes: Wilwood 14-inch rotors, six-piston calipers front, 14-inch rotors, four-piston calipers rear
Suspension Mods: All parts powdercoated by Allcoat (Kingman, AZ)
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: Hot Rods By Boyd 19×8.5 front, 20×11 rear
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 265/35R19, 295/30R20
Interior
Upholstery: TMI distressed red leather
Installation: Lakeside Speed and Shine (Lake Havasu, AZ)
Insulation: Vibro Solutions
Seats: TMI
Door Panels: TMI
Steering: Flaming River steering column, Billet Specialties steering wheel
Shifter: Lokar
Dash: Stock with TMI dashpad
Instrumentation: Dakota Digital
Wiring: American Autowire by Lakeside
HVAC: Vintage Air
Control Panel: Vintage Air
Sound System: Kicker head unit, Kicker speakers, Kicker twin 10-inch sub
Installation: Lakeside
Exterior
Bodywork: Shaved driprails, removed side markers, and trim by Lakeside
Paint: Matrix GM Shark Gray by Lakeside
Grille: Stock, painted, and Cerakoted
Front Bumper: Stock, painted, tucked, and smoothed
Rear Bumper: Stock, painted, tucked, and smoothed
Headlights: Dapper Lighting
Taillights: Dakota Digital
Side Mirrors: Ringbrothers
Door Handles: Kindig It
Powdercoating: Allcoat
