Wrecks To Riches

This “crashed” 1972 Chevelle went from crusher-bound to track crusher

- Evan Perkins

Once every year, Super Chevy hosts a put-up-or-shut-up style suspension challenge and invites suspension manufacturers to show the world what they’ve got. It’s an all-inclusive shootout that tests suspensions of all styles, cost tiers, and ideologies and puts them to work on the road course, slalom, and 100-yard dash. Last year’s event, the 2018 Super Chevy Muscle Car Challenge presented by Falken Tires took place in sunny Fontana, California, and had great turnout of awesome manufacturers ready to go toe-to-toe, tire-to-pavement, and pedal-to-the-metal to prove they are just as hard core as their customers.

Some cars are purpose-built to handle while others pull double duty on both the street and track, and, in some cases, the car has one heckuva story. Enter Crash, the lucky Chevelle that got a second chance at the road.

THE CAR

James White, a Los Angeles police officer, bought the stock-ish 1972 Chevelle with a 350ci engine and Turbo 350 transmission five years ago. Parts were acquired as money allowed and the car began to trend upward, with improvements flowing through every major system. It became a daily driver and, in a little over a year, the car had racked up 9,500 miles on the new combination.

Then the worst happened. The car took a hit in a traffic collision that, in the eyes of the insurance company, resulted in the Chevelle being written offas a total loss. Fortunately, hot rodders are infamously bad at counting beans. For the sum of $500, the crunched Chevelle was bought back from the insurance company and traded to friend and fellow lawman Frank Herrera in exchange for a paintjob on White’s other project. A sheriff ’s deputy who wears two hats, Herrera also owns One OffRides in Norco, California, where the Chevelle was lovingly received and work commenced immediately on its second life.