All of us face some form of adversity when building the Bow-Tie of our dreams. Whether it's busted knuckles, ill-fitting parts, or empty bank accounts, there's always a series of hurdles to clear while cruising down the path toward automotive perfection. Some of those hurdles are higher than others.
Don Dixon knows a thing or two about adversity. It seems that this Durham, North Carolina, man has been consistently battling health problems for most of the recent past. From his ongoing struggle with Multiple Sclerosis to overcoming three heart attacks and a stroke, Don has had a lot to overcome.
We first met Don back at the Richmond, Virginia Super Chevy Show back in 1996, where he was showing off his restored '67 Camaro RS. He had recently finished a two-year restoration on the car, which he was rightfully proud of considering what he had gone through to build it. Don's wife, Sandra, even related stories to us of how Don, his eyesight affected by the MS, would sit out at his workbench using a magnifying glass to see and work on small parts.
As big of a feat as it was for Don to restore his '67, after a while the accomplishment wasn't enough for him. It seems that doing a by-the-book restoration only whetted his appetite to build a car that would incorporate some of his personal tastes. So when a '69 Camaro came up for sale in a nearby community, he jumped at the chance to embark on another project.
This time around, Don enlisted some assistance from friends Herschel and Dwayne Turnage, who helped with the car's teardown and the rebuild of the chassis using mostly stock replacement parts. Meanwhile, the '68-vintage 327 was sent to Warren's Engines (Clinton, NC), where Bobby Warren performed a mild buildup with a balanced bottom end, Melling cam, factory intake, and Quadrajet carb. Herschel rebuilt the Turbo 350 that was installed behind the small-block.
As is the case with so many projects of this nature, the Camaro's body looked rougher and rougher as it was stripped down to its bare shell. Nevertheless, Stanley Rose did a great job of getting it all back into shape, a task that required replacing a lot of sheetmetal and most of the floor. When all the surgery and smoothing was finished, he sprayed the Camaro '75 Corvette Yellow, which was followed by accent striping by Bo Meadows Designs.
The most significant changes to the Camaro came on the inside. Dennis Powell (Powell's Upholstery) helped Don select a striking berry-colored tweed to use on the seats and door panels, then proceeded to finish off the trunk in the same material. Yellow accent stitching added a little extra flair, as did the Grant wood wheel.
Considering that many of us in perfect health find excuses not to finish projects, Don's dedication is enlightening. He not only overcame a lot of adversity building both of his Camaros, but also came up with some outstanding results. At last report, Don's doctors feared that his latest adversary would be cancer. But if he faces that with the same tenacity that he has shown with his Camaro projects, we're sure he'll give it quite a fight.