Father’s Day is a week away – that means the race is on to get Dad the best gift you can find! No worries, we’ve got the hook up for you. Check out this badass American V8 Piston Power Pack Beverage Cooler!

The high-tech, efficient and durable cooler made from heavy-duty and highly efficient graphite-composite silver foam holds twelve cans or bottles – 8 in the cylinders and 4 in the bottom of the cooler. Just lift the clear hinged valve covers to access the cans in the piston cylinders! The inside can be filled with ice or icepacks to keep beverages or snacks cold for hours.

The cooler features built-in handle grips and an optional custom embroidered carrying strap is available, and did we mention that this cooler talks? Press the button on the lid and the cooler shouts “drivers, start your engines!” and revs up.

One of our favorite aspects of this neat cooler is that it’s made in the USA, just like our favorite V8 engines! Speed on over to www.V8Cooler.com to order one for the Dad in your life!

The beautiful 1954 Chevrolet Corvette you see here is thought to be the lowest-mileage, unrestored 1954 Corvette in the world. With only 2,331 original miles on the dial, the Vette is considered by some to be a true time capsule.

The Vette features an original Blue Flame Six engine with side draft Carter carburetors. It was purchased new by Richard Sampson, who drove the car until 1959, when he decided to “bury” it alive in one of the grocery stores he owned in Brunswick, Maine. He simply drove the car to the worksite and gave orders to entomb the Corvette within a vault of brick and mortar. Then he put in his will that the car should remain in the vault until the year 2000.

Before he passed away in 1969 and unbeknownst to his daughter, Sampson had voided his will. When the building containing the tomb was purchased by Brunswick auto dealer Frank Goodwin, it was agreed that the car would be removed by the end of the existing lease in 1986. Sampson’s daughter Cynthia was on-site when the Corvette was carefully removed from the building, and although the car’s paint suffered from the moisture within the enclosure that yellowed and blistered its Polo White paint, the tires still held air, and the chrome, top, and interior were in great condition. Cynthia brought the car home to Daytona Beach, Florida, where it sat in her living room for the next ten years.

Cynthia eventually sold the car to a Corvette collector who pledged to preserve the awesome Vette, rather than restore it. Finally, it made a long-awaited appearance in the Bloomington Gold Special Collection in Springfield, Illinois, where it was displayed in honor of Richard Sampson, Sr., with Cynthia Sampson in attendance.

Now, the car is for sale again and you have a chance to be the lucky new owner! The beautiful Corvette did not meet reserve when it went rolled across the block at a Mecum auction in January with a high bid of $100,000, but it will return to auction on June 29th with higher hopes. It is after all believed to be the lowest mileage unrestored Corvette of its type in the world, with the same 2,331 miles that were on the odometer when it finally saw daylight 27 years after its entombment.

For more information, visit www.MecumAuctions.com.  

Did you know that June 7th is National Donut Day? Neither did we! That is, until we saw Chevrolet’s newest video celebrating the forgotten holiday. The video features the perfect “recipe” for donuts – a black Camaro ZL1 with nice, juicy tires and a wide-open parking lot.

"Professional donut maker. Closed course. Do not attempt,” is displayed at the bottom of the screen as a warning to those who might be out to mix up their own batch of donuts.

Spread the word and get out there and celebrate! After all, who doesn’t enjoy a few donuts every now and then?

Watch the video here!

Here at Super Chevy, we love it when a new muscle car book ends up on our desk, books like “The All-American Muscle Car.” We really like the way it's written and the awesome photographs, but were seriously unimpressed by the lack of Chevys!

With contributing authors including Joe Oldham, Jim Wangers, and David Newhardt, “The All-American Muscle Car” touches on almost all of the highlights throughout “the birth, death, and resurrection of Detroit’s greatest performance cars.”

"When John Z. DeLorean and his cadre of enthusiastic miscreants took it upon themselves to bolt Pontiac division’s hottest engine into a mid-sized chassis, disobeying orders from the top of General Motors’ food chain, they created something that should never have been and will never be again: the muscle car,” writes Darwin Holmstrom in the book’s introduction.

The book scans the birth of the muscle car and pony car through the use of pictures and old advertisements, before moving onto muscle car “enhancers” and the modern era of muscle cars.

“So what can be gained by looking back at the last forty years of muscle car values with perfect 20/20 hindsight? Quite a bit. Like our fictional folklore character, the best muscle cars fell from grace when they became “just used cars,” then slowly but surely they escaped the seedy underworld, met the challenges and physical impediments thrown at them, and were able to return to the world of collectibles as heroes,” writes Colin Comer at the conclusion of the book.

If you're a fan of muscle cars in general, you definitely won’t regret adding this book to your shelf. Diehard Chevy enthusiasts may want to bypass this one and look for a book that's more geared towards the Bow Tie lover.

You can make a copy your own by visiting www.motorbooks.com, www.amazon.com or anywhere automotive books are sold.

 Danchuk manufacturing maker of all kinds of Tri-Five restoration parts has a Big Rig that tours the country stopping at shows throughout the year.

This allows people who don't live in California a chance to touch and feel the parts before purchasing. Danchuk recently gave the truck a new paint job that features some killer Tri-Fives and a lovely lady perched atop the hood of a 55. Danchuk also included all their sponsors logos along the bottom as a way to say thanks for your support.

If you are interested in seeing the truck in person and also the cool parts that are hidden inside click here to check out Danchuk's show schedule.

Danchuk
800-648-9554
www.danchuk.com

Sponsor list

Custom Autosound
800-888-8637
www.casmfg.com

Classic Instruments
800-575-0461
www.classicinstruments.com

US Radiator
323-826-0965
www.usradiator.com

Eddie Motorsports
888-813-1293
www.eddiemotorsports.com

R&D Finishing (Chrome Plating)
423-543-1722
www.rdfinishing.net

Ausley's Chevelle Parts
800-228-7539
www.chevelle.com

Art Morrison
866-321-4499
www.artmorrison.com

Redline Lumtronix
855-852-6435
www.haloheadlights.co

June is here! It’s time to dig those cars and boats out of storage and hit the streets... or the water! Optima knows it’s time to get “geared up for the heat” so they’re providing prospective and loyal customers alike with another reason to choose Optima for all their battery needs – free stuff to go along with their purchase.

Optima Batteries recently announced an online promotion offering consumers a free Optima-branded cooler with the online purchase of any battery or charger. The promotion runs from now until June 30, 2013.

Eligible purchases include any Optima battery (including all Optima YellowTop, RedTop, and BlueTop batteries) or charger (both the Optima Chargers Digital 1200 12V Performance Battery Charger and Maintainer and the Optima Chargers Digital 400 12V Performance Charger and Maintainer) through Optima Batteries.com during the month of June. Once the eligible product is added to the online shopping cart, the cooler will appear in the cart upon purchase (one free cooler per purchase).

The Optima heavyweight cooler ($24.95 value) is built for rough use and holds six cans. Beverages stay cold for hours, and the leak-resistant cooler folds flat for storage when not in use.

To learn more about and shop for Optima Batteries products, please visit Optima Batteries.com.

On page 14 in our July 2013 issue of Super Chevy, we published incorrect dates for our Super Chevy Show at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois. The correct dates are June 21-23, 2013.  We regret the error and apologize for any inconvenience.

We hope to see you there!

The Super Chevy Show series hits Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California, this weekend for the first time in nearly two decades!

Your favorite editors will once again be on hand to browse the competition and hand out Editor’s Choice Drag Car and Show Car awards. We will also be picking cars for the AMSOIL Best of the Best online show car competition.

Spectators can look forward to the West Coast Outlaw Pro-Mods running 250 mph down the strip along with all models of the fiercest Chevy vehicles in Bakersfield.

Test & tune begins at noon on Friday and all makes and models are welcome to race, kicking off the Chevy-packed weekend on May 31st. Gates will open at 8 a.m. and tech starts at 10 a.m.

Participants will have an opportunity to compete in the second Super Chevy Magazine Triathlon of the season, consisting of autocross, drag racing and brake stop challenge activities (categories listed below). We want to know who will perform better – the East Coast participants at Palm Beach International Raceway or the West Coast at Famoso Raceway!

The car show and time trials will begin on Saturday and continue throughout the day, with an all-Chevy Gamblers race, the True Street Cruise, and CamaroGuys.com Gen 5 Challenge trophy bracket class. Qualifying will also begin for the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mods.

On Sunday, gates open at 8 a.m. with day two of the car show and big money bracket class time trials. Racers will be competing in the DriveDuracell.com Bracket 1 (Super Pro), Bracket 2 (Pro) and the DOT Street class featuring the fastest street cars and trucks, as well as the West Coast Outlaw Pro Mod Eliminations.

Spectators and participants alike can be assured that the Super Chevy Show series will provide them with yet another weekend of non-stop racing action, an extraordinary car show, and vendor midway with an odds and ends swap meet.

After the show, go to SuperChevy.com to vote for your favorites (one vote per email address). Voting ends June 10th at midnight and winners will be announced on the website and receive a special personalized AMSOIL Best of the Best award certificate from the editors of Super Chevy Magazine as well as a free Preferred Customer membership from AMSOIL good for the purchase of AMSOIL products at wholesale prices for up to one year.

At the end of the Super Chevy season, don’t forget to come back to vote for the overall champion in each category for the winner from the twelve events!

For more information on the event or spectator, crew, racer and other fees visit: http://www.famosoraceway.com.

Triathlon Classes to be judged:

Camaro pre - '81 Novice

Camaro pre - '81 Expert

Camaro pre - '81 Ladies

Camaro '82 - '02 Novice

Camaro '82 - '02 Expert

Camaro '82 - '02 Ladies

Fifth Gen Camaro Novice

Fifth Gen Camaro Expert

Fifth Gen Camaro Ladies

Corvette Novice

Corvette Expert

Corvette Ladies

Open Novice

Open Expert

Open Ladies

King of the Hill (Best Score - Regardless of Class)

This past Saturday, Hot Wheels entered the world record books when it built the longest toy track set in history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Four Hot Wheels toy-size Chevrolet Camaros raced a mile long, four-lane, powder-coated oval racetrack the day before the Indianapolis 500.

The race was part of Hot Wheels’ “World’s Best Championship,” in which four lucky kids competed in the race, who were coached by the likes of racing legends Mario Andretti and John Andretti. Mario claimed victory at the Indy 500 44 years ago and the winner of the Hot Wheels race will go down in the record books as the youngest person to win at Indy!

The four kids who competed were invited from all over the country to race the four toy-size cars around the track. Christopher Bienusa, a 12-year-old from Alexandria, Minnesota, emerged victorious! As is custom at the Indy 500, Bienusa celebrated by drinking a bottle of milk (his was chocolate) and kissing the fabled Yard of Bricks on the speedway.

The cars reached a top speed of 9.07 mph, which equals about 580 mph on a life-size scale.

A total of 1,080 pieces of custom-made Hot Wheels track were used to create the track which took 46 people to install. Alexandria Industries was responsible for manufacturing the almost 4,700 pounds of aluminum extrusions, built to withstand outdoor elements such as heat and rain.

Watch a quick video about the race on Hot Wheels’ YouTube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbDSqFoCQaU

We made it: 1,100 miles from South Jersey to Tampa in a 509-powered ’72 Nova. We burned more gas than we expected, but added exactly zero oil, coolant, ATF or power steering fluid during the trip. That's a testament to the aftermarket products used.

As co-pilot Dan Foley had never been there before, we exited I-95 in the Sunshine State for some photos outside Daytona International Speedway. OK, I wanted these pictures for posterity. That's me giving you the thumbs-up. The Nova's a lot dirtier, the wheels need polishing after all the rain, and the tire shine's gone, but the Nova's no worse for the wear and tear.

On Nitto 555 drag radials (same tires you see here), the car ran 10.47 at 129.21 at Atco Raceway. We decided to throw it on the office DynoJet in our Snap-On Tools Tech Center in Tampa to see what kind of power it was making. Dan had changed the air bleeds before leaving Jersey in the hope of improving the fuel economy, but we put the ones we used at Atco back in the Proform 950 carb for the dyno pulls. Turned the rollers to 503 horsepower—impressive given how much you lose going through a TH400 automatic and 9-inch rear. All V-belts were hooked up. Now we're thinking about an electric water pump and fan, plus a serpentine system to free up even more ponies.

Been driving Nova to work the last couple of days. I'm really proud of the old girl. We asked a lot of her, but she never let us down. Better still, every time I fire up the 509, it startles the neighbors.

 Where should we go next?

Overdrive and air conditioning. These are the two modern conveniences we purposely left off the Nova SS509 project car when we decided to build it. It was going to be a street/strip machine that went to the occasional cruise night. What did we need overdrive and air conditioning for?

Naturally, once it was mechanically complete, we decided to drive it 1,100 miles from South Jersey's Pine Barrens to Tampa. Without overdrive and without air conditioning. Call me a wuss, but you just don't realize how dependent you've become on these two things until you've driven some 24 hours in a vintage car with a screaming big-block that lacks these conveniences.

Despite a lack of tailpipes, the roar from the throaty 3-inch pipes wasn't too bad (we angled the mufflers' outlets towards each other as a noise cancellation trick). We had the side windows up and the kick panel vents open, but as we got further south later in the trip (we left at 6:15 a.m. from Virginia) and the humidity started climbing, it was getting a smidge uncomfortable in our X-body.

We didn't fear for our big-block 509's health, as it was built for high-rpm operation with Comp Cams' latest valvetrain technology. When we switched to a solid roller cam (see the July ’13 issue of Super Chevy), we knew we could get away with a lot less spring pressure. The engine responded with flawless operation and another perfect oil check.

We had tunes, thanks to the previous owner installing a modern CD player. With an iPod hookup that played through the 88.3 frequency, we could listen to all our favorite songs from the previous century. But the Nova's base high-back bucket seats were truly not comfortable. They had dead seat bottoms, no side bolstering, and the non-adjustable seat backs were too bolt-upright for my 51-year-old back.

And can someone tell me when was the last time they paved I-95 in South Carolina? I'm sure they have smoother roads in Afghanistan. The right lane was unusable, and the left slightly better, but unless we wanted to travel at 85 mph

we were relegated to the slow lane. At 3,500 rpm at 70, this was our course of action. 

After we entered Georgia, we spotted some signage for Macon. As we wasted much of our teen years in theaters watching flicks like "Two-Lane Blacktop," "Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry," and the timeless(?) ’57 Chevy thriller, "Return To Macon County," how could we resist taking the photo you see here?

We’re so excited about the July 2013 issue that we’ve decided to give you a few hints at what to expect when you pick up your copy!

“Is there anything better than rocketing down a straightaway in a modified first-gen Camaro with your foot buried to the floor? Perhaps one thing: turning at the end of it.” We’ll tell you what the ’68 Camaro G-Machine was equipped with and how it held its own on the road course in our feature story “Evasive Maneuvers.”

We hope you’re excited for Part 8 of our “What A Drag” tech series featuring your editor’s own 1972 Nova SS. A hydraulic roller is swapped out for a solid roller ram to improve street driving and track performance, and broaden the 509’s powerband.

That’s all we can tell you for now! Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Super Chevy’s July 2013 issue on sale on today, and as always, you can find them here soon on SuperChevy.com.

As we reported in our last blog, we hit a bird in Virginia with the SS509 Nova project just before we picked up I-95 a few miles from North Carolina. From past experience, I can tell you this is usually bad luck. I knew a guy who hit a gull that flew in front of his car at the strip when the car was going about 108 mph. Feathers flew everywhere and you could hear it from 1320 feet away.

In our case, the revenge came at our next gas stop in North Carolina. We checked the oil, cleaned the feathers from the radiator and, in general, made sure the car was fine. I topped off the fuel cell, ran inside for a potty break, and got some drinks for the road. It was Dan Foley's turn to drive, so I hopped in the shotgun seat. He turned the ignition key.

Nothing.

Not a sound. Ugh. Tried again. It cranked a little. All the battery connections were good and I knew from checking the gauges that the alternator was charging OK. I nice man in a late-model Mustang GT offered us a jump. I looked in the trunk. We had enough tools and stuff to rebuild the engine, octane boost in case we got bad gas, a floor jack, etc. But no jumper cables.

Naturally, the store attached to the station had everything from Coke to condoms, but nothing automotive related. Frustrated, Dan turned the key. The Nova fired right up. Seems like our starter got heat soaked during our long stop. It was never a problem again for the rest of the trip, but it sure gave us pause every time we stopped for fuel!

In our haste to get the car into the low 10-second zone at the track, we never bothered with some of the more mundane aspects of the car. For instance, it had a dash full of Auto Meter gauges when we got it, but we never set up the speedometer. Since the speedometers in all my cars are inaccurate, I took the simplest way out—I downloaded a free speedo app for my smart phone. Speed Box works off the GPS and gives you the precise speed you're traveling. As a bonus, there's also an odometer, which made the painful task of figuring our miserable fuel economy a piece of cake. As you can see from the photo, we went 72 mph in honor of our ’72 Nova.

The fog was had just cleared as we motored down Route 1 South through Virginia. I was just about to relax a little and enjoy the Rat power when a bird committed hare kare, throwing himself in front of my Nova. Quite a shock to the system at 6:45 in the morning. Never even saw it—just heard the pop. That really got the attention of me and co-pilot Dan "Nova Man" Foley. At our next gas stop, we saw his feathers in my radiator.

Aside from giving me a bigger jolt than a double espresso from Starbucks, that was about as much drama as we had on this first leg of the journey from Richmond to Tampa. At the first gas stop, a fellow wanted to buy the Nova, as both he and the Chevy were born in 1972.

Got a great sausage, egg and biscuit as our first gas stop at a hole in the wall service station on Route 40 on our way to I-95. Home-made in the kitchen in the back. Can't get good home cookin' on the interstates, but the slow pace of the back roads and the limited time I had to get to Florida dictated we hit the Federal Highway System. Good stuff.

Gas mileage? A painful 8 mpg. We were hoping for better.

Thank goodness for 20-gallon fuel cells.

 The first leg of our journey to Tampa in our 509-powered Nova SS is complete. Despite heavy traffic, constant rain and a long distance, our project car made it perfectly to Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie. The big-block didn't use a drop of oil, but it sure did suck up a lot of go-go juice. Thanks to the traffic, our highway mpg dropped to 8.

Super Chevy freelancer Dan Foley completed this part of the trip himself. We put the car on display in the Super Chevy subscription booth at the Super Chevy Show and it was a smash hit. Even the rain couldn't dampen the enthusiasm the crowd had for the car.
Check back in a couple of hours for an update. We're just about to leave our hotel and hit the road to Tampa.

Heidts Performance in Wauconda, Illinois, will be holding its annual Car Challenge this weekend and your favorite Super Chevy editors will be on hand to give out an Editor's Choice award to the best Chevy in attendance.

The Heidts Performance three-day event will test the handling and road manners of some of America's best-built muscle cars. The celebration of horsepower kicks off this Friday afternoon at Heidts Headquarters.

On Friday, participants are invited to attend the Heidts Performance Group facility tour and barbecue. Event registration staff will be on hand to get all required paperwork in order and get participants ready to roll! Then the real fun begins with a scenic drive from Heidts to the Holiday Inn in Joliet, Illinois. Bench racing and socializing will conclude the schedule for Friday.

The action will shift into high gear Saturday morning at the Autobahn Country Club.

The Heidts Road Course portion of the event will take place on the North course, which is a 1.46-mile, nine-turn, adrenaline factory. A full day on the road course assures that all participants receive plenty of track time.

The first 20 participants to sign up for the Heidts Performance Car Challenge will be eligible to attend an autocross driver school conducted by professional race drivers. There is no extra charge for this instruction which is designed to help beginner and novice racers alike to get the most out of the road course.

The Speed Stop Squared Challenge, sponsored by Wilwood, will be an exciting event, with drivers testing limits of acceleration, braking, and driver skills all at the same time! Mirror image courses will pit racers head-to-head as they put the pedal to the metal through a straightaway and slalom course before stopping in a designated "stop box." Hit a cone, and the time penalty could be severe.

And of course, there will be a car show showcasing beautiful automotive craftsmanship. Awards will be given to the winner of each class, and a team of judges will select the Best of Show along with the aforementioned Editor’s Choice class. The entry fee is only $25 and includes three parade laps around the track to show off your muscle car.

The week will conclude on Sunday with another day of autocross, Speed Stop Squared and racing on the Autobahn North course.

We hope to see you there and stay tuned for our event coverage!

One look at Chevrolet’s line-up will tell you that there’s a Chevy vehicle for just about every segment of the market. But Mark Reuss, GM’s president of North America, is eyeing yet another niche. He believes there’s room in the Chevy stable for a sporty, modestly priced, rear-wheel-drive car aimed at young drivers.

"A really nice, light, rear-drive car that's inexpensive -- we know that rings a bell," Reuss told Automotive News last week. "That'd be a huge win for us if we had that."

Though Reuss has said that there are no plans in the works yet, it’s been obvious since the 2012 Detroit auto show when GM unveiled its Code 130R concept coupe (pictured above) that the automaker is seriously thinking about building the kind of car Reuss is envisioning.

The Code 130R was very well received by young people according to Reuss, which reinforced his desire to create something to fit their needs and budgets. The car would need to fall into the low- to mid-$20,000 range in order to take on the likes of the Scion FR-S and its Subaru BRZ sibling – fun-to-drive, rear-drive cars it would compete against.

While Chevy has been bringing out the big guns lately with its 2014 Corvette Stingray, SS sedan, and Camaro Z/28, those cars are out of reach of the under-30 set.

If General Motors decides to go forward with the idea, Reuss hinted that its design would differ from the Code 130R, which he described as “dated.” He also added that it probably wouldn't be built on the Alpha rear-wheel drive platform that underpins the new Cadillac ATS. Instead, he believes it would be have to be based on a unique platform that is "really scalable and efficient," which is likely the biggest hurdle to getting a car like Reuss wants off the ground.

In any event, we’re behind Reuss all the way. What enthusiast wouldn’t want to see GM build a car like that?

Source: Automotive News

In October of last year, Royal Purple launched Royal Purple Ladies in an effort to advance women’s interest in the automotive industry. Now, they want you to get involved.

Royal Purple is seeking applications for a female-owned vehicle to be featured at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this November.

One lucky woman will be chosen to represent Royal Purple Ladies at The SEMA Show! Those interested will need to submit the following items by May 31, 2013:

- A detailed specifications list for the vehicle (please include any Royal Purple products used in the car)

- Up to ten pictures of the vehicle’s interior and exterior

- One written page with the following:

- Paragraph 1- Tell us about yourself

- Paragraph 2- History of your vehicle

- Paragraph 3- Why should Royal Purple Ladies select you to show your car as a Feature Vehicle?

- Paragraph 4- How do you hope to inspire other women by showing your vehicle?

"We are looking for a vehicle to represent Royal Purple Ladies that is 100 percent female owned, restored or built, either a show or race car,” said Marlena Solomon, Royal Purple Communications Specialist.

On behalf of Royal Purple Ladies, the woman who is selected to have her car featured will be relieved of all fees and registration. She will also receive Royal Purple wearables and an invite to Royal Purple’s VIP dinner in Las Vegas during the show.

While vehicle transportation to Las Vegas and hotel accommodations will not be included, Royal Purple can assist with pricing for both as needed. Travel expenses and transportation are the owner’s responsibility, as well as meals, excluding the winner's VIP dinner. Any other costs associated with the trip are also the responsibility of the owner.

Sponsorship can help to offset some of these costs. SEMA does allow the placement of decals on the vehicle if sponsors are already SEMA Show exhibitors. Owners can also acknowledge sponsors on their brag board at the show.

This initiative is separate from the photo contest Royal Purple will run this summer to send a car and truck to the SEMA Show as Feature Vehicles.

Proof of ownership, insurance, and a valid driver’s license are required of the winner.

Entries can be submitted electronically to msolomon@royalpurple.com or mailed to:

Royal Purple

Attn: Marlena Solomon

1 Royal Purple Lane, Porter, TX 77365

General Motors recently released a “soundtrack” video finally giving a voice to the new 2014 Camaro Z/28 – and boy, does it sound beastly. The camera scans over the pearl white Z/28 to the tune of the 7.0L LS7 engine’s roar. Check it out below and let us know what you think!

"A wet dream on wheels... that’s what a muscle car is. The embodiment of every adolescent and adult male’s hopes and dreams,” writes legendary auto journalist and author Brock Yates in the forward of David Newhardt’s new book “The Art of the Muscle Car” that celebrates the cars that ignited the passion of the post-World War II generation looking to feed their need for speed.

The book is chock-full of incredible photography by Peter Harholdt that showcases each of the nearly 50 cars featured in vivid color and detail. There are several fold-out photographs with perforation so that they can be removed from the book if desired – an interesting touch. Each muscle car is also briefly outlined and a table outlines details including base and optional engines, base price, curb weight, and production numbers.

“The Art of the Muscle Car” is available for purchase at www.motorbooks.com, www.amazon.com, and wherever automotive books are sold. Buy your copy today!

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) election is just around the corner. We are urging everyone to vote for our very own Doug Evans. Doug has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and touches all aspects of the business daily.

From warehouses to manufacturers, Doug impacts the industry. He has served three terms on the SEMA Board of Directors and three terms on ARMO (SEMA’s restoration council). Doug is also the current show chairman and has been chairman of the SEMA PAC for a decade, fighting in Washington to preserve the automotive industry and hobby for future generations. Doug is also the proud  recipient of the prestigious SEMA Person of the Year award and the Lee Iacocca Automotive Lifetime achievement award. See more about Doug at www.facebook.com/doug4sema and be sure to “Like” Doug when you’re there.

Vote for the candidate who believes in the automotive aftermarket and will protect our businesses - Vote Doug Evans.

Chevrolet has finally released pricing for its all-new 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray. So just how much will you have to dole out to own the new C7 Vette? The suggested starting retail price of the coupe is $51,995, and the Corvette Stingray Convertible will start at $56,995. Both prices include a $995 destination fee but exclude tax, title, and license.

Just a few of the standard features one can expect on the 2014 Vette include a 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine with direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system, as well as a new seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching. The newest Vettes also come standard with a carbon fiber hood on all models, and a carbon fiber removable roof panel on coupes set on an aluminum frame that is 99 pounds lighter and 57% stiffer than the previous model’s structure.

The Stingray coupe shown at the 2013 North American International Auto Show fitted with the major available options would cost $73,360. Some of the options available include a 3LT interior package with leather-wrapped interior, Magnetic Ride Control with Performance Traction Management, the Z51 Performance Package, and dual-mode exhaust system to name a few.

"The 2014 Corvette Stingray perfectly embodies Chevrolet’s mission to deliver more than expected for our customers. The Corvette Stingray delivers a combination of performance, design and technology that very few manufacturers can match, and none can even come close for $52,000,” said vice president of Chevrolet marketing, Chris Perry, in a statement announcing pricing.

To learn more about the options and features available on the 2014 Stingray, check out our story on Vetteweb.com and at www.chevrolet.com.

Standard features on the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray include:

• Seating with lightweight magnesium frames for exceptional support, and eight-way power adjustment
• Five-position Drive Mode Selector that tailors up to 12 vehicle attributes
• New seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching
• 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine with direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system
• Carbon fiber hood on all models, and a carbon fiber removable roof panel on coupes
• Aluminum frame that is 99 pounds lighter (45 kg) and 57-percent stiffer than the previous model’s structure
• Advanced, high-intensity discharge (HID) and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting
• Dual, eight-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens, with next-generation Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system and rear vision camera
• Bose nine-speaker audio system with SiriusXM Satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and SD card and auxiliary input jack
• Keyless access with push-button start
• Power tilt/telescope steering wheel
• An all-new, fully electronic top on the convertible that can be lowered remotely using the key fob

As shown at the North American International Auto Show, the Stingray coupe fitted with the major available options would be $73,360, including:

• 3LT interior package, with leather-wrapped interior ($8,005)
• Z51 Performance Package ($2,800)
• Competition sports seats ($2,495)
• Exposed-carbon-fiber roof panel ($1,995)
• Magnetic Ride Control with Performance Traction Management ($1,795)
• Dual-mode exhaust system ($1,195)
• Carbon fiber interior trim ($995)
• Sueded, microfiber-wrapped upper interior trim ($995)
• Red-painted calipers ($595)
• Black-painted wheels ($495)

OPTIMA Chargers has done it again. The recently released for pre-sale OPTIMA Chargers Digital 400 12V Performance Maintainer and Battery Charger is a must-have for any vehicle, from daily drivers to powersport vehicles.

The OPTIMA Chargers Digital 400 12V Performance Maintainer and Battery Charger extends the life of vehicle batteries by keeping them charged when they’re not being used. The charge rate is up to four amps on large batteries and three amps on small batteries, and the Digital 400 can be used to keep all 12V AMG and flooded batteries healthy when not in use. Furthermore, it will maximize battery life and performance using OPTIMA’s built-in battery health mode.

The Digital 400 will retail for $109.99 once it hits shelves. For now, it is available for pre-sale on the OPTIMA Batteries website: www.optimabatteries.com.

Legislation (H.B. 133) has recently been introduced in Ohio in an effort to reverse the requirement of front license plates on all vehicles.

There are several reasons for the discontinuation of the requirement of a front plate. H.B. 133 could save money and conserve resources, as well as making Ohio the twentieth state to require only a rear plate. H.B. 133 would also protect the design contours of collector cars and relieve vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on some fabricated and original bumpers. Front plates also cause unnecessary damage in the result of a minor collision.

The bill has been referred to the House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee for consideration. Please do your part to help H.B. 133 pass!

Please e-mail members of the Committee (listed below) and send a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. And don’t forget to pass the information along to your friends!

district88@ohr.state.oh.us
district68@ohr.state.oh.us
district32@ohr.state.oh.us
district65@ohr.state.oh.us
district15@ohr.state.oh.us
district36@ohr.state.oh.us
district66@ohr.state.oh.us
district58@ohr.state.oh.us
district90@ohr.state.oh.us
district79@ohr.state.oh.us
district35@ohr.state.oh.us
district10@ohr.state.oh.us
district73@ohr.state.oh.us

Johnathan Hillstrand, captain of the Time Bandit fishing boat on Discovery Channel's hit TV series "Deadliest Catch," is also a dyed-in-the-wool Chevy fanatic. He had this custom '55 Chevy built by Slicks Garage in Palmetto, Florida.

The car, which features a monster 'Time Bandit' plastered across the grille, is powered by a Weiand blown 502 crate engine. It's a tribute to the '55 from the movies "American Graffiti" and "Two-Lane Blacktop." His father took him and his brother to see "Graffiti" when they were kids. It was the first drive-in movie they ever saw and it clearly left an indelible impression. The biggest difference between Hillstrand's '55 and the movie car is that movie car was a 150 and his car is a Bel Air.
You can follow the adventures of Hillstrand and the rest of the crew on the all-new season of "Deadliest Catch" Tuesdays on the Discovery Channel. Stay tuned for a full story about the car here on SuperChevy.com and in the August issue of Super Chevy. In the meantime, you can check out a video of the car below doing a burnout.