A Harbor Country five-year old is proving to be the darling of the major auto show circuit this year, but that will come as no surprise to anyone who knows the back story that is taking the market by storm.
New Buffalo's US 12 Speed & Custom shop is hauling in trophies, copping the top honors, and basking in the auto show spotlight from Detroit to Chicago and beyond thanks to their amazing transformation of a 1969 Pro Street Z28 Camaro, literally a Phoenix rising from the ashes and taking people's breath away.
Speed shop owner Rocky Troxell and his team of Billy D, Madd Max, Brett Miller and Mark have spent two years rebuilding the Camaro known as "She 28" literally from the ground up after the vehicle had been severely damaged in a barn fire. The striking rebuild is owned by Kathy & Don Hoover of Hobart, Indiana, and it is turning heads at every stop on the circuit.
Unveiled to the public just last month for the first time following the major-league makeover, "She 28" debuted at the 2016 Detroit Autorama. There it took 1st Place honors in the "Pro Street Custom" category as well as "Outstanding Display." Additionally, the resurrected Camaro was nominated as a contender for the 2016 "Ridler Award" — arguably the most elite award in all of automotive custom building circles.
Earlier this month, the Z28 took a bow at the Chicago World of Wheels auto show and grabbed the 1st Place trophy for "Outstanding Street Machine," as well as a Top 20 nomination for the 2016 "Legend Cup."
Even Hot Rod Magazine produced a feature on "She 28," after word got out about the remarkable transformation provided by US 12 Speed & Custom. The shop is barely five years old this year, having been founded by Troxell in 2011 and is anchored in Harbor Country at 19015 US Highway 12 south of New Buffalo.
The rebuild of the striking Camaro included a full chassis, body modifications, a new high-performance drive train, full interior and a sparkling new paint job. While this isn't the first nominated build to emerge from Troxell's team at US 12 Speed & Custom, it is notable in that it is the very first to be painted in the shop's brand new, state-of-the-art paint booth. That booth is the first of it's kind anywhere in the Harbor County area, and is capable of being compatible with Waterborne paints which are eco-friendly and offer a decidedly more vibrant color scale.
US 12 Speed & Custom specializes in race-car fabrication, custom car work and classic car repairs. The shop is open week days from 8am until 5pm and can be reached by phone at 269-231-5234.
