If you haven’t before now, you should be paying attention to the creations that are coming out of Retro Fabworks. Owner Don Abenante has been a car builder and fabricator for some time and recently began publishing some of his work on video via his YouTube channel.
His personal Chevelle recently received quite a bit of fanfare in “The Road To SEMA” booth. Not only did Don and his friends get the Chevelle roadworthy in record time, but Don also hopped in the driver’s seat and piloted it to SEMA 2,700 miles away from its Rhode Island home.
Immediately after SEMA, he took the car further west to hang out with Shawn and the rest of the Autotopia LA team to shoot the video you see here.
The car has been through multiple iterations over its time under Don’s ownership, from a 383 with a Paxton blower, to a boosted big block Chevy, and now to what some would surely view as GM sacrilege: a blue-oval Coyote mill is centered between the frame rails of this classic GM muscle car.
Say what you will, but we think it fulfills the very definition of a hot rod, hearkening back to the days of Hemi swapping ’32 Fords and other popular platforms. And truth be told, hot rodding cuts both ways. If the GM LS engine is an acceptable powerplant to go in other makes and models, why not a double overhead cam Coyote?
Moving on, this Coyote isn’t the only thing that is responsible for generating 800 horsepower to the rear tires of this machine. A couple of hair dryers from HPT are immaculately integrated into the engine bay along with an intercooler that completes the boosted ensemble. Current boost levels are restricted to 11 psi, but plans are set to take this Coyote out and replace it with one that has a built bottom end that will withstand additional abuse.
All the while, Ridetech’s lowering system is keeping things planted in both the corners and in a straight line. The system consists of four HQ series rebound adjustable coil-overs, front upper and lower control arms, front and rear sway bars, and a rear 4-link out back that can handle power as Don’s right foot presses down on the skinny pedal.
Don Abenante’s Chevelle holds a special place in his heart. The aspirational father and son project ended sadly became a solo endeavor due to his father’s untimely passing. Despite the unfortunate curveball, Don recalls this project actually saved him, giving him something to focus on as he navigated a dark period in life.
We hope you enjoy this video as much as we did. It’s cool to see a project come together from a passionate automotive enthusiast at a high level of execution. The writer of this blog would kill to have the fabrication skills and shop to complete his projects at this level.
And while we are excited to see what the future holds for the Chevelle, we’re also looking forward to seeing further developments on Don’s El Camino project, which is yet another Retro Fabworks masterpiece in process.
We’ll catch you on the next one #ridetechnation!
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