SP Rides: A Chevy Built for his son
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Kalai Frost
Age: 33
Hobbies: Spending time with my kids
Year/Make/Model: 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle
Color: Viper Blue with Ice Blue Pearl
Build time: 3 years
Engine: Rebuilt 350, bored .030 over; Competition Cams; Airgap intake; Holley 750 CFM carburetor; Hooker ceramic headers; aluminum valve covers; dress-up kit; and Flowmaster dual exhaust
Drivetrain: Turbo 400 transmission with 4.11 gears; and 12-bolt rear end
Exterior: Brand new everything including body panels, grills, lights, etc.
Interior: Custom upholstery with white vinyl and blue piping; Autometer gauges; Forever Sharp billet steering wheel; Custom Deck & Speaker install
Suspension: Brand new suspension, brand new bushings all around
Wheels/Tires/Brakes: American Racing torque thrust (2 18-inch in back with 16s in front); Bridgestone Turanzas 255/55R18 rear and 205/60R16s front; and 4-wheel disc brakes
Kalai Frost has always enjoyed older cars. While hanging out at a high school friend’s house, he was first introduced to a variety of classic rides, but it wasn’t until years later that he was offered the opportunity to buy one. Jumping at the opportunity, he immediately purchased the 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle that graces these pages.
Once Kalai brought the car home in 2007, he took a few moments to get it running while planning his next steps. During this time he was introduced to Fred Hardy of So Unique Creations. Overall, the car seemed in decent shape until Fred pulled it down to the bare metal. It’s at this point that he offered to rebuild the ride from the ground up. Kalai gave his approval and together with Fred spent the next three and a half years planning and crafting this amazing automobile.
The car was disassembled and placed on a rotisserie. The frame was powder-coated and the build began in earnest. Practically every single piece of the car was replaced — all panels, fenders and doors, including the hood and trunk. Even the bolts and nuts were replaced making this a complete restoration.
Most people would be intimidated at the amount of time and money required to complete full rebuilds. Kalai says the slow build allowed him to gradually pay for the construction of the vehicle while Fred earned his trust every step of the way.
No corners were cut once the body was pieced together. Fred sprayed the car with Lizard Skin Ceramic Insulation and added Dynomat coverage for soundproofing and heat protection. The body was then painted an incredible shade of viper blue, and the outcome is stunning.
A rebuilt 350 small block, bored .030, was installed along with Competition Cams, an Airgap intake, a Holley 750 CFM carburetor and Hooker ceramic-coated headers. Aluminum valve covers and a dress-up kit add some shine to the bay. Of special note is the shaved firewall that rests between the engine and passenger cabin. The low-end grunt emits from a Flowmaster dual exhaust while a Turbo 400 transmission with 4.11 gears is matched to a 12-bolt rear-end to put the power down.
The new bushings are included all around in addition to 4-wheel disc brakes. The wheels and tires are staggered American Racing Torque Thrust 2 wheels sized at 18 inches on the back with 16s on the front. Bridgestone Turanzas are sized 255/55R18 at the rear and 205/60R16s in the front.
King’s upholstery handled the fantastic interior, which includes flawless white vinyl with blue piping. A brand new wiring harness connects the autometer gauge clusters while a billet Forever Sharp steering wheel adds even more flash.
This car is incredible. It’s beautifully constructed and thoroughly well made. With a car like this, in fact, you would think Kalai would want to show it off to the world. In truth, he insisted that Fred and Kalai’s son be in the profile photo, giving credit where it’s due.
“I did this to build memories with my kids. This is for my son,” says Kalai of his ride, which bears a vanity plate that reads “4MYSON.” “It’s his.”
