Hello my old friend! My 2000 SS Camaro returns home. Long read

[Justin at Final Inspection]

I wasn't sure where to put this but here it goes.


So as some know about 5 years ago I sold my beloved 2000 SS Camaro. Well I'm happy to say I was able to purchase it back and it has arrived.

Back in high school these 4th gen SS were released and I wanted one bad! After graduation and working a couple years I was able to purchase this black/black 6 speed Camaro SS. And like most I raced on the track and street and was always tinkering or modding. Shortly after I met my now wife and we continued racing and attending car shows.

Shortly after purchasing

https://i.imgur.com/8UestfR.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/q7nWrb3.jpg



One thing I had done was a full repaint with custom flames using Spies Hecker paint.

https://i.imgur.com/hxUP9rY.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/krAN0iM.jpg



Around 2008 we got married and moved down to Florida. We bought a house and started to get settled in all while getting involved in the car scene. Lucky for us we lived in Port St. Lucie just short drive to Autogeek headquarters!

In fact I was in attendance at one of the earlier detailfest shows in 2012


https://i.imgur.com/mJYYPvY.jpg


Shortly after this show our first born came into this world. And he immediately took a liking to the car. Once he was old enough he enjoyed going for rides and having fun.

https://i.imgur.com/jt1ufTQ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/G0jqla0.jpg


Some other shots of work and racing

https://i.imgur.com/q98WK5L.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/1uYxfdV.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/fYLGVoV.jpg


Unfortunately life gets in the way and has other plans and I was forced to sell the car. Ever since then I wanted it back. Thanks to social media I have been able to keep in touch with the gentleman who purchased it in Albuquerque NM. He raced it a bit but it mostly sat in his garage or shop collecting dust.

Fast forward and now that business has been good and things keep getting better I decided to reach out to the gentleman to see about purchasing the car back. He agreed and a deal was struck. But there was one catch. The whole interior was out of the car as he had plans to install a serious cage and go racing but never got around to it. But he agreed to install the interior and send me the chromoly roll cage to go along with it.

Well today was the day she came home and she is definitely in rough shape. But mechanically it's mint. I already have plans to have both bumpers painted and a new sail panel installed which it needed when I sold it.

WARNING THESE PICTURES MAY BE GRAPHIC TO SOME!!!!!


https://i.imgur.com/mjurfTN.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/8bYlhMn.jpg


I immediately gave it a good wash and decon to remove over spray and other contaminates.

https://i.imgur.com/DDAHZmX.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/4bXi9Ks.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qcWU6oU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/GiJPQ95.jpg


I had to test out how this thing would come back to life. 1000 grit on the bad area, then 2k grit and 3k grit on the rest of the door. Rupes 21 Mark ll, BS eurowool, Fast correcting cream. Rupes 21 BS Yellow with 3D ONE and Hyper polish.


https://i.imgur.com/7mxC2aM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HkVzbq8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/J2unORG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/b5tb6tV.jpg



Needless to say this car is going to take a bit of time and work to get back right but it will slowly get there!!!!

[PaulMys]

Holy Moly! Damn, man. This is an incredible story.

I am SO looking forward to the follow up on this, Justin!

[pilotpip]

I think most of us here have a car from our youth that we either wish we had, or wish we had back. So many of us buy one of those later in life. It is amazing, however, that you were able to get THE car back. Very cool!

[Justin at Final Inspection]

Thanks guys. Yeah I'm definitely stoked about it!

[dlc95]

Congrats man!

The Pontiac version is my favorite car of all time through those years.

[Paul A.]

I agree with the others...great story with a happy ending!

[RTexasF]

I am very happy for you. Not in the same league but I still miss my '72 Cutlass Supreme. Keep us in the loop as to your progress.

[mdbenge]

Thanks for taking me thru your journey! As others stated we've all been thru this and were not near as lucky or dedicated.

Keep us posted on it's story.

[Sizzle Chest]

Congrats on getting her back! Looking forward to the transformation back to how it 'should' look as well as any mechanical upgrades its going to get! Cool story Justin!

[Justin at Final Inspection]

Thanks guys. I'll be updating this thread during the process

[SWETM]

Congrats on getting your old car back Justin! And you will get her show car finished soon. Amazing story behind it. Maybe your son was to little to remember the car? Or is he as happy as you are? Do your family fit in the car or is it on the trailer to racing and show car meets? You maybe could get your wife a bigger fun car to drive with you to the racing events and meets.

[Justin at Final Inspection]

Congrats on getting your old car back Justin! And you will get her show car finished soon. Amazing story behind it. Maybe your son was to little to remember the car? Or is he as happy as you are? Do your family fit in the car or is it on the trailer to racing and show car meets? You maybe could get your wife a bigger fun car to drive with you to the racing events and meets.


Thanks everyone.

I think my oldest is more happy than me! He definitely remembers the car as he has talked about it frequently.

http://i.imgur.com/jt1ufTQ.jpg (http://imgur.com/jt1ufTQ)

http://i.imgur.com/YvRVAqW.jpg (http://imgur.com/YvRVAqW)

Yes they can fit in it right now. But it's definitely a bit more of a race car. No overdrive, no AC. And it will be getting a chromoly 10 point cage later this summer. But I do fully intend on taking out to shows and drives here and there.

[PaulMys]

Very cool!

Handsome future chick magnet you got there. ;)

[Klasse Act]

What does it run[emoji848]

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Justin at Final Inspection]

What does it run[emoji848]

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

10.80s right now. But that will change eventually lol