This rare car was built by Tim Steele, longtime lead Space Shuttle main engine mechanic, NASA Mars Rover technician, and worked launch ops for Jeff Bezo’s Blue Origin rocket. This car, of all his mechanical creations and possessions, was his favorite. This frame-off resto-mod has always been garaged. Only about 2000 miles on the rebuild.
There are plenty of Firebirds for sale with minor to major restoration efforts and none of them have this level of mechanical transformation. This resto-mod was never a "restoration". It was a mechanical transformation. Every nut, bolt and washer (all grade 8) and everything connected by them has been upgraded with the best possible race components. Everything on this car is capable of handling more than 500HP to eliminate any weak links for reliable performance. That said, the interior is completely stock - nothing hints at what this car truly is. Until you start the engine!! Prepare for serious attention. You will empty the autoparts store when you pull up. You will draw huge crowds at any cars and coffee meetup. Lovers and haters flock to it.
This car is 99.9% completely finished. The list of what is unfinished is below (replace a headlight, fix a knob, that sort of thing). Receipts are available and go with the car.
Body, doors & hinges, and convertible mechanism are factory original.
22 pages of receipts for interior including knobs, mirrors, felt channels/weather strips, jam seals, screws and bolts, cushions, etc.
SBC 350 CID ZZ4 Crate Engine - 470HP
Blueprint Engine Aluminum Heads with Comp Cams with Ultra Pro Magnum Roller Rocker Arms
AFR Valve Covers, Tall Height, Cast Aluminum, Polished
Hi-Tech brand pushrods, heat treated chromoly 5/16” dia. 7.2” length
Ceramic coat 4 into 1 custom headers left and right. Dual FlowMaster exhaust at rear.
12 Bolt Rear with 3.55 ratio
GM TKO 600 5 speed Tremec T5 Transmission w/ factory shifter (2.87 first and .64 OD)
Custom Aluminum Driveshaft W/31 Spline Slip Yoke and 10/12 Bolt Flange w/Tubular Cross Member
Steel Bell Housing, SFI Rated
RAM 153 Tooth Aluminum Flywheel w/1-piece Rear Main and External Balance
Powergrip Hydraulic Clutch Set 1984 Corvette 350 10.5” 1 1/8-26 550HP
621 Aluminum Clutch Cover
1967-69 F-Body 68-74 Nova Hydraulic T/O Bearing Kit (Incudes RAM 78125 T/B, GM LS Master w/ RESER , ATS 080002,8 Bracket and McLeod 139072 & 139203-17)
MSD Ignition
Edelbrock Pro-Flo 3 Electronic Sequential Multi-Port Fuel Injection. 3220 Fuel injection Kit Direct Port SBC 1986 & Earlier. 550 Max HP. Satin Finish
29 LbHr Injectors
Wirelessly programmable with tablet from Edelbrock (missing)
Flex-A-Lite Aluminum Two Row Single Pass Radiator W/ Electronic Fan
Wilwood Dual Reservoir Master Cylinder
Brakes: Aerospace Components Calipers, Rotors and Hubs
Steel Braided Brakelines
Shocks: Front QA1 Coil Over
Shocks: Rear Ridetech Coil Over
Four Link Conversion Rear Suspension
Upper Control Arm: Adjustable Control Arm by SPC Performance
Lower Control Arm: Tubular Control by Heidt’s Hot Rod Shop
Heidt’s Hot Rod Shop Spindles w/ 2” Inch Drop and HD tie-rod sleeves
BMR Chassis Stiffener
1” Anti Sway Bars
Steeroids Rack and Pinion Steering System
Fender Braces, Adjustable, Billet Aluminum, Polished
Alternator, Polished, 150 Amp, 12v, GM 12si, V-Belt Pulley & Copper 6-Gauge wiring
EFI style Fuel Tank, 18 gallons, Silver Powder-coated Steel
4 Headlamp with H4 Halon kit
Body is perfect except one small dent as shown in pictures and video, no bondo.
Rims: Voxx BG Rod Works. 17” front, 18” rear.
2 spare BG Rod Works rims (18”) for front if desired
Optima Red Top batter with disconnect is in trunk
Rear Tires: Dunlop Direzza DZ101 275/35 R18
Front Tires: Dunlop Direzza DZ101 225/45 R17
TO DO: these items are what we understand to finish this restoration to 100%. There is a very small impact indent on driver's front of car - shown in pictures. Paint on that is not affected. One headlight is not working. Radio is not connected. The trunk needs carpet. The tachometer is not connected or not working. The cables for emergency brakes are not connected to the pedal but present. The horn is either not connected or does not work. Rear left side window does not respond to the crank - can be manually raised and lowered but should be an easy fix. Tires, 2011 date of manufacture, must be replaced as they are too old for this HP.