John Wargo of The Custom Shop Brings Spectre Equipped Red One SS Chevelle to SEMA 2014

The Spectre Performance equipped 1970 Chevelle convertible that John Wargo brought to the 2014 SEMA show is a combination of classic muscle car looks and modern technology

By looking at The Custom Shop built Red One SS gleaming under the lights at the 2014 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, you wouldn’t know that it started out as a typical rusted-out Midwest car. But over the course of just four months, John Wargo and his team transformed a car once left for dead into the gorgeous show car featured in the Keystone Automotive 2014 SEMA Show Booth.

A 572 cubic inch crate engine from GM mated to a Procharger F1 supercharger, and fed by a Spectre custom muscle car intake, was installed to put out numbers in the 1,000 HP range

Over 25 years ago while he was still in high school, John Wargo dreamt of opening his own shop and working on cars for a living. After high school John got a job at a local printing company, saved his money, and when the time was right he got a loan to buy a closed car dealership. With his parents’ help John Wargo transformed the old Dodge dealership into The Custom Shop in 1988. For the next eight years John worked all day at The Custom Shop before heading to his regular job at night. Finally The Custom Shop began to take off and John was able to quit his night job and work at The Custom Shop full time. With the help of a full time crew John Wargo and The Custom Shop has put Flanagan, Illinois on the map.

The interior of the Red One SS is modernized with a custom TMI interior in gray and red, while a full Sony audio and video system brings the 1970 Chevelle into the 21st century

The 1970 Chevelle convertible that John brought to the 2014 SEMA show is a combination of classic muscle car looks and modern technology. The Red One SS is more than just your typical restoration. While the car did require all new sheet metal, the Roadster Shop chassis brings this old iron up to new car standards for ride quality. With the handling addressed, it was time to decide what was going to make this classic American muscle car go, and go fast.

Hedmen headers, and Pypes exhaust help the huge engine exhale, and power from the GM crate motor is transferred to the ground via a Chevy T400 transmission and a Moser 9” rear end

John Wargo was looking for big horsepower numbers for the Red One SS. The crew at The Custom Shop decided on a 572 cubic inch crate engine from GM. However, John and his crew weren’t done just yet. A Procharger F1 supercharger was added to put power estimates in the 1,000 horsepower range. John chose a Spectre Performance muscle car air intake system consisting of a low-profile plenum, number 98499, fed through a couple of 90 degree custom tubes, number 97991, in order breathe cool air from behind the headlight. A 10-1/4” tall HPR black-media synthetic air filter HPR9881K is attached to the end of the custom air intake tubes to clean the air and protect the engine. Hedmen headers, and Pypes exhaust help the huge engine exhale. Power gets to the ground via a T400 transmission and a Moser 9” rear end.

The Weld Racing wheels and Continental tires chosen by The Custom Shop serve dual functions, both looking great and having to keep around 1,000 horsepower connected to the pavement

The Custom Shop Red One SS is just as much show as it is go. Paint is Prospray Speed Red with custom silver and black airbrushed graphics. The interior is modernized with a plush custom TMI interior in gray and red to compliment the paint. A full Sony audio and video system brings the 1970 Chevelle into the 21st century. The Weld Racing wheels and Continental tires are good looking and functional. Same thing goes for the custom built bumpers fitted with LED lights. More information can be found at The Custom Shop website.

If you’re looking to build your own custom muscle car air intake system, browse Spectre automotive products by category at SpectrePerformance.com. While you are there use the Products by Vehicle Search to find Spectre performance products specifically made for your vehicle. To find a Spectre dealer near you use the Spectre Dealer Locator.

Since 1983 Spectre Performance has designed and offered unique, innovative, parts and components to fuel your car or truck obsession. Whether your fixation happens to be a classic muscle car or modern muscle, Spectre will help fuel your passion for performance.