Friday night car show: A hidden gem

Niwot resident Brian Foster was looking for a "project car" when he spotted something special in an out-of-the-way garage in eastern Colorado.

"It was just wasting away in somebody's backyard," he said.

Underneath a minor coat of rust was a 1973 Chevrolet Camaro, one of the earliest models of what would become the classic American muscle car of the 1980s.

"I knew when I saw it that they're a rare vehicle," the longtime mechanic said. "A lot of them were turned into race cars, and they sent them down the track, so there were a lot of modifications done and they would also crash them during those events. So they don't exist."

His treasure confirmed, Foster brought the Camaro home to Niwot and set to work.

"It had everything that you want a project car to have," he said. "Most of it was there, but there was no no engine and no transmission. The interior was completely trashed-it was pretty much just the springs, the frames of the seats. And it was about seven different colors when I bought it. It was in really rough shape."

First, he sanded it down to bare metal, removing what little rust it had, as well as its remaining body paint. Then he got down to business.

"I gave it a heartbeat from a 2002 Z 28. And with a couple other little tricks in there, we got her to about 400 horses respectively. A '73 off the lot was about 185, I think."

For a gothic touch, Foster finished off the restored ride with a coat of matte black paint, then added a spooky passenger who likes to get decked out for holidays.

"People like the thumbs up and the smile from the skeleton in the front seat," he said. "He's still in his July garb, but he's got a costume for every occasion-St. Patrick's Day, Christmas, whatever."

Foster reports that the Camaro is "fun enough" to drive on the street, but he'd like to take it on a test track for the full race car experience. Until then, however, he enjoys bringing it to the weekly Friday night car shows at Niwot Market, and meeting other gearheads like himself.

"That's what it is for me," Foster said. "I love cars. I've got petroleum running through my veins and being out here with these guys and their automotive passions, I just love it.

For more stories about classic cars, car culture, and car collecting, visit the Friday night car shows at Niwot Market, starting at 5 p.m.