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Chevrolet Chevelle 1971 gets restored with an LS1 V8 under the hood

Restomods have long since become a trend in the USA, up to the point when they started to encroach on the modern body kit and accessories market. Let us have a look at yet another such project.

Entitled ‘El Gran Patron’, this 1971 Chevy Chevelle restomod took Californian tuner Customs by Lopez five months to produce. The exterior changes are few: modern LED headlamps and DRLs, custom side mirrors and a couple of other minor details sum it up on the outside. Admittedly, the black-and-orange paintjob inspired by Lamborghini looks superb on the retro coupe.

The interior, on the other hand, is new. Fine brownish-orange leather covers every visible surface, and there is an iPad built into the center console.

The main surprise awaits under the hood, where the tuner put the 5.7-liter LS1 V8 engine tweaked to deliver up to 420 hp (310 kW) to the wheels. A Magnaflow sports exhaust system ensures a proper soundtrack, while reinforced brakes and height-adjustable suspension guarantee driving ease and stability at higher speeds.