Builders Profile – Classic Performance

Company: Classic Performance
Managers: Carmine / Brandie
Address: #27 – 1410 – 40 Ave. N.E. Calgary, Alberta T2E 6L1
Tel: 403 – 216 – 6060
Website: www.classicperformance.ca
What do they do: Restoration & Pro Tour Builds of American Muscle Cars as well as restoration & aftermarket parts sales.

Company Line
Background: Starting as a hobby shop thirteen years ago, Classic Performance has become one of the best known, fully licensed automotive facilities to serve the specialty car industry. The company has continued to grow to house a fully stocked parts department, and has become one of the nation’s well-known car builders. Classic Performance prides itself on every aspect of the Muscle Car industry. Recently, Detroit Speed & Engineering awarded them top dealer for 2008. Classic Performance is also a major distributor for companies such as Year One Inc., DII Classic Bodies, AMD, Goodmark, and Keisler Engineering just to name a few.

PP: What work does Classic Performance specialize in?
C+B: Classic Performance has always been known for their award winning concourse restorations, but we’ve expanded into building many Pro-Tour and Resto-Mod vehicles as well. We also offer a specialty parts department that not only serves the shop, but also the public. We have experience working with every part we retail, so can give expert advice to customers about any installation. Everyone employed here is a passionate owner of a Muscle Car or Hot Rod. We apply our skills and knowledge to every project that we build.

PP: What seem to be the trends you are seeing emerge in the industry today?
C+B: There have been huge advances in car building, utilizing new technology. Many customers want to have a classic car with all the modern day luxuries, air conditioning, top quality sound systems, reliability, performance braking and handling. We have experience with chassis upgrades, overdrive transmissions, big brake upgrades, mini tubbing, navigation systems, and thermal imaging night vision technology. While all this can be fun, we do still accommodate the purist coming in, who still wants their car restored to showroom condition.

PP: What recent project holds a lot of pride to you as a builder?
C+B: Every project is something special, but one that comes to mind is the Kosma Camaro. That was one of our initial Pro-Tour builds. This ’68 Camaro convertible features an EFI 572 engine, 5-speed transmission, aftermarket performance chassis and has all the creature comforts of a modern car. It has coil-over suspension, has been mini tubbed and features a completely custom interior. This was the car that proved that we weren’t just a restoration shop, that we could do something custom, be innovative and stay ahead of the curve.

PP: What projects can be seen in your shop today?
C+B: We are now working with the aftermarket DII bodies, and one we have started is going to utilize a lot of lightweight carbon fibre panels. The car will get an all-aluminum 427-anniversary engine with paddle shifter controlling a 4L80E transmission. It will be riding on a Detroit Speed and Engineering C6 based front chassis and quadra-link rear suspension and of course all the top end technology mentioned above. We also have an original 69 Camaro Z28 cross ram JL8 restoration, 66 AC Cobra replica and a 34 Plymouth Sedan on the go.