any of us build our dream hot rod based on what we have envisioned in our mind. For Gumer Alvero of Minnesota his dream was to have a ’69 Camaro convertible built to represent a modernized Pro Touring ride. Coupled to that, the convertible top was to sit below the beltline when recessed. Gumer, having followed the work of BBT Fabrications out of Illinois, was intrigued with their talents, which led him to contact Troy Gudgel.
Working from renderings put to paper by artist Victor Fulton, Gudgel could see immediately that there would be a problem with the soft top sitting below the beltline. Noting this was a requisite of Gumer’s final plan, Gudgel began to work on a solution. The problem stemmed from the size of the compulsory wheelwells that were obligatory to house the oversized wheels and tires. Gudgel realized that the staff at BBT could overcome this problem by building an aluminum liftoff hardtop. Having a liftoff top would be a relatively simple obstacle to overcome as the Camaro is intended to spend much of its life in Florida—topless. What started out as a handful of sheetmetal mods to be performed at BBT turned into a complete build.
A quick review of the BBT sheetmetal work performed is substantive. Along with the liftoff top there was more aluminum handiwork, such as the hood and engine bay panels. From here the front valance, rocker panels, taillight panel, rear lower valance, rear spoiler, and front and rear bumpers were devised. More one-offs include the taillights, door handles, mirrors, and exhaust tips along with flush-mount windshield and back glass. Once this metalwork was accomplished, the final body- and paintwork was handled by Dutchboys Hotrods in Michigan. The BASF Bentley Moroccan Blue Pearl was sprayed under the watchful eye of the father and son team of Joe and Paul VanNus of Dutchboys. All the appointed black chrome comes by way of Ogden Plating in Utah.