It is surprising to note how significant the 14-inch wheelbase discrepancy was between the chassis and the intended body structure. The maker successfully resolved this structural difference in the Nascarlo project, a heavily customized vintage coupe derived from an asphalt oval stock car. The project required grafting a stripped 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo body onto a tube-chassis race car, resulting in a vehicle now known as the Nascarlo.
This transformation was necessary because the original race car lacked a vehicle identification number, meaning it could not be insured for street use. The builder utilized a gutted Monte Carlo shell, which was moved into the workshop. To accommodate the body, the floorpan was completely removed using a plasma cutter, and the builders cut through the rocker panels and severed the rear roof pillars to manage the length difference. The roof section was shifted fourteen inches backward before being tack-welded.
The assembly process involved welding and cutting materials using specialized tools such as a plasma torch and angle grinders. The donor race car provided the power, featuring a 350-cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 crate engine, paired with a Jerico four-speed transmission and quick-change rear differential. The vehicle also includes Wilwood brakes and wide-five hubs. While the vehicle is now capable of racing on the dirt track and driving on the street, the build retains mismatched body panels, including a light green front fender and a blue door, reflecting the complex nature of the conversion.
MotorTrend Channel completed the body swap to achieve a functional street machine. The finished Nascarlo is a testament to creative modification, allowing a powerful race car to become a legal road vehicle!
Project by MotorTrend Channel. Watch it on their YouTube channel: