If you build second generation Camaro’s for a living, what kind of car do you drive for a daily? Well it’s not a truck, or a family sedan, or even a Camaro. The Car that the second generation Camaro builder drives is a 1968, LS swapped, restomod Firebird. Or so is the case with Keith Smith. Keith Smith owns a business here in Chico California called Custom Works Performance. His business consists of building second gen Camaro’s, and fabricating performance parts and suspension kits for the second gen Camaro. But Keith’s daily as stated is his beloved Firebird.

Keith bought his Firebird back in 2004. He got this particular car because he wanted something rare and out of the ordinary. This Firebird originally came with the overhead cam inline six which is not what most people would think to get when considering an American muscle car. Keith however wanted his car to be unique, and when the opportunity presented itself for him to get one of these rare finds, he jumped at it. Keith drove his Firebird for years with the six cylinder engine and even rebuilt it at one point intending to keep the car stock.

One thing that bothered Keith with his firebird was that it was an old car, thus it had old car reliability, fuel economy, and comfort. So around 2015 Keith decided that it was time to turn it into a restomod because in his words “old cars suck to drive”. Keith was ready to work and pulled the drivetrain, but then as usual life happened. With a growing family and a business to take care of, the Firebird sat. The car became just another piece of storage for Keith and his family, and was packed full with old baby items inside and out. But then after about a year of this Keith officially started the build. He didn’t want his car to become one of those old projects you often hear about that never get finished and eventually get sold off.

One of the first things that Keith addressed with his swap was putting in an engine with modern reliability and fuel economy. The engine he went with was a LS2 that came out of an 06 Pontiac GTO. Wanting to keep the original essence of the car, Keith painted the new engine the same Pontiac blue that the original engine had. He proceeded to improve on everything that he wanted to improve to create his perfect daily. Keith upgraded the factory AC to a more modern set up with a Vintage Air kit, he swapped the radio out for a unit that had an OE look but had Bluetooth and he put in some Corbeau seats.

Now as far as engine and suspension. The engine as stated is an LS2 that was kept mostly stock making about 400hp/tq with a Holly EFI kit. The brakes were upgraded from four wheel drums to 4 wheel discs. And the suspension has a version of Keith’s suspension kits that customers can buy from his business. Keith has turned this already cool car into something even better.

And when it comes to turning cool classic cars to something better, Keith knows a thing or two about that. Keith builds second gen Camaro’s, so obviously he has a second gen race car. His race car has won many awards and has had multiple articles written on it before. Also in his shop durning the interview for this article was a C10 truck that was getting an LS swap from a customer that Keith had built a Camaro for in the past. But back to Keith’s Firebird. It is a very well built car that embodies all that a restomod should be. It is comfortable, with modern technology and plenty of power, but with those sweet classic looks, and sounds that you associate with a classic like a Firebird. This car was built in Keith’s off time between balancing work and a family, and Keith spent many late nights building this awesome Firebird. From getting groceries to running errands Keith’s Firebird is a true daily. A daily that year after year Keith will keep adding the miles on with a smile on his face.

Please enjoy the video of Keiths Firebird and all the photo’s of his car and shop. And if you have a second gen Camaro check out his business at http://www.customworksproducts.com/index.html