Pro-touring is one of the routes you can go when talking about restoring classic muscle cars, especially when the cost isn’t an issue. This 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle is the perfect example, as it has over $200,000 worth of high-end parts. This blacked-out tire-shredding Chevelle is, essentially, what happens when you take “a hot-shit young builder from Las Vegas and combine it with an owner that’s willing to go deep”.

Responsible for building the 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle pro-touring} is Dustin from Nostalgia Hot Rods, in Henderson, Nevada. As Dustin explains it, it’s a one-stop-shop, which means everything is fabricated in-house.

Speaking of fabrication, the sheet-metal fabrication on the Chevelle is “through the roof”. Dustin from Nostalgia Hot Rods explains that, although it doesn’t look like it, the 1966 Chevy Chevelle has been widened by 6.0 inches, the front fenders are 2.0 inches wider, and the rocker panels have been stretched by 3.0 inches while including neatly integrated side exhaust tips. The car's exterior may look black, but in the sunlight and under the correct angle, it is revealed to be a two-tone finish with a very subtle shade of yellow.

The one-off Chevelle is powered by an all-aluminum, 565 cubic-inch (9.25-liter) big block Chevy V-8, built by Dart. It’s an 8,000 RPM normally-aspirated pushrod engine that sounds like a NASCAR and, according to Dustin, makes “roughly 900 horsepower”. Although most pro-touring builds are equipped with a manual gearbox, this one relies on a six-speed automatic.

The car sits on a custom-made 2x5 steel chassis and features air suspension from Air Ride Technologies Shockwave with a Level Ride management system.

The interior of the 1966 Chevy Chevelle has received just as much attention to detail. Dustin chose a two-tone, peanut butter and black color scheme, featuring black suede and peanut-butter leather. The dashboard features two Holley digital displays and a centrally-positioned shift indicator, on the steering column, showing the gear you are in. Last but not least, the 1966 Chevy comes with four bucket seats. Dustin admits that his goal was to make the interior more like that of an Audi RS7.

The project took over 10,000 hours of work and the 1966 Chevelle costs over $500,000. Shawn, AutotopiaLA host, notes that “it wasn't built to look pretty. It was built to drive.” Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper AutotopiaLA video without some tire smoke and fly-bys, and Dustin is happy to oblige, despite noting that he doesn’t know what’s scarier, “the power behind it or coming off the ground and hitting the car, having to fix everything”. If you want to see this very expensive 1966 Chevelle in action, swipe up for the video.