Just the right Camaro can change your life

The latest episode of Petrolicious looks at auto restorer Adam Martin and his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro that he calls Lucy. He bought the pony car at just 16, and by learning to work on it, the classic Chevy pushed him into his current career. Eighteen years later, Martin has kept driving Lucy and continues to make her even better.

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Not many people can say that their car directly motivated them into a career, but that’s exactly the case for Adam Martin and his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro that he calls Lucy. Martin bought the pony car in primer when he was just 16, and it helped foster his profession in restoring classic cars.

Beyond just being a very cool ride for a teenager, every change to Lucy was an opportunity to hone a new automotive skill for Martin. Whether figuring out how to paint a car or building the 454-cubic-inch (7.4-liter) big block V8, the Camaro offered a platform for experimentation.

This latest episode of Petrolicious gets personal about the bond between man and machine for this 18-year ongoing project. And even if the story doesn’t immediately grab you, Lucy has a great voice and can do a mean burnout.