Page 120 - Experience Magazine Winter 2023

FOR APPROVAL

LOT #1067 - 1967 CHEVROLET CAMARO NICKEY STAGE III RE-CREATION - NO RESERVE
RE-CREATING

A NICKEY/THOMAS TRIBUTE THE BEST OF THE BEST

Sometimes life can throw a slow curveball that seems was a 1967 Nickey/Bill Thomas Camaro. Thomas rose
more like a 95-mph fastball. to prominence in the 1960s while he was a research
Five years ago, Harold Lewis – a longtime friend of and development specialist for General Motors'
Barrett-Jackson – experienced symptoms that revealed racing program. He worked on the Cheetah and
some health complications requiring prolonged the development of various powertrain and chassis
treatment. Although he has spent the past two years in combinations for Stock and Super Stock racers.
good health, a recent regular checkup showed signs of Thomas was contracted by Chevrolet in late 1966 to
returning issues. Realizing the need to fully focus on his perform big-block conversions for the newly introduced
health, Lewis has reluctantly decided to part with one 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. With the help of Thomas,
of his prized possessions: his 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Nickey Chevrolet of Chicago, Illinois, – one of the largest
Nickey/Bill Thomas 427 Stage III re-creation, which will Chevrolet dealers in the U.S. – came up with a plan to
be offered with No Reserve at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson install high-performance 427 Corvette engines into the
Scottsdale Auction, January 21-29 at WestWorld. Camaro in late 1966. It is estimated there were only 14
Lewis is a master craftsman specializing in high-end Nickey Camaros built in '67. The special Camaro is often
residential finishes and painting. He has been a muscle- hard to find and unobtainable for most, so Lewis did
car enthusiast for over 45 years, and, in that time, Lewis what any other skilled car fanatic would do: he re-created
has restored several vehicles to concours specifications, one for himself.
often working with the late renowned builder Patrick The 9-year project serves as the culmination of his
Pogrant of Patrick's Classy Cars. years of experience restoring classic cars, along with his
research and gathering of original parts to create the
Over the course of his life Lewis has collected, restored
and built several significant cars, including two 1969 ultimate tribute 1967 Nickey/Bill Thomas 427 Stage III
Ford Boss 429s with back-to-back numbers KK1455 Camaro. Lewis asserts that if the car was being judged
and KK1456. His current project car is an all-original, as original, it would stand up against any out there: “It
matching-numbers 1968 Plymouth HEMI Road Runner. doesn't know it is a clone.”
Lewis has always used the best in the business for all his
One vehicle Lewis had always dreamed of owning
vehicles when it comes to paint, body and engine work,

120 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE WINTER 2023