Wrapped in faux rust, this old-school wagon surprises with serious horsepower and wild street performance.
At first glance, it looks like a forgotten family hauler. But under the weathered wrap and roof-strapped luggage, this 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle wagon is anything but mild-mannered.
Nicknamed “Rusty,” the car is the latest build featured by YouTube channel AutotopiaLA in collaboration with Hood Muscle Cars, and it packs a surprise worthy of street legend status. What looks like a tired old cruiser is actually a nitrous-huffing beast capable of laying down up to 900 horsepower.
The heart of the build is a small-block Chevy 396 stroker, beefed up with performance heads, a roller cam, and a 750 CFM Holley carburetor. Sammy, the engine builder, says the naturally aspirated output hovers around 600 horsepower—but when the nitrous kit is engaged, “Rusty” turns into a monster.
Backing up the powerplant is a fully built 4L60 automatic transmission with a 2,600-stall converter. The stock frame and suspension geometry have been retained, though upgraded QA1 coilovers help control the chaos. The result is a sleeper that looks like it belongs in a junkyard but drives like it escaped from a drag strip.
Inside, the Chevelle remains largely untouched, maintaining a period-correct sleeper aesthetic. The rust? It’s just a wrap—intentionally applied to fool unsuspecting onlookers.
The AutotopiaLA host takes “Rusty” for a spin, revealing just how aggressive this long-roof legend really is. It burns rubber with ease and keeps pulling like a freight train, all while looking like it should be parked behind a barn.
Built by a team of enthusiasts, each with a hand in different aspects of the car, the Chevelle is a rolling tribute to hot rod ingenuity and deceptive appearances. When it comes to this wagon, looks can—and absolutely do—deceive.
