Prodigy Customs Projects Gallery

Project"EmptyNest" started life as an original 1969 Firebird convertible with a 350 / 2 barrel engine. EmptyNest was found sitting on the side someone's house. The car was parked there in 1986 when the previous owner took it away from his daughter. It even had the expired tag to prove it! EmptyNest had been there for so long that it had sunk into the ground, the wheels had to be dug out to winch the car onto the trailer. The previous owner had also built a fence around it that had to be removed to get the car out.
As Micahel drove away with it on the truck, the previous owner was pleading with him to please keep it original. OOPS sorry, but it's original now there's not another one like it ! As you will see, she needed a lot of work, but with hard work and vision, EmptyNest developed into quite a piece!

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To view as a slide show: Double click the first picture then click detail on the lower left side of the picture

99 files, last one added on Apr 23, 2008

Project Prodigy is probably our best known car. With pure love it or hate it styling, Project Prodigy is possibly one of the most recognized Pro Touring Camaro’s on the planet. Finished for SEMA Show 2005, Project Prodigy was an instant hit and did the trifecta of trade shows, appearing as a at all 3 of the big important automotive trade shows. Project Prodigy made its debut as QA1 Products feature vehicle at SEMA 2005, Then just a month later appeared again at the Performance Racing Industry SHOW 2005, and then was invited as a special feature vehicle at Hot Rods & Restoration show in 2006. Pretty good for a car built by a 16 year old kid! See, Project Prodigy was built by our own Michael “the prodigy” Serafine. He started at 16 years old with a dead 67 Camaro convertible, and 2 years later at 18 years old was standing on the floor at SEMA with his first car! That’s a big deal for someone that wants to be a car builder! And yeah, a big deal for the dad, me!
Following the trade show and some regional shows, Project Prodigy received a 6 page feature in the January 07 issue of Super Chevy Magazine. We were then bestowed with a huge honor and were featured in a seven page shop feature in Hot Rod and Restoration magazine March 2007 that focused heavily on Michael, his Project Prodigy, and how all this all lead him into the business. You may also have seen Project Prodigy in Popular Hot Rodding magazine, Camaro Performers, and My Classic Car, or on various automotive forums.

214 files, last one added on Apr 29, 2008

Project EmptyNest was a self imposed 100 day challenge for SEMA 2007. What started on July 16th as a nights and weekend’s project by early October became a full shop effort that included every employee and few good friends. But crazy as it was, 106 days later were on the show floor at SEMA in the Electric Life Products display. It was all worth it when Project EmptyNest was chosen as one of the ten best muscle cars at the 2007 SEMA show, WHEW!
Without a doubt the wildest Pro Touring Firebird ever built, Built to pay tribute to the ultra rare 1969 Pontiac Trans Am convertible of which only 8 were built, Project Emptynest stands proud of its Pontiac heritage, Prodigy style! Project EmptyNest is a Firebird like no other. Heavily modified, updated and modernized, yet still very recognizable to the original. Project EmptyNest retains its roots by combining obvious Trans Am hues from various years. From the legendary white and blue paint theme of the early cars, to the ultra rare Trans Am hood, spoilers and side vents exclusive to the 1969 Trans Am, to the recognizable modernized Snowflake style wheels from the Bandit days, you can see a heavy T/A influence in the modern day Pro Touring roadster.

TO VIEW THESE PICTURES IN ORDER: Double click the + on File Name

TO VIEW AS SLIDESHOW: Double click the first picture then click on Details on the lower left side of the picture

300 files, last one added on Apr 22, 2008

The Prodigy Vette

Well, I am officially in love. This little sweetheart rates right up there in my top 10 ever. WOW, what a fantastic car to look at and drive. The ProCharged ZO6 / LS6, TKO600 makes for such a nice drivetrain. The car is just a prim and proper little lady cruising the show grounds due to a ProCharged 2004 ZO6 Corvette engine, it just doesn’t know it is a mid-year Corvette! But the prim and proper little lady becomes a viscous bitch when you smack the throttle as all 554RWHP come to life. Thank to our tuner and friend Mike Norris from Norris Motorsports for the sweet running engine package. Combined with a chassis With C4 Grand Sport big brake suspension gives it a ride and handles like, well, a C4 Corvette!

The Steel Silver and Gunmetal color combination is incredible. Our customer Rick picked the colors and should build some more cars as he has a terrific knack for nailing a theme. It was Rick's vision to intentionally match the Stinger stripe to the gunmetal centers in the Forgeline SP3P wheels. Wraped with 285 / 20s in the rear and 255 / 19s in the front and fill the wheel well just right. The wheel and tire combo not only look great, but they work fantastic with the C4 suspension (just ask Michael who wore it out on the autocross. Michael says thank you Rick!)

So thank you Rick for funding the build of such a killer car. It's guys like you that make guys like us look good

43 files, last one added on Apr 15, 2008

Project Eternity is a 1969 Firebird that was debuted at SEMA 2006 as twist machines feature vehicle. Built for Kevin Newcomber of Miami, Fl, Eternity is the realization of a long dream/ nightmare / dream. Powered by a original 455 HO Pontiac motor with a custom designed ProCharger / Fuel injected set up and shifted by a paddle shifted 4L80E automatic overdrive, Project Eternity has the goods. Final drive is a Fabricated 9” rear suspended by a Detroit Speed mini tub kit. The Corvette front suspension hangs on a Wayne Due subframe. The Arrival blue exterior is complemented by 18” Budnik GTX wheels. The stunning interior is a combination of cream and chocolate and is accent with real burl wood.
Eternity was recently featured in and was on the cover of Cruise News Magazine. Look for Project Eternity in High Performance Pontiac in an upcoming issue.

11 files, last one added on Apr 15, 2008

Billy’s Goat

Arguably the most popular car we have ever built. Certainly one of the most well know project we ever did. Bill Howells GTO has been a real gift for us here at prodigy bringing a lot of interest our way. Bill Howell resides in one of the country’s hottest cruising spots, Pigeon Forge Tennessee. Nine months a year, the little mountain town will have car shows / cruises weekly. So living there and being a pure motorhead, Bill has got to have some toys. Bill has had a lot of nice cars through the years, but this 65 “Pro Tour GTO” convertible is his finest cruiser yet.

With some custom mini tubs, and some creative narrowing of the original boxed frame was performed to fit massive 345/25/20 rear tires on killer Forgeline VR3P 3 piece wheels. The GTO “got the looks.” Power comes from a MagnaCharged 6.0 LSX and 4L80E automatic transmission, and a 3.73 ratio 9” rear. The GTO will has plenty of whoa power courtesy of a Wilwood 13” Superlight brake system
On the inside, we grafting in a comfy grey leather custom sewn and modified Olds Aurora interior. We also added custom silver Carbon Fiber treatments by Wabbits throughout the interior. The beautiful exterior in two tone red and silver, along with a cloth convertible top draw on lookers like a magnit to steel.

The 65 GTO is widely recognized as the granddaddy of muscle cars, and Bill’s car is the Mack daddy of GTO’s. Bill’s GTO has been nick named “the attention whore”. After making its debut at SEMA 2005, at the end of the show the car was shot for a 7 page feature in Popular Hot Rodding including a cover and centerfold. The GTO is one of Flowmaster’s calendar car. Dennis gauge did a full feature and interview with Bill on My Classic Car feature, On Power our Bill was invited to take the GTO to Fox and Friends. It is the current Year One catalog car where it sweeps the GTO class every year, the car shows up everywhere. After more then 2 years, people never seem to tire of the GTO. With the timeless and tasteful design, it would not surprise to see even more of the GTO!

9 files, last one added on Apr 25, 2008

Michael needed a driver after realizing Project Prodigy had become way to much a car to drive everyday. So the search for a “practical” platform began. He wanted something that would seat 4 adults, yet have some classic styling. We ran up on a one owner 1986 Monte Carlo SS I have known since new. Perfect original paint rust free body, we were in business.

We built a nasty little hydraulic roller Holley 20 degree 187CC cylinder heads. We topped the motor with a 2 stage 250HP cheater NOS set up compete with a pretty polished bottle. With somewhere in the 500HP to 525HP range, and 250HP of spray on top, we cannot wait to get to the dragstrip! The little 388 CI motor sounds nasty through the Hooker Aero Chamber exhaust. Backed with a Prodigy Customs TKO 600 5 speed conversion and a 3.73 posi, this thing is a blast to drive

For handling to match the power, Hotchkis hooked us up with one of everything including a TVS kit, Upper Arms, and A set of 4 Hotchkis shocks on each corner. Stopping is handled by one of our Prodigy Customs Total Car G Machine Big Brake packages using Wilwood 13" (6) piston front and 12.2” (4) piston rear with internal E Brake.

Forgeline ZX3Ps in chrome with Magic Black centers in huge 18 X 12 and 18 X 11s wraped with 335 / 30 / 18s and 295 /30 / 18s Michelin Pilot Sports tucked under our custom flares give the car a killer stance and aggressive look.

My buddy William at One Off Rides did the killer stereo install including JBL amps and Elevation Audio supplied their new wicked speakers. The thing is a rolling concert.
So if your around Orlando, chances are good you will see Michael riding around.

29 files, last one added on Apr 16, 2008

Bruce’s 1967 Chevelle's SS 396, 572CI Pro Touring Conversion

Were just finished this beautiful 1967 Chevelle's SS that belongs to a loyal customer of 18 years. Bruce brought us this Chevelle in pretty good shape. The car was basically a done SS396 car with a wrong 396 CI / 325 HP motor, 4 speed, and a 4 wheel factory style disc conversion. We pulled the motor, trans and rear and replaced them with a ALL ALUMINUM 572 CI Bill Mitchell motor making 751HP and 704 TQ. Backed with a TKO 600 and a Moser 12 bolt 33 spline Tru Track rear. Let me tell you, it is anything but a bolt in squeezing that 572 in there. The long stroke and increased deck height makes for a very tight fit requiring extensive oil pan modification, frame notching, etc to make it fit. Combined with a complete Hotchkis TVS kit, ATS special Delphi steering box, And Tubular upper and lower arms, A Vintage Air system, IDidIt tilt column, some 315 / 35 / 17 Drag radials, this Chevelle's is a sweetheart of a driver that will cruise anywhere, that is capable of kicking much ass.

34 files, last one added on Apr 22, 2008

Roberts 1957 Chevy 283 Power pack / 572 CI Pro Touring Conversion.

Not to be out done by his brother in law Bruce with the 572 CI 67 Chevelle. When Robert took a ride in Bruce’s Chevelle, He pulled his restored 57 Chevy in to Prodigy Customs for the same treatment. This one I am going to hell for according to the restoration guys, LOL! This car just scored 975 and first place IN THE RESTORED ORIGINAL DRIVERS CLASS at Classic Chevy Internationals National Convention in2007. This car came to us on Gangster Whitewalls, 283 Power pack motor with 2 X 4 barrels, overdrive 3 speed. Now, All that original drivetrain is out and the new ALL ALUMINUM 572 CI / 758 HP Bill Mitchell motor and TKO 600 are in. Along with the monster 758 HP beast, a Moser 33 spline 12 bolt went in, along with a coil over rear suspension conversion with the springs moved inboard so we could fit 315 drag radials under it on 17” TT2s. Up front we did a rack and pinion conversion, along with tubular upper and lower arms, and a QA1 coil over conversion. We also added a Gen IV Vintage Air and IDidIt Column for a little more comfort inside.
Robert drives the wheels off this thing booking over 3000 miles in less then a year. And this year at the 2008 Classic Chevy Internationals National Convention, in the modified class, he scored 10 points more, 985.

Congratulations Robert!

21 files, last one added on Apr 17, 2008

Sam’s Bad Ass 55 Chevy came to us with all the Fabrication and Sheetmetal finished. The awesome Art Morrison frame was installed along with the fire breathing all aluminum 427CI Bill Mitchell small block. Backed with a T56 and a 9” rear, this shoebox can really get busy. And Sam is not afraid to drive it like it is stolen. A lot of time was spent welding a grinding perfect gaps and wiggling things around for perfect panel alignment. With some previous hale damage, hours and hours were spent blocking. The result is a laser straight body. Everyone ask what colors this car is? It’s House of Colors True Blue and 2006 Chrysler 300 Vanilla.
Sam is another guy that drives his show stopper including doing the 2007 Hot Rod Power Tour. Even with the miles, it still kills them on the show field scoring 995 at Classic Chevy Internationals National convention in both 2007 and 2008.

3 files, last one added on Apr 17, 2008

Russ 67 Camaro is like a YOYO that keeps coming back for more and more work, through a few different owners over the last year and a half. About 1 1/2 years ago the car came in as retro 70s car complete with big and little Cragers. For that customer we did a Vintage Air. Then he sold the car to owner 2 and it got painted, then our new owner / customer Russ was referred to us by the previous owners for any work he may need done. Russ went for some nice improvements on this thing, and now we have done about everything.

We had a lot of fun doing this last phase of the project. Russ is a 71 year old double retired Vietnam Vet that was shot down amongst other things in the war, and then did 25 year stint as an engineer. One of these guys that worked for nearly 50 years and only had 2 jobs his entire life, the military and the second job. Just a real cool ole dude and man O man, some great stories. Only real problem we had was sometimes the entire damn shop would stop to listen to war stories, but I did not get upset. It was nice to respect him listening to how things were. And let me tell you, he is spry as a 20 year old. It was fun for Michael because Russ wanted to participate in the build, and he worked with Michael as his helper. Michael really enjoyed it. Russ knows enough to be dangerous (as he puts it) and was super impressed with Michael's knowledge at such a young age. I think Michael was a little disappointed when the project left!

Anyway, this go around us put in a dynoed 383 CI / 497 HP, 512 TQ motor in it, a TH400 and converter. All Hotchkis has to offer including TVS kit, Hotchkis Shocks, Frame connectors. We did a Prodigy Customs Total Car Brake Package with 12.2"F, 12.2"R Wildwood’s, using the Wilwood manual 7/8" master, and the brand new blue calipers which debut on Lisa's Project EmptyNest at SEMA. The blue calipers look fricken killer with the Oriental Blue stripes, A really nice accent.

We also did one of March new Style Trac serpentine set ups which are just a screamin deal. It fit excellent and Russ actually install it himself, dangerous as he is! We also used one of Magnaflow's 3" systems with X Pipe, and the car really has the Gentleman's Hot Rod sound, but the world sounds like it is coming to a end when mash the loud peddle. Looking under the car the Stainless system looks killer along with one of our Moser 33 spline, Tru Trac, 3,73 ratio rears.

Russ added a Covans dash, and a few other interior goodies, to make for a really nice rounded package.

Were loaning Russ a pair of our Cheater Slicks, and taking it to the drag strip soon looking for 11.99 or better times. I will get some pictures and report.

I can only hope at 71 I can take my Hot Rod to the drag strip! He is already talking about putting nitrous on it!

3 files, last one added on Apr 17, 2008

Johns 69 Convertible was a really neat project. John and his stepson found a really pretty original 69 Convertible in excellent condition and decided to do the entire Pro Touring treatment to it. We installed a brand new LS1, Brand new 4L60E, Street and performance supplied the entire installation kit, accessories drive, radiator, etc. A Moser3.73 Posi was installed, Hotchkis TVS kit, frame connectors, shocks. One of our Prodigy Customs Total Car G Machine Big Brake Packages with Wilwood 12.2” front and rear brakes slows speedy down! Ididit chrome column and Momo steering wheel looks great in front of the Covan’s Dash and Autometer gauges.
The interior was changed out to balc and white houndstooth and the interior was great. We added Air Conditioning, a sound system, Electric Life power windows, and the interior was comfy. The under side of the car was original so we taped the body up real good and sandblasted and painted the bottom of the car. The Lemans blue exterior was in great shape and did not need any help, so we just added some 17” Budnik wheels to complete the theme.
John’s convertible is a real cruiser. You got to love a guy that shows up to pick up his newly finished car with luggage.
Frank John, what’s the luggage for?
John I’m headed to Key West!
So a nice little 390 mile break in run set the tone for this one!

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