Garage Built Sleeper "No Lift Shift" 355 ci Chevy Chevelle

The McCarthy family is known for building fast cars and driving the hell out of them! Always leaning towards old school, raw & sleeper builds this one has been a while in the making. Mason started building this car when he was 15 years old and built a true badass sleeper. 355 ci making around 500HP, straight cut gears on the vertical gate "no lift shift" dog box trans and all manual with no amenities whatsoever. This is a pure drivers car and not only can Mason build but he can DRIVE so sit back and enjoy the ride...
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[@StangTime75]

I'll take a badass garage build like this over a show queen all day!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Same here

[@vannjunkin8041]

Absolutely

[@Moses1973]

Me too

[@hankgs]

SO refreshing to see a UNDER $50k build... Beautiful understated hot rod in it's purest form!

[@Danlovestrivium]

Under $50k?? lmao. Good luck.

[@user-ly2tu8on3f]

If you had every part laying in the garage right now it’s be under 50k fersure

[@Danlovestrivium]

@@user-ly2tu8on3f If my aunt had a penis she'd be my uncle.

[@levicloakey12]

Agreed man! Something the average person could strive for

[@florider_hd]

@@Danlovestriviumhe does all the work himself and has connections due to his dad.

[@HOMEWORK4.0]

In an LS world, I love to see a traditional small block ripping it up!!!!

[@lenq5918]

I'm with you. I'm not a LS hater but it's nice to see a old small block!

[@deegan727]

I agree, but I love LS’s. I grew up with BB and SBC though, always remember your roots😂

[@HOMEWORK4.0]

Totally agree. Can't wait to get my small block in my 72 and shread some tires myself!! Keep true to the era is the goal while applying modern tech selectively!

[@999Rabs]

Completely agree mate. Especially with cast iron heads…totally old skool!!

[@SweatyFatGuy]

I'm not a chevy fan, takes too much to make them fast, but LS engines are wonderful truck engines and thats why I am putting 6.0s in my 76 and 84 C10s and the 88 C1500. They make good power and don't leak like the sbc and bbc. I am entirely sick of seeing an sbc in everything. Want to impress me with your street rod? Stuff a Nail head or something unique in it, a 348/409 is vastly cooler than sbc and bbc. the least cool is the LS stuff, unless its a truck. I see an sbc in a car at a show, especially if its not a chevy, and I lose interest immediately. For some reason I never have people telling me to put a 350sbc in it and it will go faster for less money. Might have something to do with a $2700 455 that pushed a 3750lb 79 Firebird to 11.40s with a 3.42 gear... no power adder and it had a 1900 stall. Bracket raced and street raced that one from 1996 to 2004. The top end from it is in my 65 GTO on another 455. Its just that I have seen the sbc in everything, and everyone says they are the be all end all. To me they are a boring taxi cab engine, but if you like em, thats cool too.

[@scottpeterson6632]

Exactly the kind of young man the community needs! Hats off to his dad for raising the next generation of muscle car enthusiasts.

[@user-gw6nq5gs9w]

No, this is the epitome of a streetcar mixed with a race car sleeper? I don’t care what you call it. It’s just freaking bad ass. I love it. Please mark cars like this.

[@typer765]

Tugging at the heartstrings of every man and woman who appreciates old school V8 goodness.

[@mariocooldude9092]

Props for being politically correct and including "women" 😂 you win the internet

[@KingJT80]

350 .030 over getting with the program 😤 💪🏾

[@999Rabs]

💯. Loved the same with guys that went .030 over on 327’s…this video is like a complete nostalgia trip!!

[@jbawden]

This video is a virtual time machine...this sights and sounds are pure analog gold. Well done!

[@jakeblack4095]

Badd a$$ car! Young kid and it isn't an LS, doesn't have 20" wheels and a crazy stereo! Nice job thank you for featuring this car

[@AutotopiaLA]

He’s an old school hot rod kid all the way

[@lamboferruccio]

Car is cool as hell man, refreshing to see a 19 year old dude building/driving something like this too, that is even more impressive!

[@walterabraham5367]

I agree, I don’t know too many 19yr old guys that know a tie rod from a radiator. But they can tell you all about cars on video games. Good for him, I’m sure his dad is very proud.

[@lamboferruccio]

Exactly!

[@AutotopiaLA]

He’s so deep in it. Works all day on cars, drives em, races trucks…badass kid!

[@lamboferruccio]

@@AutotopiaLA that’s so awesome!

[@jsh3234]

That is super cool . Not many kids of that age even care about old iron. COOL 😎

[@CALISPEC1]

Traditional small block, dog box 4 speed, simple build…. Just pure old school cool! By far one of my top 3 favorite cars that’s you’ve had in the channel! For someone like myself that just wants to see cars get driven and really enjoyed at their limits this is a dream build! Bravo 👏

[@rickkelsch2040]

NIce for a 355 NA motor, finally someone that knows how to drive and put the NA motor in its power band. NIce ride!

[@joshkjohnson]

These are the kind of cars I like watching. Yes, expensive builds are cool too but home built cars are my favorite.

[@ERPASSASSIN]

Clean and simple and no LS 👍👍👍 awesome 355 got plenty in her

[@ChicagoRob2]

Virtually identical to the 13:1, 355 roller I had in my ‘68 Camaro. Couldn’t afford the gas for it these days, though.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Such a cool set up on this one

[@zacharywallace2243]

Ls 4 life fool

[@scootosan]

I love the "original" appearance like the paint and the wheels which still looks like Grammy's car aka Sleeper. No glit's on the outside. Your Dad is no doubt very proud.

[@christophwilhelm6431]

Steel wheels and that stance😍

[@chrishicks4506]

Man thats badass. Major respect to the dad on raising that young man right. 😎

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

so clean,so MEAN........love the unassuming look,its absolutely bad ass i want it,wouldnt change anything

[@bspeers1]

Cool one! Love the simplicity. Remember his bros car(67 camaro) with the Nascar motor. Shawn, this is truly the epitome of the muscle car era. A build that quite a few people could afford & actually do themselves. Kudos to the “kid”

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thanks for the comment and this is pure hot rodding imo

[@goldysgarage189]

The young blood with an old skull ride warms my heart. The hobby, my friends, is looking quite healthy. Long live burnouts and power shifts.

[@motorsportvalley]

What a cool kid ! He's got a bright future ahead of him. I agree with everyone in the comments, nice seeing a sleeper build like this. This is exactly what I'd do. Go Mason!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

You know he’s just a total badass! Such a cool kid

[@margaretthomas4602]

Glad to see young kid, cheap build, and a great driver, glad to see a more stock vehicle also instead of the over the top everything.

[@rajm.5819]

This is a real car right here. No electric motor bs. All muscle and motor genius at play here. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Glad you enjoyed it. This kid is pure old school hot rod

[@rorydaddy]

Freakin Awesome, 19 years ago, There is Hope for the next generation of Car Guys, Thanks For the Video

[@AutotopiaLA]

He’s keeping the hobby alive along with his 2 brothers

[@jasonmacneil2256]

I am so proud of this family and these great young men. This is the future generation of our hobby! God bless them!

[@kelevra558]

That's what I'm talking about. Steel wheels, high strung small block, trick trans....wicked. Fuggin wicked. Only thing id change is the ring and pinion. I gotta have 3.73 final drive with a 4 speed. My drift car has a gforce 4 speed and at first I had 4.11s. lasted about 15 minutes before I got on summits website and ordered 3.73s.

[@davidklauer3422]

Excellent Good to see youth taking over for us old farts We did that stuff 40 years ago and loved it Good job young brother

[@SweatyFatGuy]

Kids today have a huge amount of parts available to them that we didn't have 30-40 years ago. More of them would be into these kinds of cars, but the boomers keep telling them it costs $50k to $150k to build and drive one. My 65 GTO cost me $15k to do a full frame off and repair all the rust (it was extensive) and the 68 LeMans has a Pontiac engine in it that is very capable of 2000hp with 20-25psi. I have a little more in that engine since its almost entirely aftermarket. You can build cool stuff on a budget, and I don't mean $50k. Any time I see a kid who is jazzed up about one of my cars, I ask if they want to sit in it. Sometimes I will start it and let them throw a few revs. I am trying to get them interested enough that they get into it like I did. I have a short on here of two kids in my 68 LeMans, I see them all summer with their mom, they can spot all my cars now. Will probably end up building something with them when they are teenagers.

[@hungryalien]

@@SweatyFatGuy parts are easier to find online these days and delivery time is quick. so much build info online as well. its fun building cars these days :)

[@SweatyFatGuy]

@@hungryalien yep, its lots of fun for me since I can afford all the things I wanted when I was young, tunnel rams, superchargers, all the fun bits.

[@hydrocarbon8272]

@@SweatyFatGuy Back in 1965 min wage got you $2600 and a V8 Malibu was $2500. Today min wage nets $15k, which gets you a Chevy Spark. Restoring a car is definitely off the menu if they want to hit up college, or buy a house, both of which also grossly out-paced wages. Seems like there's a reason teens aren't getting into the hobby - boomers made sure min wage doesn't allow them to compete for the nice cars.

[@gordocarbo]

@@hydrocarbon8272 Stop with the boomer blaming. Its inflation and cost of living vs min wage even in the 80s was higher than it is now. Self defeatism will never result in a good life

[@iBerzinsh]

What a beautiful build! Imagine Your son build on his own your first car- should be the proudest dad! Respect!!

[@Enjoytheinbetween]

Now thats my type of car!! Love the simplicity and especially the 15in wheels!! Just perfect!

[@justwingingit1]

That dash brings back some memories of my Grandfather’s 65 Malibu wagon with the 3 on the tree. I was very young(4-5) and trying to mimic how Grandpa drove in our driveway…eventually pulling down on the shifter. Car started rolling back and I panicked flinging the driver’s door open which thankfully caught on the rough old school concrete wall(rocks,gaps,etc.) of our neighbors property line…car stopped immediately which saved me from getting caught in between…so lucky!

[@cyclonekevin6199]

That’s awesome the sound and looks, a simple build, who needs a million dollar build

[@eliverstonadams4]

That's all business barebones. Bad ass car.

[@robillingworth8503]

I almost tear up for joy seeing this beauty! My dad bought a tan/near-white 327(automatic) when I was an infant, and I always felt safe & loved not just by my parents, but the car too!! Dad hated getting rid of it when he lost a job (I felt I'd lost a friend), & haven't seen any similar 'til seeing yours here. Thanks for bringing back beautiful memories!

[@chrisk6474]

Driver input is mandatory. What a fun ride❤

[@AutotopiaLA]

And he’s a real deal driver

[@genemounce8302]

This thing seriously takes me back to my 358 sbc 7/9 dropped 85 C10 back in the day. LOVE this thing !

[@jamescusmano2690]

loved every minute old school 500 hp . the young man was taught right

[@AutotopiaLA]

His family is pure hot rod

[@JaredR1996]

Now that is one badass Chevelle. I love it. And no lift shift. Already reminds me of the his brothers Camaro

[@billfleet4999]

Great to see a young man build and enjoy classic muscle. We need more of this.

[@middleclassretiree]

So basically his exhaust is old school glass packs, I like it fits with the rest of the car, no electronics no paddle shifting mechanical locker in the diff 👍

[@iansharpe8420]

Steelies, fast, sounds good. All the cool

[@zack556]

So cool seeing Mason following Pop's footsteps....Miss those days when Dennis and I used to street race!!!! That pic of the dude pretending to kick Dennis' Chevelle at the beginning of the video is yours truly!! 😁😁😁😁 Never saw that pic!! too cool!

[@CarlDraper]

now this is how i liek a big American custom car, old school on the outside with modern improvements under the hood. superb!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Even the improvements are old school which I love!

[@michaellanglie5502]

Love it. Old school small block revving to the moon. Sounds better than an LS.

[@gerhelwinters1967]

The Y gate was the shifter I had in my 67 SS Chevelle in the 90's it has allways been my favorite.

[@malibuguy5187]

Great video, and nice driving Mason!! Enjoyed it. The 65 Chevelle is near and dear as it was my first car in High School (1977). Great job on the car!!

[@rl6387]

One of the Coolest cars I’ve ever seen!👍 Love that year, Andthe Stance!👍 Great Job!👍

[@iuhjhfdskjsdf]

What a talented and cool guy hats off to him👍🏻

[@marcjenkins1520]

To me, this is perfection.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Same here

[@marcjenkins1520]

@@AutotopiaLA thanks for getting it on the channel.

[@thebees4371]

Aahh, it's sooo refreshing to see something different from you guys. Thanks ALA

[@AutotopiaLA]

Always trying to show the full spectrum of custom American muscle

[@pdiddy76]

So happy that the gen 1 chevelles are getting some love!

[@AutotopiaLA]

They deserve it

[@romeyrome32]

That brother can drive. I wish I was wrenching and driving on my own ride in my early teens. This was a fun video. What a sleeper build until you hear that mutha fire up.

[@alexvelez2141]

Definitely a bucket list car, another great video Shawn

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thank you and yeah…such a badass car!

[@mikespanner3096]

So cool to see another young person rebuilding a really cool car. I never had a cool car but certainly have a passion for them. My son Lucas is currently rebuilding an 89 Nissan 240 SX. He has been driving for almost a year and he has already had three cars!!! Really proud of him and all the knowledge he has gained:-). He loves old cars and loves working on them!! So Awesome to see this video!! Nice work!!👍🤘

[@richardturk7162]

Had that same shifter in my 70 440+6 Plymouth Cuda'. Back in the 70s I ran a <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="296">4:56</a> gear set too and in town it wasn't bad. So glad this car doesn't have an LS in it.

[@mauricesiermachesky4900]

That Chevelle is old school cool!

[@AutotopiaLA]

So is Mason. Pure cool all around

[@clintonmaurer5758]

That is a killer car and he works on it. This is just awesome made my morning !!!!

[@AutotopiaLA]

He’s a full blown builder already and only 19 and he’s a badass driver too!

[@witcher71]

Damn, I was waiting to hear that tire spec. We've got 255/60/15's out rear........ Love the look!

[@AutotopiaLA]

He gave the tire sizes. I think the fronts are 225? He says it while we’re driving

[@58raceguy]

I absolutely love everything about this Chevelle, and I’m impressed as hell with Mason. It’s so neat to see a young guy who is interested enough to build such a badass machine and then take it out and run the snot out of it. The technology that’s available these days (i.e. the LS world) certainly has its place, but this car proves that a simple, well thought-out formula still exists.

[@hotrodder5034]

BA little Chivy!! We need more of our young to keep the sport of Hot Rodding going! Building them, going to the car shows and a great paying career also. Very positive. 👍🏾

[@AutotopiaLA]

This kid is as deep in as it gets

[@StuartBlake-iz6rf]

Love the simple Hot Rod. Ripping through the the gears, loved the sound of rev limiter doing its thing. 456 makes it work. Stout build.

[@gmans7859]

Sorry I stopped the video short. I started crying. IT'S FRIGGIN' PERFECT! Bucket list perfect for me. Think i would roll back the 4.56's till someone wanted to fight.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Awesome!! Love this car and Mason is such a cool kid

[@vintagespeed]

billet and polish are fine, but an old school street killer is dope. and every car guy knows it when they see it. nice job Mason. 👍

[@lukiw7044]

With those steel wheels it looks like random Taxi car. But if you see it or hear it on the street, you'll know that this is bad ass car. Great episode. Greetings

[@SaneCayne]

This kid's got one seriously stone cold hardcore ride! I'm sure dad's proud of his gear-head boys.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Dad’s definitely proud of his kids

[@ziplock4411]

Long live the sbc! Great vid, one of my favs!

[@TheDoosh79]

Very nice, right up my street this one. None of those horrible shiny modern wheels looking out of place, absolutely on point.

[@gordowg1wg145]

A 👍 for all the 😎 comments on this car. I'd add that it's a real delight to see someone who built a USEABLE car with a sensible power level, rather than a 1000+hp 'thing' that can't effectively be used anywhere other than the drag strip, or in a straight line.

[@ronmcbee4743]

Bought a TH400 I was going to use in an ls swap that didn’t happen and was thinking of putting it in my 2014 CTSV wagon and after watching this video I said f-it I’m going to do it. I’m 79 why not. Been smiling just like you.

[@gordocarbo]

Or just use a 4l80e. T400 with OD and plenty tough out of he box

[@johnmilner7603]

I owned a beige 64 Chevelle 2D in 1973 that I bought from a lady who lived up the street from me for $500. Auto trans, 283 2bbl carb. Best car I ever owned besides a 68 Beaumont with a 327 4bbl auto trans. Then in ‘74 I bought a 68 Z/28 for $3,000. This car, I would install a clutch fan and fan shroud.

[@erniearambula3525]

The awesomeness in this build is its simplicity this then is loud and proud.

[@shifter8207]

Sometimes the simplest build is the best one!

[@alpeena]

love it...its just right thru and thru...loooove.....great family...they are lucky kids.....and talented

[@Perry3377]

Future looks brighter after watching this video

[@zeitgeist57]

That kid and THAT car are awesome.

[@markr831]

When I was a kid, I remember Bobby Allison running a 65 Chevelle on late model sportsman races. He was tough.

[@bartfart2123]

simply gorgeous

[@leehouston5436]

Can’t wait to see the future rides this young man comes up with !

[@AutotopiaLA]

He’s building all the time so I’m with you

[@edgarormart7078]

Congratulations Mason really nice simple car. Sean thanks for another awesome episode really enjoy all your enthusiasm for the really cool cars and trucks keep it up

[@AutotopiaLA]

Thank you! Mason built a beast

[@maya00795]

Awesome shawn....... What a lovely car...... Greetings from india🇮🇳🤠🤠🤩🤩🙌🏻🤘🏻 God bless america 🇺🇲🙌🏻

[@obsidian....]

Seeing Sean so hyped made this perfect. . But what a great owner as well. Admits the help he got, financially and otherwise, but also keyed us into the actual labor he put into it. . Well done!

[@pioAdrenalina]

THIS is how you drive a Chevy! So nice to see someone so young keep the real cars alive how they are meant to be and enjoying the shit out of it!

[@rogerchevelle8543]

Awesome ride. Perfect stance and a old school small block. 👊

[@blown572hemi]

Reminds me of my brother's first car. It was a ss 327 with a powerslide that he attempted to do a shift kit install. He didn't do it right and sold it. This young man has a bright future and I wish him all the luck indy world.

[@harry454ss]

Love to see a small block ! Nice chevelle clean and simple!

[@AutotopiaLA]

Very simple and pure badass

[@gopherchucksgamingnstuff2263]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="828">13:48</a> This is the reason to do things like this people. Smiles across the board.

[@AutotopiaLA]

Lots of smiles for sure

[@jonathanjones1814]

Love the reaw simplicity of this build 👍🏽

[@misfithounds4248]

That's how I like 'em. Low key stock looking sleeper. No Pro Touring, just do it yourself, and gut wrench it at every stop light.

[@yourmamalikesmacncheese]

That thing is a monster.

[@Freebird67]

awesome young man and car just what we need to keep our sport hobby going forward

[@AutotopiaLA]

He’s keeping it alive as are his 2 brothers and Dad

[@jeffreyknitt7358]

Awesome car , clutchless shifting makes me want a four speed , thanks for the video

[@cargotoolshop5319]

1965 Chevelle is my favorite car, love it

[@JacksonStew2009]

Perma-grin. Had it for the entire video. It’s 2024 and this Animal has iron heads and a big-a$$ solid!!! The only thing that made it better was the pedal camera and watching the ballet associated with smashing a proper four gear. I am grateful for this.

[@gordocarbo]

This is how we would do them up in the 80s. Stockish looking hot drivetrain stick deep gears. 4.56 are perfect for what he is doing. Thumbs up! Dont need lots of exotic parts to have fun.

[@gregoryfranks7347]

what a just badass cruiser!!! i still have the original temp dad from my dad's '65 chevelle ss. his first car he somehow tricked my grandpop(godbless them both theyve moved on) but my grandpop worked at the GM plant in baltimore and didnt realize it was the 327 not the i-line 6. awesome memories this car builder and sean. sean always has the coolest some milluon dollar car some just plain killer like this. this is cleaner than a Dexter crime scene and i dont watch that shit but i do know this young man has built a car any gearhead rich or poor would be proud to have. i sure would. the retro coolness and ability to no lift or do stupid tire wasting burnouts make it so much cooler than most any other. outstanding car bro!!! cheers

[@4by_yotaguy373]

I love it, it's perfect! The exterior looks exactly like the white 65 Malibu SS my father restored and drove daily for yrs, complete with the white steelies. Except my father's didn't have the blacked out grill, and his had the 327/Powerglide combo w/center console. Too bad he sold it for peanuts just before I turned 16. Both of us have always regretted that.

[@4by_yotaguy373]

And it's crazy that on his father's original car at 2:07 it shows the black in the taillamps panel (but not the entire rear panel blacked out) that was exactly like my father's. And that was not factory, he painted it like that. But this can't be the same car unless his dad got ahold of it after late 90s, and it's an SS with an auto.

[@TheOriginalArchie]

Beautiful build. I'm on my second Nova II restore (both 1963) and they have very similar shapes. The straight lines from front to rear, with a slight horizon curve from front to back, and then the 45 degree angle windshield and a slight curve on the rear glass. This kid is living the life, I didn't have the abilities to do this until my 30's. And even still, I am only a body guy, my friends help me with the drivetrain.

[@robsorgdrager8477]

This couldn't be more perfect. This build just oozes " macho " . The stance is nailed, the build is very era correct from the cage to engine and the trans. This is exactly the way I would have built this car. Really really good build and the kid did the work and this is what makes my old broken mechanics heart smile😏🤌✌️ Also, what this family can do....the team they have can literally build anything.

[@jtjt3823]

More killer builds that cost less than houses! This one was great

[@AutotopiaLA]

I know! We try showing it all but these simple badass builds get me going

[@AmethystZJ]

love it. \cant beat that raw sbc sound. i always say i wasnt born in the wrong generation. i was born to keep the old one going!

[@nedaCFilms]

Love the style and attitude of this beauty 😎