Color does not come easy when you are in the desert. The expanses of sun-roasted earth dominate the scenery, with most animals taking on a light tan shade to either blend in and hide from predators or to minimize the effects of heat on their bodies. Anything that isn't a brown-ish color stands out like a gem in the sand by comparison. That's part of the allure of Las Vegas. In the middle of the Mojave Desert, there're lights, there's color, there's everything that attracts the senses.

Maybe that's why we were drawn to Detrick Towers' Monte Carlo SS as soon as we saw it. The mile-deep green paint, the T-tops that were made for a place that rarely sees a cloudy or rainy day, the 24-inch Prestige forged wheels that refuse to be ignored...Detrick's G-body was like finding a desert oasis. A work in progress when we shot it (if you can believe that), the 454ci LSX-powered Monte Carlo is a 1984 model that started life as a hardtop. Treated to a full frame-off build, the Monte Carlo was stripped down, repaired, and assessed before the build began. In addition to the T-top conversion, the rear of the car was updated to the 1987-1988 look, with the full-length trunk and taillights before the body was shot in Polo Green, a color lifted from a Corvette. A full custom interior in brown leather has been fitted, complete with a custom console. Wilwood brakes bring the Monte to a stop, but why stop when you have a car that looks so good rolling?

We hope you have enjoyed looking back at LS Fest West 2021 with us. We hope to see you in Las Vegas for LS Fest West 2022, and if you can't make it, don't worry...we will be bringing you plenty of content to enjoy!