The PUMPKIN PROJECT started off in 1997 with General Motors' John Moss Specialty Vehicle Manager wanting to show a special 30th anniversary Camaro SS at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. John contacted SLP Engineering ( the builders of all the Camaro SS's and Firehawks) to possibly build a ONE OFF show car. Since SLP Engineering is affiliated with Zekes Automotive (see History) we went to work immediately after Johns " Doner " car arrived.

We completely gutted it out and began with re-enforcing the body, adding stress bars and frame connectors. Following nostalgic ideas, the car was given a Hugger Orange paint job accented with painted white stripes. The look was so well recieved by fans that the following year Hugger Orange was now available from the factory direct on all new 1998 and 1999 Camaro's ( option code 99u ).

The next step was to make it go as fast as it looked! The original LT1 350 small block was taken apart and stroked to 383 cu.inches then dyno tested at close to 500 HP. Obviousley the 6 speed Transmission and drive train was also Massaged to handle the extra HP. Lowered suspension and Brembo brakes allong with chrome 17x9 wheels were added. This project was such a success, that SLP Engineering and Zekes Automotive have worked with other SEMA show cars (a 1998 Grand Prix GTX with special wheels for Crager Mags, 1999 Chevy Seeker S-10 pickup for BF Goodrich to promote their Scorcher tire and a 2000 Regal GS for Buick's display). Zekes did build another "Pumpkin" later that year. Mr. Francois Wilhelmy, President of Wilhelmy Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac attended the SEMA show and saw the original Pumkin. He immediately called Zekes and demanded to have one. The next day he had sent us a brand new 1997 30th anniversary Camaro SS right out of his showroom floor to turn into a Pumkin.

These are some of the pictures of the steps we took to build Mr.Wilhelmy a "One Of A Kind CANADIAN Pumkin". The only difference between the two cars, apart from the their Passports is the Canadian car has T-Tops.

Please enjoy the pictures and do not forget Zekes Automotive Performance has what it takes to build YOUR next dream car regardless of what Vegetable or Fruit you might want to call it !